Date: 2012-11-08
From: Calf Mountain S

To: Paul C. Wolf Shelter 
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

(In which I resupply in Waynesboro, VA and eat at my first AYCE) -Currently sitting at a picnic table at the shelter-Last night, after I finished writing, a new southbounder strolled up to the shelter. His name is Goat (not The Goat) and he started on Katahdin roughly September 14th (can't remember the exact date). Whatever the exact date was, you don't need a calculator to figure out that the man is hauling arse. When we exchanged names he furrowed his brow and looked thoughfully at the ground before realizing where he had heard the name Reese before. He says "I think I have some awkward news for you. The woman at the ATC in Boiling Springs told me to tell you to call your mother." I don't think I mentioned this in a previous post, but at the ATC headquarters in Harpers Ferry, Laurie (I don't know her title but she has been working for the ATC in HP for a long time) made me call my mother because at some point in the past two months my mother sent a worried e-mail to the ATC... sigh. Thanks ma... the whole trail now believes that Reese is an irresponsible son. I suppose it's good to be loved. I thanked Goat for the news and filled him in on the story. He woke up at 6:08 this morning and had everything packed and ready to go by 6:20 - impressive. I'm sure I'll never see him again.The hitch into Waynesboro was super easy. Two fellas in a pickup with beards much longer than mine picked Piper and me up. The next thing I knew I was sitting in Weasies with an endless plate of pancakes. Wonderful start to the day. To make it even better, the fella in the next booth started to ask about my and Piper's hike and then he reached over the table, snagged the check and asked if he could pick it up for us. Of course, I told him he didn't have to but he explained his trail name is Shakedown Cruise and he's nothrbound class of 2008. Once again, a small World! After a gross amount of pancakes and a side of homefries (for variety), we headed over to the YMCA. Showers are free for hikers but for $10 you can use all the facilities - so I decided to lift. I spent about an hour in the weight room and it felt amazing to work any other part of the body than the legs. It just felt good to do something "normal" for a change too. YMCA tasks complete, I took a half hour at the library before resupplying at the Kroger. While checking out I had an unpleasant suprise - I lost my credit card. I'm sure I left it at one of the waysides in the Shenandoahs, but wherever it is, I had to call Citi, cancel the card and have them send another. Simple enough, but frustrating. In the meantime I have a debit card and cash. After a short stop at the hotdog place in town I went over to a gas station ATM where a fella stopped me to ask if I needed a ride back to the trail. What an amazing trail town this is! I was already planning to meet Piper at the outfitter (easier to hitch in pairs) so he was happy just to give me a ride that far. I loaded up on fuel at the outfitter and rather than hitch again, decided to give one of the trail angels a call from the massive list of them at the trail head (I had taken a picture of the list earlier in the day). More evidence that this could be the friendliest trail town there is. Roy answered my call and in 15 minutes Piper and I were on our way back to the trail. Two hours of night hiking later we made it to the shelter where there are two more sobos. I'm really catching up with groups now. Once again, no cell phone reception at the shelter... I'll get this blog updated sooner or later.Today's post was brought to you by Waynesboro, VA, because it is hands down the friendliest trail town I've been in yet.