Date: 2018-06-12
From: Dennytown Rd mile 1418.3

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

It's a new day and a new focus. I woke to the birds and stretched out, massaging my feet. It was a cool night last night and I slept in my fleece. I packed up inside my tent, took my stove over to the picnic table and took down both our bear bags. I cooked up my last hot breakfast, banana nut oatmeal and a hot cup of coffee. My food bag is low and I love the light weight of it. Tomorrow I'll pick up a resupply in Stormville. I set out ahead of River at 7:45 making a stop at the privy and another to dump my trash at the dumpster on Dennytown Rd. I disappeared into the woods on a level trail that wasted no time transforming to an ascending trail. I stopped at the first road crossing, which wasn't marked on Guthooks. A gravel road with no traffic. I set my pack down on a rock and made use of nature behind some rocks on the other side of the road. Returning to the rock I had a small snack and some water. No much time had passed when I saw River appear. I had pulled up a map of the state park which offers a free night of camping to thru hikers so I could find the best route and a notice came up stating that the campground was not booking for 2018 because of a new water system install. We wanted a shower. I guess that's not happening now. Though they are allowing thru hikers to camp free in a group area near the beach. We decided to stop at Canopus lake and take a swim anyway and hang out there for lunch. It was a beautiful afternoon and there was no one there. We picked a picnic table in the shade initially and stripped down to boxers and bras then walked along the warm sand to the water. I could see up the walkway towards the concession stand which is only open weekends right now and noted a couple of workers in orange vests. Once arriving at the edge of the lake River went in first and I followed, without even a pinky test. The water was cool but the sun was warm and it felt and smelled so amazing. Like my childhood swimming at Stevens pond with my sister Laura every day in the summer. I love that smell and that it evoked that memory. We swam for a few minutes getting exercise, cooling down our bodies and easing out joints before getting out. Walking back across the warm sand in the now cool feeling breeze we opted for a sunny picnic table and each layed down on a bench in the warmth of the sun. After a few minutes of sunbathing I heard a hiker coming down the trail. Still in boxers and bras we said hello and he sat at a nearby table and conversed. He happened to be a friend of someone who works for me and I have been following this guy on Instagram knowing he's friends with Clayton. Small world! He was the only other hiker that came down to the beach and if he hadn't we might not have crossed paths. Before long Twister was in his boxers and in the water. We all got to rinse out some clothes and dry them in the sun while we visited. It was great fun today and I had no pressure about miles. What a great new plan I'm on! I'm working hard, having fun and taking care of myself. After lunch River and I proceeded north and between 4 and 5 considered our options for the night. The Shenandoah campsite we passed at 5pm had a sign that said the pump was off, no water. So we agreed to hike 30 more minutes to RPH shelter for the night. We arrived at the shelter to find several people already there, 1 bunk open and a hiker sitting at a picnic table right outside the shelter opening smoking. Tenting was a better idea. So we pitched our tents but not before relaxing a few minutes on the chairs near the picnic tables. A vizsla named Achilles who is hiking with his owner took the liberty of climbing up in River's lap in the lounge chair and he layed right down on her. The 3 boys showed up as well as Twister, Oven, T-Rex, Webster and others I don't know. Lecero was hammocked nearby. Her husband will be here in 5 days and she's excited. The RPH shelter is close to the road so a pizza place and a Chinese place deliver. River and I ordered avocado salad and soda and I had broccoli and cheese soup with bacon bits from my food bag to go with it. It was nice getting to relax during and after dinner. There was quite a bit of socializing tonight and it was nice. Oven is going to be getting up at 4pm to try to get in a 35 mile day. Her tramily is way ahead and she wants to catch up. They're going to slow down to 20 mile days to help out but she'll have to pull 3 big days to catch them. I asked Oven if she thought it would be worth it and she does. Before dark I brushed and nestled into my tent for the night. I kept my food bag in my tent with me. It seemed silly to hang it since there was a big open trash can in the shelter. I don't see any bags hung and there's no box or pole.