Date: 2015-06-07
From: Camp at Mile 845.3. 

To: Rockfish Gap. 
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: light rain

Camp at Mile 844.3 to Rockfish Gap (Mile 861.7). 17.4 MHad a quiet night in my solo camp but sleep was restless. The pending town visit makes me as anxious as a kid before Christmas. Woke pretty early, had a cold breakfast and on the trail at 6:50 am. An average mileage day will get me to Waynesboro in the early afternoon. The main challenge of the morning will be getting past Humpback Mountain. The only significant climb, but it's not that severe. Some nice views in the morning as the skies were mostly clear. The temperature was cool and it was breezy. Good for hiking. Got past Humpback in the morning and stopped at the last shelter before town for lunch. This is the Paul Wolfe shelter at Mile 856.6. It is a nice shelter with a beautiful stream in front of it. Also there were Tadpole and Little Brown Bear. They had just arrived going South from town. They are a young couple that drove from their home in Nebraska to spend a few days hiking on the AT. They are only the second hikers I have seen using a bear canister to hold their food. These canisters are required on many of the Western trails, but not on the AT. They planned to spend the night hanging near the shelter (they are hammock campers) and then hiking thru the trail section where camping is temporarily banned due to bear activity on Monday. A few miles North of town I met and talked to a trail worker that was taking a break from cutting weeds. The VA trail clubs do a great job on trail maintenance. The 5 miles from the shelter to Rockfish Gap and the highway took about an hour and forty minutes. When I got to the highway there was a list of people that can be called for a no charge ride into town. The first two numbers I called could not make it but the third, Steve, came and gave me a ride. Also gave me a town map and some tips on restaurants, lodging, etc. I checked into a Quality Inn at 3:00 pm and got cleaned up and laundry done by 5:00 pm. Met a couple from Prince Edward Island, Canada in the laundry. They are doing a bicycle tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway. They were surprised at how hilly/mountainous the route is, but were enjoying the tour. Very nice talking to them. Visited a Chinese AYCE restaurant for dinner and it was excellent and filling. I am planning on taking a zero day in Waynesboro on Monday to take care of a few things and get some rest from hiking. May have contacted some Poison Ivy as I have several spots that are really itching. Would like to get a haircut as I feel a little shaggy and shorter hair will be cooler. I am also considering making a change in my backpack. My current pack is great but when loaded near its specified weight limit I can really feel pressure on the top of my shoulders. Becomes painful, annoying and distracting during a full day of hiking. Plan to call the manufacturer to talk about the problem and see what they recommend. Suspect I may change from the ULA Circuit model to the Catalyst model. Hoping they can tell me if the suspension on the Catalyst will keep the load off my shoulders. Waynesboro seems like a nice town. Much larger than the other towns I have visited from the trail. Will watch the NBA finals game, eat some ice cream and sleep in a bed with a pillow. ??O'RYAN