Date: 2014-05-25
From: Elk Garden Parking Lot

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Today had a little bit of everything and it was all awesome including hitting the 500 mile mark at the end of the day,something about that number puts a smile on my face.   We had a late start today, the plan was for Delaware's parents to drive us into Marion to finish up our resupply and then drive us to the trailhead. We all woke up on the late side and nowadays that's 8 o'clock and had leftover dinners for breakfast this morning,it was nothing short of glorious. We finally got our acts together around 11 and took the drive into Marion to go to the grocery store, I had cell service so I ordered a new pair of hiking shoes as mine are battered and beaten so hopefully I'll have them by end of next week. I only had to pick up some snacks and dinners and while we were there,we see Yogi there resupplying as well. He's still about 35-40 miles ahead of us and being realistic, I don't think I'll be able to catch up to him anytime soon and hike with him which sucks because I consider him one of my closest friends on the trail, I have his number so at least I know how far ahead of me he is.   After resupplying we went back to the cabin and got our bags together and ready to head out. We had a quick lunch to try to finish any remaining leftovers, it was all so good, I didn't want to leave this cabin. We finally got to the trail around 1:30-2:00 and were only planning to do 10 miles over relatively flat terrain but we also wanted to hang out with the wild ponies that inhabit the park so after some pictures and goodbyes, we were off.    It's always tough to get going when starting late and today was no different, about an hour in, we took a break to have a snack at a place with a nice view of the ponies in the distance. I had peanut butter in a tortilla with a coke I took from the cabin, it was the right amount of sugar and carbs to get me going again. I forgot it was Memorial Day weekend so the park was packed with day hikers and people camping overnight, it's good to see people outside of the hiker bubble that seems to be dwindling on a daily basis.    The Grayson Highlands are a beautiful place and along with the Roan Highland are two of my favorite places on the trail. It's the perfect combination of wide open fields and mountains and with he beautiful weather today, it couldn't have gotten any better, well only one thing could make it better-the ponies! We came across a few of them munching on some grass and pet them while they were eating, they weren't too annoyed. After awhile they became curious of our backpacks and started licking the salt off of them that accumulates on them and then they started munching on Delaware's sleeping pad and Gadgets' bag so it was time to move on. Before we left, a lady asked if we were spending the weekend and when I said it was thru hiking, she got all ecstatic and asking me questions and bringing the group of kids she was with around and explain what I was doing, not going to lie, it made me feel like a rock star just a bit. She was upset she didn't have anything to give me and invited us for some hot dogs but where they were staying wasn't off the trail and it was getting late so we couldn't go, I was really looking forward to a hot dog, especially on Memorial Day weekend.   We finally got to the shelter around 7 and made some dinner, Delaware surprised us all with making some cheddar biscuits for hitting the 500 mile mark and they were delicious. Gadget brought up the idea of doing a 20 mile day so so we could have a short day Tuesday and go into town and get some beer and hot dogs and bring them back to the shelter and have a little BBQ, no one fluke argue with that idea. It was also the 500.5 mark where the shelter was so it was a great end to the day. I had that 'I walked 500 miles song' in my head a day' and wish I could've played it. It's a great feeling to reach this far and looking back on all the memories and adventures that already happened and then realize there's still 1,500 miles left. I'm proud of the group and to the those who are in front of us and hope we all make to a Maine but have to take it one day at a time and enjoy every moment.