Date: 2005-10-10
From: Humpback Parking, BRP mile 6

To: Rockfish Gap US 250, I-64
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today is Monday October tenth. we got up this morning, I think the alarm went off, but we slept in and got up late. We had to stop and buy some milk and then we had our cereal up on the Parkway. We dropped off the car right there at Rockfish Gap and I-64, the rental car. We drove on up to Humpback Rocks parking area. And got ready and got on the trail, no, had to go to the bathroom, so we drove back to Humpback Rocks Visitor Center, which worked out real good. And we went back, got ready, and we were on the trail at 9:55. We took the middle trail straight down on the old Howardville turnpike and in about a quarter mile it hit the Appalachian Trail and it was a real nice and gentle on the old road. And so Ten o'clock we're on the Appalachian Trail going north. And in about a mile we hit the, well actually there's two places, where this loop trail comes into the Appalachian Trail. And the second intersection was at a mile and that was at about 10:30. Something likes that. And then we continued on, and as bad as yesterday trail was, this trail was that good. It was gentle, no big rocks. Downhill and gentle, it started out it was it was foggy, pretty foggy and then things got better. Finally somewhere in the late morning, we got out of the fog and then not too long after that the sun came out. It didn't last long; we got to the Paul Wolfe shelter at eleven fifteen. While we're sitting there a hiker comes up. And we talk to him for a little while and he's just out to get away from his job that is driving him crazy. And he just hikes in and then back out to his car, day hikes. And then we left there at twelve noon and it was up hill out of the shelter but they were on long switchbacks nice and gentle. We looked up and saw three deer in the trail, middle deer wasn't going fast, and it would stop, and the last deer was kicking him to make him move. Reminds me of when I stop to look at a flower. Kept going on, the sun went away. The Trail was still very nice and then finally in the last couple miles, we would get on these old roads and that worked out real nice. Had a few rough spots  and we had two or three creek crossings that were pretty easy but they all take a little time. And always there's a chance of falling at crossings. And then about twenty minutes before we get to the car, it starts drizzling. And I said "Why can¢t it just hold off", and it never did anything more than drizzle.  Finally you come out into an opening in the forest and then up on to the Blue Ridge Parkway, right at Rockfish Gap. We crossed over Hwy 250 and there was a parking lot, and there was our car at 2:35. So then we went back to our other car, decide to leave our rental car at Humpback Rocks. I guess we did 7.5 miles on the Appalachian Trail. So tomorrows hike will be Seven miles. We drove some back roads straight down the mountain. And we decide we want to go to our favorite motel, Days Inn on exit 217 on I-81, with the free continental breakfast and waffles in the morning. Got here four o'clock, just been goofing off, we went over and got Subway. Three foot long Subways and then been watching TV and reading, and like I say, goofing off, and now it's time for bed.