Date: 2003-06-27
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Miles today: 0.0

Day 89 6/21/03 mm812.7 4.8milesIt's cool and windy but the sky is blue and clear. This is hike naked day! I think I'll pass but will keep my eyes open. We passed over 30 hikers heading south today. All were dressed. We met the Hall's at the trailhead about 11:30 am and rode to the Staunton VA KOA where we did laundry and gear maintenance. Country band played in the rec hall and we danced to a couple of songs. Another long day.Day 90 6/22/03 mm825.2 12.5 milesHad breakfast at Burger King with the Hall's and then they dropped us off at the Tye River trailhead where we started hiking at 9:00am. We climbed the three Ridges to Harper Creek Shelter and took a break and then went on to May pin Field Shelter for a water stop. Great views from the ridges. We crossed the B. R. Pkwy and hiked for a couple more miles and set up camp beside the trail in the woods. Happy Feet visited for a while and moved on. It's warm tonight but no rain.Day 91 6/23/03 mm837.6 12.4 milesWe have a beautiful day, its cool with blue-sky, but the trail is rocky. We stopped for lunch on Cedar Cliff over looking the Sherando Lake Valley. Someone had left some trail magic in the form of sodas and glazed pastries - thanks whoever you are. We stopped at Paul Wolfe memorial shelter at about 5:45 pm and set up our tent near the stream. Darma Bum and Suds whom we haven't seen since NOC are camped nearby. They left the trail a while to attend his graduation from college in Washington state. We will go into Waynesboro tomorrow and stock up for Shenandoah NP section. Day 92 6/24/03 mm 892.6 5 milesHiked into the information center near Waynesboro where we got a ride to town from a trial angel named Jon Krog who drove us around town and then dropped us at the Quality Inn. We got cleaned up and did laundry while we ate lunch at Weesies. We picked up groceries and got pictures developed. Then we went to a Chinese Buffet and hogged out. Later we called Cindy and Clark and they said that they were planning to come up for a visit. Then I called Mel King and we talked for a while.Day 93 6/25/03 mm849.6 mile 7After a continental breakfast at the Quality Inn, another trail angel named Ann Dryant shuttled us back to the trailhead. Before we left town we called my sister Peggy Lee to wish her a happy Birthday. We hiked from Rockfish Gap to Bear Den Mt. where we sat on old tractor seats, which were mounted to the rocks to eat lunch. It's very hot and humid and nats are bad. When we got to Calf Mt. Shelter at 2:30 pm we decided to set up camp since the next shelter is 13 miles away and prospects of finding a campsite are not good. We set up on the flattest spot we could find. Later we were joined by Trucker (now Foxie) Matt, Circus, After shock, The dude, Happy Feet and at least 5 other section hikers. Carnage Bob, his daughter Thistle and 2 Speeds are slack packing back to Waynesboro.   Day 94 6/26/03 mm862.6 13milesWe broke camp around 8:30am and entered Shenandoah National Park a short time later. Water was scarce all day. Thanks to Carnage Bob, Thistle and 2 Speeds for trail magic in the form of sodas and oranges at Turk Gap on Skyline drive. We ate lunch near the Riprap trail parking lot. A short time later I saw a bear's butt as it disappeared off the trail about 75 foot ahead. We have a crummy campsite near Black rock Hut with lots of bugs and it's humid and warm. Day 95 6/27/03 .8 milesAbout 3:00am Seneca got up to water the rocks behind our tent. Next thing I knew she came flying into the tent door and landed on my head. I was sure a bear was after her. It would have been funny except that she hurt her hand and said that she heard a snap. We wrapped her wrist in an ace bandage and she took 3 ibuprophin. We were awake quite a while and then slept until 7:30am. By chance a ridge runner was camped next to us and he contacted a ranger who met us about .8 miles back down the trail on the Skyline drive. She transported us to Augusta Medical Center near Waynesboro where 5 hours later Seneca is sporting a fancy wrap on her tow broke metatarsals (hand bones).. Trail angel John Krog transported us to the Deluxe Budget Motel which is a dup, but Lynn's restaurant next door is really great. We called Susie and Todd to make arrangements to meet them at Louis Mt. Camp ground in SN Park. on Monday. Another wonderful trail angel named Clemet Main is going to get us back to the trail in the morning. We will find out it Seneca can walk with one hand.