Date: 2004-05-27
From: US 501, VA 130 - Glasgow, VA

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

A short day for me. Got up early as I always do, hoping to hitch a ride with folks going out to work. Boy do I hate hitching. Grey day after rain storm last night. I stood at the edge of town and waved at everyone driving by. Funny how some folks waved back and other folks just look straight ahead, ignoring me. I know from my own experiences with hitch hikers, it's hard to ignore them but it's harder when they give eye contact. I had just about given up and was making a decision to walk back to the motel and pay someone to take me back to the trailhead when a gentleman pumping gas across the street, asked if I was heading for Foot Bridge. He was driving a Classic Cruiser Oldsmobile station wagon. We chatted about his vehicle. Then he gave me a short history of Glasgow. It seems that Glasgow was established by emancipated slaves of plantations. It's a predominately black town until Burlington Industry built a factory there. The town Fathers are Prince William Masonic Lodge members. I forgot to ask about the dinosaurs. Got on the trail by eight. I was not in the mood to hoof too fast to the shelter. Got there to find a note from Riva, a 17+ mile day. For me, it would be closer to twenty. I needed to make a decision, to follow or to fall from the group. I walked.   Today's big hill is Bluff Mountain, the site of poor Ottie Cline Powell's demise. For me a 2500 feet elevation change, spread out over nine miles. Not bad. I like the Virginia hills, as far as elevation changes.The decision I made was to fall from the group. So I felt relaxed about toddling down the trail. The rhododendrons are starting their blooming. Purple, pink, pale lavender. Mountain Laurels. Berries of some sort in trees. Little sweet pea looking blossoms. Passed a vista that looked down into the valley I just hiked out of. I could see the original bridge the past thruhikers used to take. It always amazes me when I get to see where I've been. I ended up catching up with TreeFrog and Adam. They weren't even going to make the seventeen at the rate they were going. I ran into them a little after noon thirty. We walked and talked together, up to the top of Bluff Mtn. There near the top is the memorial for little Ottie, covered with little Homies, coins, dried fruit, silk flowers and a Frisbee. Strange little homage to a child who got last in the snow. The vista from the top of Bluff was awesome. I got TreeFrog to take a picture for me. While we were up there, he decided to make phone calls, since he had a signal. Talked to his retire work buddies and left a message wit his wife. I still think it strange that people not only carry cell phones out here but actually use them. Adam and TreeFrog decided to have lunch at the next shelter, this one, and figure out what they were going to do for tonight. I headed out, knowing I'd get there before them. Along the way down, I ran into Pipesmoke. He looked at me and I had to tell him, he was going the wrong way. He'd walked about a mile or more from the shelter. We walked back to the shelter together. He told me about the water source here. Glad he told me, it's a bit tricky even though it's right in front of the shelter. TreeFrog and Adam have decided to head for a camp ground four miles from here. I'm sharing the shelter with two section hikers who are finishing up tomorrow. They have been south bound so they had a lot of info for me. I love observant, talkative south bounders. Three other Glasgow escapees have arrived for the night. Boonie being the only thruhiker. This shelter has a pond about one hundred feet from the shelter. An old apple orchard rims the opposite side. They are blooming. This whole little bowl, in which the shelter sits, is FULL of several varieties of frogs. The pond Bull frogs are thumping. The tree frogs are chirping. The register reads "no, they don't quit". Should be an interesting night.Namaste'