Date: 2007-11-06
From: Waynesbero YMCA

To: Rusty's
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: scattered clouds

mi. 20.8sleep hosteldest. Rusty's hard time Hollow day 117 I am really proud of my hanging job here. I ended up with my butt and lower back resting on the ground, but the rest of me was in the air. I put my sleeping pad on the ground underneath me, so I didn't get and cold spots. It was actually really comfortable. Not observing the time change really messed me up today. I was not late getting ready for my ride. All day though the engineer in me kept doing the math for what hour it is and what I am saying it is. If this keeps up I will give in and change my watch. Last night I decided I needed to drop some weight and bulk out of the pack. As Doctari put it, if you are not using it you lose it. I have not worn my short sleve shirt in over a week. I have been hiking in only my long one. I have also been sleeping most of my hike in my long underwear and sleeping shorts. The sleeping shorts are just swim trunks sans the lining. So decided to ditch both of them. I need the pack space for my jacket. Weight wise that adding the jacket should only add 6 or so oz to the pack. After packing up I headed back to the YMCA. If they had a hikers box I would have left them in it. But since they didn't I gave them a fairwell in the dumpster. I was filling up my water bladder when a woman asked me if I was hiking the trail. I said yes. She said that a cold front was coming through and now at 7am in the morning was the warmest it was going to be, but it wasn't going to rain. I apprisate the weather update. She could have left out the cold part though. I got picked up right about 7:30am, 8:30 my time. The guy was nice enough to stop by Burger King on the way out so I could get some Breakfest. Then he dropped me right off at the trailhead. Again this is a great town for hikers. Everyone was really nice and everything I needed was right there. What wasn't people were willing to drive me too. Thanks again. It left great again to be headed south. I stopped by the first shelter 5 miles in for a food break and to sign in. I was carrying way too much food, but loving it. I didn't want to depend on Rusty's being open or being able to shuttle me in for resupply. I noticed that Catz along with a couple others were only a 3 days in front. Somehow I was making time on them. I'm not going out of my way to catch anyone. It would be nice though to talk to some southbounders again. From the shelter to the top of the of the next bump was 6 miles via trail. I swear I only was 3 miles away via air. The rest was all switchback upoun switchback. Now don't get me wrong I like a good switchback now and then. But I felt like guy playing putt putt that can't put the ball in the hole. When his friends are like come on, just pick it up. Finally though I made it to the top. The trail is spectacular right now. In terms of foilage I am now right at the peak time. It won't take much for the wind or weather to blow the leaves off. Today was one of those prefect days were the light was just right, the trail wasn't too bad, and the leaves looked just right. A great day to be hiking. My goal all along today was Rusty's. I was shooting for it even if I had to night hike. It is getting dark around 6:45 right now. Not a lot of time. Especially when you figure in my late start from town. I was keeping a good click all day. Finally I got over the last little bump to the fire road just before the shelter. Now it is a little strange but well worth it to get to the Hollow. You have to hike on the service road for 1.5 miles to the road. Then follow the road 1.3 to his driveway, which has to be .25 long. An hour's worth of hiking. I got there right around 5:45. I figured all along it would be dark when I got there. I was trucking along. Now earlier on I noticed my headlamp was on in my pack. It had to only be on for an hour or so. I turned it off and noticed the low battery light flashing. Great always happens right out of town. So I am a little concerned with how long it is going to last. I hit the parkway in good time. Only around 30 minutes. It was starting to get dark. I had one of those moments then. One of those how did I get in the middle of nowhere VA, at dusk, hiking along a national park road, with a headlamp that was unreliable, with next to no traffic moments. Not a bad place to be, just not something I pictured myself doing when I pictured my hike. I was walking am time wise I had to be close. I looked over and saw a place off in the valley, and heard someone hammering away. I figured that had to be the place. I got the the drive and couldn't see any sign. I stop and got out the guide, and it aid it was the place. I walked over to the gate and saw Rusty's on it. Now Rusty is famous for having signs that say everything. My personal favorite is the ones that say pull when you should push and push when you should pull into his part of the place. I decided to forgo reading them and went striaght there. I walked up to see Rusty on the roof hammering away. He finished up. Then warmed up a great dinner of beans, sausage from a pig he raised, and sloppy joe mix. It tasted great, but I have a feeling I'm going to pay for it later. Later on I got the chance to sit around and relax inside next to the wood stove and chat away. The bn house wasn't heated, but there is mattresses and an extra sleeping bag. Which made me nice and toasty.