Date: 2013-05-31
From: Middle Creek Campground

To: Glasgow
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

Day Eighty Four - (13.2) Thunder Ridge to GlasgowToday was so much fun! I woke up early and went down for an early breakfast (thanks Sue), another shower and then packed up camp. I headed down to the camp store and took advantage of the wifi one last time. I was waiting for Hobo we were planning on ordering a second breakfast before out shuttle to the trail arrived. Things just didn't work out though because Ken our shuttle driver arrived early and soon we were on our way back to the trail. Thanks for the ride Ken and Sue thank you for everything, I had a great time at your campground! O. Our way to the trail we drove passed hundreds of butterflies all congregated in one spot along a mountain road. We hadn't even left the the parking lot at the trailhead when Weight Watcher arrived followed by Rapunzel and Faucet! They are so much fun! We must have stood there talkin in the parking lot for half an hour before moving to the lookout 1/10 of a mile up the trail for another gab session. I jokingly suggested that it would make a great picture if someone would just climb over the edge and made it look like they were hanging on for their life. Before I knew it Weight Watcher had climbed over an I was snapping pictures! We headed up the trail as a group of five and soon I spotted a fairly new tractor in the middle of nowhere up on a mountain in the woods. That started a whole new round of redneck jokes. Rapunzel thought it would make a great tent. I really enjoyed hiking with "our section hikers" but soon we had to part because our paces weren't the same, we leapfrogged for awhile because we kept stopping to eat and then we bumped into Magic Scout again and hiked with him for a bit. He has a much faster pace than us but slowed down for the company. He actually really helped me get over a big hill in the heat of the day with his quick pace and entertaining monologue. I pushed hard to keep up and try to join in on the conversation. Sometimes when I meet people like Magic Scout I wish I could hike a little faster because I know he will press on soon an be way ahead of us but I would love to spend more time with him. Somehow we ended up with "our section hikers" again and Magic Scout was planning on staying at the same shelter they were so after a few introductions Hobo and I continued on our way down the the James River. The last mile was beautiful and almost flat as we walked along the James and came up to the longest footbridge on the AT. On the other side of the bridge we needed to hitch a ride into Glasgow. It wasn't the best spot to hitch a ride and we didn't think it was going to work out but we saw a car pull over and pick up another hitcher up the road and soon the same vehicle was pulling over for us too. Thanks for the ride Karen! When we arrived in Glasgow we ate at the only restaurant in town (Scotto's) the food was great and the people were awesome! Hobo didn't have cell reception so the owner let him use the store phone to make a long distance call and then when we were talking about slack packing tomorrow the owner offered to keep our packs safe in the store for us. Thanks Scotto! We headed back to "the pavilion" which turned out to be an amazing shelter complete with outhouse, hot shower, picnic table, firepit and firewood stacked neatly for us. I couldn't believe it! The small town of Glasgow has gone way out of its way to make us feel welcome. Cub was here as was Foodwalker, Sparky and Orange Peel and Waffle.   Sparky handed me a Mike's Hard Lemonade when I arrived and that set the tone for the rest of the evening. It is so cool to arrive at a new town but be surrounded by friends and feel like you are at home. I think it's going to be hard to adapt to "the real world" when I finish the trail. Good night world!Ps. My iPhone died today so I don't have my pictures, my quotes or any confessions but hopefully I can retrieve the info off of my dead phone.Trouble