Date: 2003-05-22
From: Cow Pasture before Mt. Roger's

To: Wise Shelter 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Last night's sleep in the pasture wasn't as peaceful as I expected it would be. I kept thinking thinking that I heard foot steps - of deer - or cow - or something, right around my tent. No doubt it was simply my tent blwoing in the wind. I woke up around 6 this morning and stayed bunked, hoping the fog would clear. I waited patiently until 9. Then I began to get ready for the day. I finally left camp around 11 with a fully saturated tent, even having used my camp towel again and again on my single-wall condensation inside-dew outside tent. I couldn't sop up enough of the water. I had a quick breakfast of bagel, penutbutter and my hot drink of cocoa and coffee. I left before TABA or Jay and got to the Thomas Knob Shelter in no time. I met No Pain there and saw some other folks slackpacking - Baltimore Jac, Smokey and Chris. Also saw Ribbit and Wrong Way. I had unlayered when I arrived at the shelter so I made the stay quick and left for Grayson Highlands. I had heard from so many people not to rush through the highlands - that I sould appreciate it. Of course, having nice weather would have facilitated the enjoyment of the scenery. I hiked on, crossed a style and walked in to a clearing. Then in to a forest. In the thicket I was looking around trying to spot some hourses. On my right I saw a huge fire circle - the third in several hundred yards - and thought "Geez, there are a lot of fire circles around here." Just as I said that to myself, I saw a movement to my left. There I saw a brown pony eating with his mane covering his eyes. When I moved backwards to get a better glance I saw three more taking cover in the trees. Cool! At least I could say that I saw some. I hiked on through rocks, roots and mud - paying close attention to where the next blaze might be - as the fog made it difficult to track them down. Finally, I came up on Tom for Short and Senica Lou. We had a nice talk. I moved on and ran in to Jay. I talked with him for a while, then TABA joined us. We all hiked together for a good long while. TABA took off in a flash. I was starving and couldn't wait to reach the next shelter for lunch. I had spotted a nice flat rock and stopped to eat. Jay and I weren't there five minutes when we heard TABA's loud voice and others' ahead. We couldn't be too far from the shelter. When we got to the shelter I was still on the fence about whether I wanted to move on or not. I sat down with my databook and decided I could still be on time for my Pearisburg arrival if I do 18,13,10 combo for the next three days. That seemed feasable, so I decided to stay here at Wise. It would give me a chance to dry out my tent. Much to my surprise Jay and TABA stayed too. I thought for sure they would do the miles out of here. I colleced fire wood after settling in. TABA worked hard to get it started in the spitting rain and moist air. I ended up burning a hole in one of my socks that was drying next to the fire. I guess I'll have to darn it later. At the shelter tonight are: ElWood (creepy guy whose stories just don't add up - "Uh, yeah, I let someone at traidays borrow my tent and they never gave it back." - ok, who let's someone they don't know borrow a tent? Who comes out on the trail without their tent? Not to mention his story about his son being one of the three killed thus far in the Iraqi war - and he didn't even bother with funeral arrangements...that's odd. Then there was the story of him hiking all around Mexico before coming to hike the AT (in a pair of jeans!). I don't trust him. Grettle is here, too. Ribbit and Wrong Way, Green Turtle came in and slept on the picnic table. I think that's it.