Date: 2011-06-14
From: Terrapin Station Shelter

To: Manassas Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Befuddled morning leads to late start out of town and the hostel. Was a good day of hiking though even with a ton more food than I need for a couple days.So woke up and got on the early shuttle to town and did my shopping. At the register I realized I didn't have my wallet and things got hectic. I managed to get Smiley to pay for my food so didn't have to put everything back, but I didn't have enough cash to give her when we got back. I had to take the second shuttle pickup trip back to town to get cash and breakfast. The second one though had two side trips and was only to pickup the second group by that time I couldn't get breakfast and had to get food at a gas station where the atm was, a turkey sandwich and potato wedges. Finally get back to the hostel and start back to the trail at 11:00. Needed to do 19 miles to catch Smiley and Blackfeet to pay them back. As I start the side trail back to the trail which comes out in the neighborhood of the hostel I spot a bear. He was not in a big hurry to run from me and stopped to check me out as I was walking. I eventually banged my poles together and he ran off. That makes 7 bears total now. I think I forgot to mention that I saw one crossing a street the other day. You know you have been in the woods for to long when you are crossing a semi busy highway and see a bear crossing the same street 100 yards farther down and stop to check him out. You then realize you are standing in a highway with cars coming at you and wondering what you are doing. So back today I get going down the trail and fairly early i come upon what looks like a school class sitting around the trail. As i am walking up the teacher says here comes one now. She asks a few questions and it seems that they where on a field trip learning about the trail and area I guess. After leaving them I came up with a perfect shirt idea. It would have on the front "Answers for" and then below that a piece of velcro. You would then have multiple strips that would connect to it that read: candy, food, soda, beer, and any other sorted things. Then people will know to feed the hungry hiker. Might have to make one with sew on lettering and give it a try. Later I actually catch Smiley within 4 miles, apparently they where going pretty slow and I caught them at some trail magic where someone had left a pitcher of sweet tea. The trail walked right behind some houses and they had left it out for hikers. The tea actually tasted just like what I grew up on. The next shelter at about nine miles I took a good break before pushing on five more miles to the next shelter. Had some pretty big climbs compared to what we have lately but make it there ok. Here I was giving myself to six to decide if I wanted to do the next five to where I wanted to go. At six I was staying put. Relaxed and made a fire to cook in and had a bunch of food. The last two days the hunger has kicked back in and I can't stop eating. Made mashed potatos with kielbasa, velvetta and jalapeno along with some garlic salt and tons of pepper, was really good. Now I am going to sleep soon.Just a couple days from Harpers Ferry the celebrated half way point though its actually about seventy or more miles short of it. The actual half way is near Pine Grove park where the half gallon challenge is, I am not only going to try to finish but want to try to set a new record, what ever that is, I believe it is around 12 minutes.