Date: 2004-06-14
From: Dutch Haus B & B - Montebello, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 11.1

Ah - another slackpack thanks to the services of Lois and Earl at this marvelous B & B. The hiking day got off to a slow start as Earl tooled us into Waynesboro to retrieve our maildrops first. I'm missing another box. Perhaps it will be there in a couple days when we actually hike into town.One characteristic about me that hasn't changed in 2-1/2 months is my inability to hold back tears. I cry when I'm overjoyed, I cry when I'm saddened, I cry when I'm frightened and I'm a total sap when I say goodbye. I said goodbye to April this morning. She really needs to make tracks and limit her zero days if she intends to summit Katahdin mid-September. It's been a great six weeks and 500+ miles hiking/living/laughing with her. Through the journal registers I'll be able to follow her progress and be assured all is well with her, and when she can get online, she'll be able to read this journal and know Ursa Minor and I are still trucking along too. But when I remember our time together I'll probably still cry.Our day was magnificent beyond the emotional start. We took our sweet little old time as we had set our pick-up time quite late in the afternoon. Our timing was perfect, arriving precisely when we had hoped. Upon arrival at the Dutch Haus, we once again indulged in a hot shower ("no supper without one" says Lois), donned our plush bathrobes and gorged ourselves on another delectable meal. These people are amazing. I believe there are 14 guests tonight. All the cuisine is homemade, salad and dessert included. She does our laundry every night, keeps a spotless home and handles the business end with incredible efficiency as well. And to top it off, they're really nice people to boot! We had a marvelous surprise when we returned -- Rooney Tunes is here!! He left the trail for five days a couple weeks ago to attend his sister's graduation. I knew he'd catch us. I left greetings to him in several shelter registers numbering each one. Course I screwed up the numbers because I couldn't remember the last one. He'll probably be passing us in a couple days and then he can start leaving ME greetings!Late night to bed as we visited at length with Peggy and Jim about our next 200 miles. They section-hiked it just last year and were full of stories and memories. The important bits were where to find the best burgers and milk shakes -- neither of which I consume, but where there's good cuisine of any sort, there's almost always a decent salad to be found.Ursa Minor is a little sore today. In her maildrop was a pair of Teva sandals so she hiked in them today. They worked great, but the slippery soles proved to be devastating. Parts of today's hike were very rocky and she took two tumbles. She's sporting a huge bruise on her right leg. I hate to think what it would look like without my Melaleuca first aid treatment. At least the open wound and scrapes are closed. But she's going to be sore for a while. Speaking of footwear: I've been baffled as to why my ankles are giving me problems. I didn't hurt them but they are hurting. Why now after 10 weeks? Today I chucked my boots and hiked in my rubbery camp shoes. NO pain!! Unbelievable. I'm so relieved. Time to make a change. Perhaps I can find something in Waynesboro. It's too late to have homebase send my New Balance trail runners. Perhaps it's just the new Superfeet insoles I've been wearing since Damascus. One would think the ankles would rebel immediately though, not four weeks later. I hope I've bounced the old ones and not sent them home.Tomorrow we're doing 20 miles into Waynesboro. Hopefully Ursa Minor's pain from her fall will be minimal, and my camp shoes can survive the miles. Tune in tomorrow for an update! Goodnight