Date: 2008-05-07
From: South Fork Holston River, VA

To: Relax Inn, Atkins, VA
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: clear sky

I woke up at 5:30am because I wanted to get an early start.I brewed 18.3 ounces of coffee, and then ate two Poptarts and some nuts for breakfast.It was cool enough this morning that I had to wear my jacket while I drank my coffee and listened to another brown thrush, a duck quacking in the river and some other bird.I was packed up and walking north on the Appalachian Trail at 6:45am.I had a deer down the hill from me get scared and run off. I cracked right through a branch and made it snap. They don't usually do that.Maybe some deer need glasses too. ;-)I was walking along and could hear a turkey gobbling off to my left.I ran into Mary Poppins and August who are walking south back to Trail Days, but they are thru hiking.I got to Partnership Shelter and was surprised to see lots of stuff left lying around. I couldn't sign the register because it was full. :-(I walked over to the Visitors Center and met Tail Gate and AquaMaria.AquaMaria got outfitted by some friends at Travel Country Outfitters near Orlando, FL. They will remember her as Christen.She says hello and is having a great time! :-)I sat there and talked to them and ate some diced peaches and some Cheetos.I filled up a water bottle and walked on.The next road I crossed, a gravel road, had a "Road Work Ahead" sign right in the middle of the Appalachian Trail.I caught up to AquaMaria and Tale Gate and took their picture, then climbed the next hill.Glade Mtn had been recently burned. I always forget just how rocky this short section of trail is, but my feet were reminding me.I stopped briefly to talk to two sobos finishing up last year's walk....Twisted Sister, who broke her leg last year and her hiking partner. (I forgot his name)I got to Chatfield Shelter and saw G-town Colonel getting water. I hadn't seen him since Damascus.I also met another girl and Canuck.I ate some chicken salad and crackers for lunch, and then walked on.It was the warmest day yet out here and my shirt had some salt stains on it.I stopped by the old school house near the Settler's Museum and signed the register.There were two caretakers working outside, so I stopped and talked to them for a while.I had always wondered what happened to the old, multi year register that used to be in the school house. They told me that had been stolen along with a few other items....including an American flag.I was thinking of you Rambunny (for some reason) when I walked through this area. :-)I walked into Atkins and stopped at the truck stop for a soda, some chips and a sandwich. It was 3pm and I didn't want to ruin my dinner, so I just made it a light snack. :-)I got a room at the Relax Inn and dropped my pack off inside.I started to take my shoes off and realized I was pretty dirty, so I walked outside and sat on the bench to take my shoes off. (and I even took a bandanna bath last night)I started talking to two hikers and just caught a glimpse off a silver car pulling into the motel parking lot.I had called Mother Nature and Smokestack this morning to wish them luck on their walk that they were leaving for today. I thought they were taking another route to get to Harpers Ferry, WV, but when I got up to look, it was Mother Nature!She pulled in and parked, hopped out of the car, asked which room I was in and rushed in to pee. :-)I stayed out of her way because she looked serious! :-)Smokestack pulled in behind her and we were outside talking when Mother Nature re-appeared....with a smile on her face. :-)She gave me a hug, even though I hadn't had time to shower and wash my clothes yet. :-)We talked a while, then they decided to stay for the night, so while they got a room, I went in my room and took a shower. I washed my clothes and my body in the shower.I usually let my clothes dry naturally, but I had company, so I put my wet stuff back on and went outside to talk and dry off.We decided about 5 minutes later that I was hungry and needed to eat!We headed 10 miles into Marion, VA since they had a car and we ate at Tuscan Italian Grill ...a very good Italian restaurant.I had a blooming onion for an appetizer, and then had a delicious shrimp and broccoli fettuccine....and half of Mother Nature's dinner! :-)They took me to Food City where I re-supplied for the next part of my walk, and then we headed back to the motel.We sat outside for about 2 1/2 minutes before I started yawning and headed in for bed. :-)Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)