Date: 2008-06-08
From: Smith Roach Gap, Shenandoah National Park, VA

To: Swift Run Gap, Shenandoah National Park, VA
Miles today: 4.6

I was so tired when I crawled into my tent last night that I remember laying down and thinking about the day for a minute, then it was morning!I woke up a little after 6am, but didn't want to even think about facing the black flies again this morning, so I just laid there.I heard Rainbow Slick getting the fire going, so I figured I'd get up and keep him company.I asked him how the bugs were and he said there's some out there, so I had my headnet on when I got out of the tent.I didn't want the sudden mass swarming of the black flies like I had yesterday morning.I got out and packed up my tent, then I realized the black flies weren't all that bad. There were some, but they were tolerable.I put my headnet away and walked up to the water spigot and filled my water bottles.Our plan for today was to just take it easy this morning and enjoy breakfast.Rainbow Slick was only going to walk to Swift Run Gap with me before they were going to head for home.I wasn't sure what I was going to do after that. Data service has pretty much been non existent here in Shenandoah and I was way behind in my journaling.I decided that I'd have them run me down the hill to the motel in Elkton, VA and if there was data service, I'd stay and take it easy, and catch up on my journaling, but if there wasn't any data service, I'd just have them drop me back off at Swift Run Gap and I'd keep walking north.Rainbow Slick had the fire going good and was starting the French toast and bacon, so I took the new percolator that Goosebump The Snow Princess bought just for me and I started coffee.I hadn't used one before and the first cup of coffee I pour looked like weak tea, so I poured it back in the pot and brewed it another 5 minutes. It came back great! :-)I was sitting there sipping my coffee when I saw Goosebump The Snow Princesses hand sticking outside her tent waiting for her cup. :-)Everyone started getting up.....slowly.Jen got up, Little Jack Spencer, Baby Bump, Goosebump The Snow Princess and finally, poor ol' Mike, the hurtin' pup. ;-)Breakfast took a long time. We all sat around in no particular hurry to do anything.Rainbow Slick told me a story that I just had to repeat.Bay Bump's cousin came over to their home for a visit a while back. She called Rainbow Slick; ¢Uncle Mark".Baby Bump thought that sounded cute, so she started calling her dad "Uncle Mark".Goosebump The Snow Princess' parents came over one day and they got to talking about what Baby Bump was calling her dad.To demonstrate, Goosebump The Snow Princess asked Baby Bump who her daddy was and she said; "Uncle Mark".Well, Goosebump The Snow Princess' parents said; "What if someone asks Baby Bump who her daddy is and she says; "Uncle Mark"? Hummmmmm :-)We packed everything up after breakfast.There was a lot of stuff! :-)When we were all loaded up, Goosebump The Snow Princess dropped Rainbow Slick and me off at Smith Roach Gap and we started walking north on the Appalachian Trail.This was the first day on this year's walk that I didn't carry a backpack.We had a 900 foot climb to start off with. We passed by the sidetrail to Hightop Hut without stopping.We did stop just before the summit of Hightop Mountain when we came to a nice cold spring.I drank about a liter of water and filled my bottle.Rainbow Slick poured water....COLD water all over his shirt. I couldn't watch! Just the thought of it took my breath away. :-)We got to the summit and took a short break at an overlook. There was a nice breeze blowing out on the rocks....a breeze we couldn't feel in the woods.The temperature was supposed to hit 99 degrees again today and the humidity was also here.We had a 1,000 foot descent to Swift Run Gap.Goosebump The Snow Princess was there waiting on us when we walked out of the woods at noon.Goosebump The Snow Princess drove us to South River Picnic Area where we found a picnic table in the shade and had a few sandwiches and some fruit for lunch.We were packing up to leave when I saw Bus Driver walking in.I called him over and we started giving him a bunch of food.Sunbeam was there also, then Forecast and Aggie came in, then Kyonite and Sunkist.We gave them lunch meat, bananas, apples, candy, Little Debbie pies and the coconut mini donuts that Hog On Ice gave me.I kept the chocolate and the powdered ones for my breakfast, but coconut is one food I really don't care for....but a hiker did get it! :-)We also gave them a watermelon and Bus Driver said he was going to pack it out to the next shelter and sit it in the spring before they ate it. :-)We drove down the hill and found that there was data service at the Elkton Motel, so I got a room and stayed.I REALLY want to thank Goosebump The Snow Princess and Rainbow Slick for the fun weekend....and they fed me till I couldn't eat anymore! THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! :-)I didn't walk far in the last few days, but that's ok! I more fun than you can shake a stick at. ;-)I posted lots of pictures for each of the last three days...some of the places and some of the faces, but all of the everyday adventure of another great day along the Appalachian Trail. :-)PS I updated the last three days from my memory....and it's not a very good memory, so I know I've left a lot out. Hope you enjoy the bits I did remember. :-)