Date: 2008-06-01
From: Hog Camp Gap, Va

To: Dutch Haus B&B, Montebello, VA
Miles today: 10.0

I slept great again last night....and woke up at 5:15am. I ate the last half of my bag of chocolate mini donuts for breakfast and had some water to wash them down.It was about 5 degrees cooler this morning at 60 degrees and that felt a lot better than yesterday's muggy 65 degrees.I was packed up and walking at 6am. There was a beautiful pink sky, but I could only see it through the trees.The pink sky was gone by the time I climbed the first hill up to Tar Jacket Ridge, but I still got a few nice pictures of the early morning sky and the distant mountains.I ended up not getting any rain after the 60% chance of thunderstorms yesterday and last night.I was really enjoying the morning walk....and the miles were going by fast.I stopped at Seeley-Woodworth Shelter and signed the register and used up another smiley face sticker.I didn't stay long because the blackflies were swarming and I was getting bit.I got to Fish Hatchery Rd at 9:53am and already had exactly 10 miles done.It was over a 2 mile walk downhill to the Dutch Haus B&B.I could have called from the top of the ridge and gotten a ride in just a mile, but it was early and I hadn't walked far today, so I decided to just walk all the way.I got to the general store in Montebello in about 2 miles and went inside and had a bowl of fresh made chili and a large cup of coffee. :-)They added a new section onto the general store with plans of having a cafe there, but it wasn¢t open yet. That's going to be nice when it does open.I bought some chips and a Coke to take to the B&B, then started walking the last half mile up the road.I heard a vehicle slowing down and when I looked, it was Earl, so I got a ride for a short distance.Earl is the only person I've ever met that was born on the same day and same year as I was.I said, "Hello there young fella"....and hopped in the truck. :-)We got to the B&B and Lois wanted to know all about the bike ride from last year.Mrs Gorp and I had stopped here in early April when we only had a few hundred miles done on our first cross country bicycle ride.I had lots to tell Lois because we've done almost 11,000 miles on the bicycles since I saw her last April.....and a little walking too! :-)We talked for an hour or so, then I excused myself and went and took a shower.They have bathrobes for you to wear here while she does your laundry for you.I always think of how happy Mrs Gorp was when we found a place to do laundry.I don't get so excited.....unless of course, the laundromat serves food! :-)I sat around talking to a couple doing a long section from southern VA up to NY and another nobo by the name of Blaze. I really appreciate what women in dresses have to go through because by the time my clothes were done, my legs were getting tired of keeping my knees together. Ha! ;-)I felt so much more comfortable when I put my hiking clothes back on and could sit normally. :-)Lois made us all a couple hotdogs and some pasta for lunch...and watermelon for dessert...and it is always a free lunch during hiker season. It's free even for hikers that aren't staying!I went in my room and went through my maildrop and organized my stuff.My plan was to walk out of here in the morning, unless someone else was going to slackpack.Well, G-town Colonel came in and I knew he'd slack if he could. He figured he wanted to do a 20 mile walk back to here tomorrow, so that's exactly what I am planning on doing. (I wonder what we're having for dinner tomorrow night?) :-)Tonight we had roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole and fresh strawberries with ice cream for dessert. Oh yeah....I had two plates of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy and green bean casserole! :-)It was deeeeelicious!I signed the guestbook here using TWO smiley face stickers AND one of my Stumpy and the gorilla stickers...which I only use for special places.There is no cell service at all down here in Montebello, so I'm hoping to get today's journal and pictures sent into Mrs Gorp from the top of one of the mountains I'll be climbing in the morning.Rainbow Slick, Goosebump The Snow Princess, Baby Bump and Little Jack Spencer are meeting me at Loft Mountain Campground in Shenandoah this coming Friday. I'm really looking forward to seeing my '03 sobo friends and walking a day or two with them. :-)Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)