Date: 2009-05-15
From: 2.5 miles south of Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I. noneII. WOD: Peleton - i don't really know the definition, but remember it referring to the main pack of riders in the Tour de France, which follows the "break-awaqy" riders and is ahead of the laggardsIII. Report - Yesterday was a very tough day mentally. Taking a phrase from noted American spokesman, yogi Berra, 90% of hiking is half mental. The wind picked up te nite before and was strong and steady all day, varying from 20-30 knots. I was hiking most on the ridge for probably 10 miles or so. i saw a couple of NOBOers around 1000 who reporte they had left Rice field Shelter around 0800. This sounded good and i gave myself another hour, hoping to arrive there around 100 pm, with a short 5 miles into town. My jury-rigged pack was still giving me considerable challenges, knees were hurting a bit, and the wind was still strong. About three pm I took a long rest break, and notived that I was still 2 miles from shelter, and that town was actually 7 miles further. Mentally, i quit and gave up ontrying to make it into town. I tried to fix a cup of noodles; but wind was so strong, i couldn't keep my stove going, even with a wind screen. Tried the cup of noodles anyway using tepid water - crunchy!! I then went to re-juryrig my pack for the third time and then set off to make it as close to town as possible. I even prepared a text msg to stay i wouldn't make town that nite; but didn't transmit it. I finally got to the shelter around 4 pm. My pack was feeling the best since it was eaten by the $%#$%& varmints, the wind had suddenly calmed, the trail got considerbly easier, and it was all downhill. i really began to make up time and later passed NOBO who said it was easy hike to town and that I should be able to make it easily. He even suggested skiping last two miles and hitchhiking from a 4 lane highway. I cruised to the highway; but passed on the hitchhiking part, and it was only 2 miles to town. The NOBO failed to mention the little hills in te last 2 miles. There were 3 up/downs of probably 300 feet, then a bridge crossing New River. There, I could seea Ford dealership just up the road; but it wasn't shown on my town map and the trail went up another hill. What's one more hill - well about 400 ft, plus it was rarely used, lots of blowdown and spider webs. AND, it ended up at the ford dealership where there was a sign that my motel exit was 1/2 mile ahead. i took a city street to the motel, another mile and all uphill, finally arriving about 700 pm. Pigged out on pizza and beer. tomorrow will be zero day in town.When Lumpy and started SOBO, we may have seen maybe 1 or 2 NOBOs a week. THen 3 or 4 week, then maybe 1 or 2 a day, and now its maybe a dozen or more per day. Hence, I am currently seeing the NOBO peleton. It will probably be a bit down right now, as Damacus is holding its Trail Daze celebration this weekend. Damacus and AT have a special relationship and many hikers make special trip to Damacus for the festivities. In fact, the motel has a flyer about shuttle service to Damacus for Trail Daze. IV.V POD: Libra Lady - special person who prefers to remain private and so it shall be