Date: 2006-05-12
From: Wise Shelter

To: Dickey Gap (Marion, Va)
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

After the day we had yesterday I was hoping to wake up to a little better weather. When you can¢t fill your fingers for most of the day it takes a little bit of the fun out of the whole experience of camping. So this morning the weather was a little better but not much. Still very cold but the rain has stopped and the fog has lifted. After packing up and hitting the trail my first issue is getting a hold of Mom and Dad. They have made plans to come up this weekend, however I haven¢t had any cell reception since just after Damascus and I haven¢t been able to talk to them in a few days. The last plans we made were to meet at Grayson Highlands State Park, but since the weather was so bad yesterday we decided to push on past the park to seek better shelter and I don¢t want to backtrack. I decided to push on and try periodically to reach them in hopes they don¢t loose service as well when they start getting into the mountains. Shortly after ¢The Scales¢ I was able to get a weak signal on my phone and get a call in just long enough to set up a meeting point at Dickey Gap around 6:00pm. This allows me still to get roughly 16 miles in today in hopes I can catch back up with everyone in just a few days further up the trail.With this burden off my shoulders I took the rest of the day a little lighter. Roxy and I enjoyed what is probably our last day on the trail together and took our time getting to Dickey Gap. Why is it Roxy¢s last day on the trail you might ask? Well, since Mom and Dad are coming up I have decided it would be better for her to go back home with them while I finish the trail. She really has come along way in the past two weeks and is in much better shape than we found her. The problem that I fear is the really hot days and the in and outs of towns along the way since she really doesn¢t like all the city noises anyway. It will also give her a chance to fatten up a little and rest some so when I get home we can go camping again. She has been such a good companion and will be missed on the trail by many. So on the way out to Dickey Gap I stop to leave a few messages in the journals for Baro, Jane, Shasta, and H-Bomb letting them know if they make it to the gap by 6:00pm they would be in for some treats. Later I found out they didn¢t even stop at the shelter on the way out so they didn¢t get my messages. When I got to the gap Mom, Dad, and I waited for a bit just is in case and shortly behind was Jane and Baro. Since Mom, Dad, and I were going into town for the night I offered Jane and Baro a warm, dry place for the night and without twisting arms they were in. The only problem was the truck was completely full and we didn¢t have any idea where we were staying for the night. After a frantic (20 mile) trip to town to find not much of a selection on rooms we decided to stay at the Econo Lodge. We quickly unloaded the truck, snuck Roxy in the room, and set back off up the mountain to pick them up. Well upon arrival Shasta and H-Bomb had arrived at the gap as well and since we couldn¢t leave them behind we all crammed into mom little truck and spent the night in out little cozy room. Mom and Dad must really love me because I have a history of inviting huge numbers of people to stay in our motel rooms. Just ask them someday. After some good dinner and refreshing shower I think everyone was a little better prepared to head out on the trail tomorrow morning. Thanks guys we had a great time and hope to see you in a few days.