Date: 2015-06-14
From: Nero Day in Clifton

To: Signal Knob Campsite
Miles today: 16.4

Today, Gary, Yoda and I were going to hike about 12 miles from where we stopped yesterday and then go for pizza. I think pizza breaks really enhances the hike!We were going to leave the car at our end point and had arranged for a shuttle to get from there to the start. Except the trail crosses the road we were supposed to be on multiple times and we were in the wrong spot. Fortunately we discovered this in time and with the help of Yoda's Guthook app found the right crossing. Mike from Terrapin Station Hostel was still there and he got us back to 522 without further issues. Phew.The hike today was, sadly especially for Gary, not very interesting. There were no views whatsoever. That and the mostly easy trail, did make for fast progress, but a view is always nice. We ran into Outro fairly early on and told her about our pizza detour. She did not need much convincing to join us. Because today was hot and sticky, the trail magic at rt 55 was particularly welcome. I forgot the names of the father and son who put it on, but the son had Sobo'd a couple of years ago and clearly knew exactly what hikers like most. So there were cold sodas, fruit, water to top off the bottles, cold candy bars and more. Thank you and I am sorry I didn't remember your names!We also met Champagne Jam again, who I hadn't seen since Damascus. He has had to do a lot of resting his knees and had just gotten back on again. Sadly, I don't think his knee issue has improved.When I got to the side trail to the parking lot where our car was, Outro and Yoda were there, but there was no sign of Gary. Uh oh. He had walked right by it and gone another mile plus before he realized he had gone too far. As he walked back, he ran into Champagne Jam who told him about the side trail and Outro had gone ahead at her speedy pace to meet him as well. I predicted to Yoda that we'd see the two of them come running up the trail and sure enough, that was exactly what happened! It had started to rain and really came down while we drove to Front Royal for pizza, so that was excellent timing!We enjoyed our pizzas at the Melting Pot and then Gary dropped the three of us off again. Our plan was to hike to the next shelter, which was only a couple of miles further. When we got there, it wasn't a great site and it was early enough to move another mile to the Signal Knob camp site, so that's what we did. As it turns out, this is a lovely camp site, at least for tents. Yoda and Outro both have hammocks and there are very very few trees. So, I was a bit doubtful but they made it work.As if turned out, O'Ryan is here, whose brother Jim reads my journal (hi Jim!) and had told me to keep an eye out because O'Ryan was about to catch me. So that was fun!We also met trail angel Graceful Not, who had left water earlier and drove up with cold (!) Gatorade when she came to collect the empties. That hit the spot too! Thanks much Graceful Not!Tomorrow we'll pass 1000 miles and end up at trail institution Bears Den Hostel. Oh, and we'll enter the roller coaster on the way. It should be a good day!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?