Date: 2007-05-29
From: Sinking Creek Valley

To: zero
Miles today: 0.0

We hiked out of Pearisburg and made it to Symms Gap Meadow for the night. We were hoping there would be water there but it was a nasty pond that tasted like band-aids -- make a note, hikers behind me, do not plan on getting water there. Anyway - we camped there with a women named Hammock Hanger, who was doing the Allegany trail. The next day was a rough 10ish miles before we could get more water and it was HOT. We ended up making it to Bailey Gap Shelter for the night where we tented alone, as we were the only ones there. The next day, yesterday, we pulled a hard 17ish miles up Wind Rock and Kelly's Knob down to Sinking Creek Valley.   Finnegan and I were talking the day we left Pearisburg about the fact that we haven't seen much trail magic lately - the trial magic god's heard our conversation. On our way to Bailey Gap Shelter, our second day out, we came across a spray painted sign on the road that said, "Trail Magic" with an arrow pointed towards someone¢s house. At last - we meet The Capitan.   He (she?) actually has a zip line to their trail magic which was ice cold soda in a creek. We didn't get to physically meet The Capitan, but I got to play Frisbee with their dog while being refreshed. Also, on our way up to Kelly's Knob, a past hiker has a permanent cooler set up which was filled with Oreo¢s and soda. This was amazing for our Memorial Day hike. To top it all off there was a hiker feed waiting for us at Sinking Creek Valley that some local high schoolers were putting on. IT ROCKED. I was fed soup and bagels with REAL cream cheese and FRESH veggies and WATERMELON. Yeahhhh. There Finnegan and I met a young fellow named Gordon - a future AT hiker, now a junior in high school. His family has an asparagus farm and he grilled us some freshly picked gus. It was melt-in-your mouth. His parents offered Finnegan and me, along with five other hikers at the feed, a place to crash for the night on their asparagus farm in their barn. We took them on this offer because we discovered that our package of food we sent here hadn't yet arrived. And so, we stayed here last night and discussed the next month's hike. We decided that since we have to meet my mom around June 25 and be in Conn. June 3rd for Finnegan's grandpa's 90th birthday - instead of trying to rush to get there we are having the family we are staying with take us to Catawba tomorrow. We might have to skip a few more days again too, but I'd rather skip a little bit then be rushed. So, for now we have been invited to dinner at the house this evening and since they have been nice enough to let us take showers, I don't smell that bad so Finnegan and I will be their guests and tomorrow we are off to Catawba! Also, we have seen the most wildlife in the past 3 days then the whole trip combined. Finnegan saw a baby bear cub waddle across the trail - of course I was too busy talking to see it and once I realized what was going on my big cowboy hat blocked by view. We have also seen 7 snakes, two of which we think were water moccasins, 4+ rabbits, 2 deer, and one baby (and by baby I mean the size of a cat) fawn. It was really neat to see all of that in such a short time. Hope we see more soon and that this finds everyone well!