Date: 2008-04-08
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 25.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We woke up at 6:30a this morning in anticipation of a big day. By 7a, Yeti hit the trail and Toddy Bear followed 30 minutes later. Well, Stovie and I waited for the Visitor's center to open so that we could mail our post cards. By 7:45a, Fester came down and began filling out his. As I was leaving, Fester told me that he would see me tonight. By 8:15a, I was ready to hit the trail. It was a bit nippy this morning and the clouds were low, but I knew I would soon be sweating. After crossing VA 16, there was a big orange construction sign warning about the road work at the next crossing. I took a picture of this because I thought it was hilariously out of place. As I got to the top of Brushy Mnt #1, I saw an elderly guy putting on his pack cover. I started talking with him and discovered he was HEAVENBOUND...an elderly section hiker from Knoxville, TN who is on his fifth section. He's already got GA, NC, TN, NH and ME under his belt. Well, we soon parted ways, but within an hour and a half, I made it to the Chatfield Shelter. I ate a snack and realized that we were closing in on Brandon and Roundhorse. So, I kept walking and got to the VA Settler's Museum. After taking a quick look around, I continued north. I then began walking through some nice pastures and found it to be very pleasant. Soon, I crossed a railroad track and made it to US11, which is near I-81 and went to the Barn Restaurant. When I'd gotten there, I saw Yeti and T. Bear paying for their meals. So, I gave Yeti his boxers, which had fallen off his pack in the meadows. We then back-peddled to the Exxon for Yeti to re-supply and I bought a Strawberry Nesquick and an egg salad sandwich for lunch. I paid for my food and began eating it on a bench outside. When Toddy Bear came out, he was laughing and told me that the cashier had sprayed lysol after I left...I know I smell, but seriously, Lysol!!! After "enjoying" my truckstop meal, we saw Stovie and he informed us that he was gonna eat at the Barn Restaurant. Within 45 minutes, T. Bear, Yeti and I made it to the Davis Path Shelter. We took a quick break to "help the Privy with composting" and then continued. Man, the climb up Little Brushy Mnt. was rough...there were tons of wooden steps and the sun was beating down with its 70*F rays. Also, the milk and egg salad sandwich weren't helping!!! By the time we reached Reed Creek, I was out of water and decided to tank 2L for the last 8 miles. As I was gathering my water, Stovie arrived. Wow, that guy is soo fast to have eaten at the restaurant and still catch up to us!!! Once we got to the top of Big Walker [Texas Ranger] Mountain, Stovie, T. Bear, and I made a makeshift 1/4 sign to mark our finishing of a quarter the trail!!!We then walked through more pasturelands and crossed 14 of those "stys" which let you go over fences. Even though we crossed the area where Lonewolf and Max live, we didn't see him like he told us we would. The last climb up Brushy Mnt. #2 was rough. Not only was it steep, but I had finished my water with 2 miles left until the shelter. When Toddy Bear and I arrived at the shelter, we were greeted by JEREMIAH, a section hiker from around Portland, ME (near Fester). After chatting with her for 30 minutes, we learned that Stovie had rolled in 15 minutes before us, 5:15p, and decided to press on 9 more miles to the Chestnut Knob Shelter. So, T. Bear and I decided to walk down to the water source and on our way back up, we saw Yeti walking down to the water source. We congratulated him on accomplishing his biggest day and for completing 1/4 of the AT. When we got back to the shelter, we began cooking, treating our water, and listening to Jeremiah's stories. I ate some of Barbara's dehydrated rice with veggies and cut up a Garlic and Herb Chicken in a pouch to add some more protein...I'm still hungry though! Well, it's 9p right now and T. Bear and Jeremiah are asleep, Yeti just finished journaling, and I am very tired from such a big day and we have another one tomorrow. Oh! Fester has not arrived yet. I hope he's alright because he's still having foot problems and he's still grieving. Also, I hope we catch up with Stovie because tomorrow is his birthday and I packed a cinammon bun and some other treats for his "Trail Birthday." Oh! I came up with a new way to sign off in the Appalachian Times...ONWARD NORTH! Original, I know!!!