Date: 2003-04-29
From: Pond Campsite 2 miles So.of Chestnut Knob

To: Bland,VA (Big Walker Motel)
Miles today: 23.3

Day 47 Avg Mls/Day 12.3Weather: Overcast, a few light showers in the morning. Clearing and partly cloudy in the afternoon. High in the 70'sCharlie and I had decided day before yesterday we would try to make it to Bland in two days from Atkins. We did it, but it wasn't easy I'm laying here in bed writing this tired as hell. I'm not doing another 20+ tomorrow...I think it's going to be more like 12 miles. Charlie has a mail drop, so he has to wait for the post office to open. We probably won't be hiking together tomorrow.Last night Charlie got up in the midle of the night and shined his light on what he thought was a wolf. I could hear him yelling, "Git!" from my tent. In the morning, we took off hiking around 7 and this yellow lab mix dog was following us at a distance. (We decided this was the wolf Charlie saw) When we approached her she was quite shy. She followed us 2 miles to the Chestnut Knob Shelter where I gave her some crackers I didn't want. She folowed us for a few more miles along some high rocky ridge lines. We passed this couple out hiking with their own dog. Later when we were all stopped for a break, they told us after giving it some of their dog's food, it turned around and started following a SOBO hiker. If it had followed us to Bland, I was going to try find it a home. I'm hoping it was from one of the farms we passed by yesterday and can eventually find its way home. It had a way a pulling at your heart strings.The hike was different today in that the morning was filled with rocks. By that I mean we were slowed by the Trail having more than usual. It definitly slowed our pace. Until 3 p.m. we were averaging less than 2 miles per hour. We were taking a break where someone left some trail magic just past VA 615 Laural Creek, (Charlie and I split the last can of V8) when I decided to pick up the pace and see how quickly we could do the last 6.9 miles. Believe it or not it took us just 2 hours to do that last section...we were really moving! When we got to the highway to Bland there was Gambler, Ben and another hiker enjoying some trail magic from a local, George Fisher. George is a great guy who had befriended Soleman. (Soleman died unexpectedly 4 days before his thru-hike was to begin. He was/is on trailjournals) George is out here doing Trail magic for Soleman's friends and other hikers. He gave Charlie and me cold sodas and a ride to the motel. Thanks again George...it's much appreciated!We were fortunate in that the last 7 miles were gradual switchbacks. Otherwise we we would have never made such good time. As I said earlier, I'm only looking at doing around 12 miles tomorrow.Went to the Dairy Queen across from the motel for supper...chicken finger salad, bar-b-q pork sandwich, large fries and chocolate shake. Picked up a few supplies next door and returned to my room. Got an email from Liteshoe saying she lost her wallet with I.D., credit cards, license, etc. She re-hiked the section of the Trail several times looking for it without success!Thought for the Day: Some days (like tomorrow) you don't have any goals...just see what comes to pass.