Date: 2009-05-11
From: Blue Ridge Parkway mile 51.7

To: Buena Vista US 60
Miles today: 10.9

I now have my car so I drove it up to the Blue Ridge Parkway where I had stopped last week when I went back to Damascus. N37 40.426W79 20.081.I had a late start and didn't get to the trail until 3 pm. I thought I would do a quick 10 miles (to the next road) and hitch back to my car.When I parked my car there were about 22 VIrginia Military Institute cadets on maneuvers sitting in the parking lot. After they left I found MRE (Meals Ready To Eat) wrappers on the ground. A trash barrel was 20 feet away so I picked up their trash and put it in the trash. Later along the trail I saw several MRE boxes discarded on the side of the trail I must say that the folks from VMI didn't do a very good job preparing their students for a forray into the woods. Any good hiker knows that you pack out your trash. I have met college students from many of the Southern states , especially during spring break and not one littered. Unfortunately at VMI the priority must be on playing soldier in the woods and not following the etiquette of the trail or the federal laws of national parks. I can just see these future warriors being stalked by the enemy who could simply follow the trail of trash right to the VMI trained soldiers camp. I saw more trash from this group than I have seen on the trail all the way from Georgia. I hate to preach about this but I have always seen how people are awed by the name VMI, like it was Annapolis or West Point. I simply was not impressed, enough said.The walk was easy as it went up and down across the hills next to the parkway. It skirted a lake and then passed the remnants of a free slave community that existed next to a stream until the 1920's. It had a couple of signs explaining that the community used to be here and it retold stories of life at the community as told to historians. One story was about eating "ashes cake" where the sweet bread was cooked on the hearth and covered by ashes. The mother would brush the ashes off of the bread with a handmade corn broom so tha no ashes or burnt taste was left. The bread was suppossed to be sweeter than any bread baked in an oven and the children often had ashes bread and milk for their meal. All that is left of the site now is a few walls along the creek as the land was sold to the forest Service in the 20's.When I came out of the woods I found myself on Route 60 but not where I thought it would be. I had entered the blueridge parkway from Rt 60 but the trail crossed Rt 60 about 6 miles away from that. then my car was another 6 miles down the parkway. I wasn't sure what way was the right way to go and I saw a truck leaving the Methodist Church so I walked out into the road and stopped the truck to ask for directions. The occupants , a mother, father and 6-8 year old daughter took all the space in the truck but they offered me a ride if I didn't mind sitting in the truck bed. No problem so off we went in the wind and curvy road up the mountain. At the BRParkway I got out and started walking towards my car which was parked 6 miles away. In the first 2 miles 2 cars passed me then mile 3 no one came by. At this point it was getting dark and my feet were sore. I did see 4 deer cross the road at various places as I startled them but no cars. Then at 2.7 miles to go Bruce came along in a Toyota truck and picked me up. He said he was just driving to the overlook to see the view but agreed to take me back to my car. He was "heaven sent" because I was really disgusted with the hike at that point. Talking to him about the hike and getting back to my car improved my outlook on things and when I got back to town I soaked my feet in Epsom salts and relaxed. Tommorrow I will take a zero day and then on Wed I plan on heading back to Damascus for TRAILDAYS. After that I am going to Chicago to the National Restaurant Show, then to Baltimore to pick Patty up for a visit to our daughters. I will be back on the trail with Patty (for a week) in 14 days.So until then if you are in journal withdrawl try walking to the grocery store or around the neighborhood. Everything is better when you are moving.At this point I would like to RECAP1. 797 miles completed 2. 1Bear, several Deer,7 wild ponies, 1 Racoon, 8 turtles, 2 salamanders, 3lizards, 1 frog, 2 rabbits, 1 orange newt, many chipmunks and squirrels and birds and an owl all have been seen on the trail.3.Flowers galore, perfume scents fill the air, and green diversity throughout the forest. Watching spring start slow and explode into full bloom.4. Slept in Snow, rain, icey cold conditions and high winds with sunny days about a third of the time.5. I have hiked with several people but also alone. I have slept in shelters alone and in shelters with 17 people. I have met people from all over the US and also other countries with New Zealanders being the most from other countries.6. I have been discouraged and sore and in pain and miserably cold and wet along with exhilirated at the physical challenges, excited by the views and natural beauty and blessed for all the kind people I have met on the trail and in the towns.7. I am amazed at the priorities I now have , water, warmth, real food and rest.and the things I don't miss ( news, traffic, mail, stores, fastfood)8. Virginia is my favorite for the scenery and beauty ( not for the hiking, it is not easy)9.The Smokies are a must do for anyone who can make it and walk across the 70 mile park.10. I am refreshed by the hiker community each time I discuss the trail with a fellow hiker.O.M. River