Date: 2011-05-28
From: Day 79 Marble Spring Campsite

To: Day 80 Wildwood Campground
Miles today: 7.7

It rained most of the night and there was a dense fog when we woke up. There wasn't any great incentive to get up because we didn't have too far to go to get to my next resupply box, and even less incentive with everything still wet from last night. We finally left camp at 10:00 in a damp fog. Listening to a local weather report last night on my pocket radio, it was supposed to be way less humid and sunny. It was not. The temps were about 62* but the dew point was 62* also so we were sweating immediately and any concerns over putting on wet clothes quickly faded. We got to the Matts Creek shelter and had lunch, while we were there, Pain & Suffering showed up so we continued our lively conversation. Pain made an observation; the trail was made by sadist for masochists. Not really sure I agree but the way he said it was funny, I guess you just had to be there. After lunch it was a short 2 mile hike to the road crossing where we were going to call the campground for a  shuttle. On the way we had to cross over the Janes river on the longest foot-traffic-only bridge on the AT. Coincidently the bridge was dedicated, 10/14/2000, to the memory of William T. Foot (1946-2000) in addition to being a thru-hiker it was his vision, persistence and efforts that made this bridge a reality. When we finally got to the road, I had no cell service, no surprises there, so we Yogied in the parking lot for a ride and finally Jack, a local kayaker offered to take us to the campground.  The Wildwood campground is a great family destination. It has 50 sites for everybody from the largest RV getting 3 point hookups, to hikers with nothing but our packs. There are places to play horse shoes, shuffleboard, swings, seesaws and many other family activities.  Bathrooms & showers are included in the fee and there is a laundry room we can use as well as a small camp store for snacks, milkshakes and ice cream.  The first site they put is on was a "primitive" site but didn't have a table so we had to upgrade to a 2 point site to get one, and we also then got electric so we now can recharge our phones etc. As with any family campground, there are many families with  kids of all ages, so the camp is alive with the sounds of children playing, laughing and making new friends. This place reminds me of the many campgrounds I stayed at with my family as a child, especially Lake Kandle & Hospitality Creek, and I have many fond memories from them. After setting up camp it was off to the showers. Now time for dinner and with no food services available at the campground, we asked Ken the local shuttle driver for suggestions, so he took us to a local place where we could get take out food. Back at camp we were invited by one of our neighbors, Seth & Terry Miller, to play cards after dinner and we accepted. They have an exceptional little boy, Robert, age 3 that thinks and acts like an adult. He is amazing to be around. We played cards (a## ho$e) late into the night, having a great time with our new friends. I'm on page 70 (US 501, VA130) in the A. T. Guide by David Miller  (the green book)........Temps, it's 65* in my tent right now (12:30am) and we are expecting a clear calm night. There is a very light wind and a loud chorus of crickets. Today is Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend so the campground is full with everything from high end RV's, with multiple rooms that slide out and a garage in the back for their ATV's, to 5th wheel monsters and regular travel & tent trailers, along with  thru-hikers in just their tents like Tramp and myself. I even saw a couple of bike-cycle campers who peddled in towing a one wheel trailer holding all their camping gear.  A complete mix of camping setups all here for the same reason, a little R&R. Tonight I am not on the Appalachian Trail, but it's never out of my heart. We will stay here over the holiday weekend to rest, recharge and resupply......Total AT miles hiked today 7.7Nite all