Date: 2014-04-25
From: Three Ridges Mountain

To: Dripping Rock (BRP mile 9.6) and Tree Streets Inn
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: light rain

The wind picked up overnight, and though there was a pretty sunrise, it looked to be a changing weather sort of day. I decided to go to the Maupin Field Shelter to cook breakfast, as I was low on water. It took an hour and 45 minutes to do the 2.9 miles, because the trail, though mostly downhill, was pretty rocky. I met several hikers out for day hikes or long weekends. One section-hiking couple, Grumpy and Sleepy, said they had been at the shelter with Tuesday, who was going to try to make Waynesboro before the PO closed.There were four young men working on a fire near the shelter. All were southbound and said it was supposed to rain. They were going to stay for the day. I got water, cooked breakfast, and talked with them. It wound up being a longer break than I had planned. Not long after I left, a gentle rain began, and I put on my rain jacket and pack cover. Soon, I added the rain pants and even rain mittens to protect my hands from the wind and rain. I wish I had put on the gaiters, but I didn't suspect the deluge that was to come. The trail went along but below a ridge and was quite rocky. The wet rocks were slippery, which slowed me down. Since the trail was going to cross the Blue Ridge Parkway, I began to fantasize about calling the Tree Streets Inn, where I had reservations for Saturday, to see if I could come a day early -- and if there might be a shuttle person who could pick me up. A clap of thunder confirmed that my plan of camping on the ridge was not a wise one. When I came to an overhanging rock that offered some shelter from the rain, I checked for a cell signal. For the first time all day, there was one, and a strong one at that. Bill at Tree Streets said a room was available and to call him when I got to the BRP, and he would pick me up.About two minutes after I packed up the phone and started walking, the rain began coming down much harder, with more lightning and thunder. Two were particularly close, but I felt fairly safe a hundred feet or so below the top of the ridge. The rain changed to small hail, a bit larger than bee bees, but I kept on moving. At one point, I smelled smoke, not wood burning, but something else. Then there were sirens on the ridge. I don't know what happened, but I guessed the lightning had hit something. I was dry in my rain gear, but my feet were practically sloshing in my boots. However, by the time I got up to the Parkway, the rain had stopped, and the sun was coming out. It gave me a chance to get out of the rain gear and wet boots and dry some things before Bill arrived. What a lovely inn he and Nickie have, and their hospitality is amazing. I am on the third floor in a room called the Bird's Nest. The rooms downstairs are named for trees -- the street names in this part of town are tree names. I showered and called my cousin, Jane, which I had been wanting to do. We had a good talk, and then I headed for the Green Leaf Grill, a restaurant Bill recommended. Since it was Friday night, they were busy, but there was room for me at the bar. I ordered a local beer, Full Nelson, a hoppy pale ale from the Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton, VA. Excellent. I also devoured a salad and steak and mashed potatoes, followed by another beer and cheesecake. This kind of eating is fun! Then the walk back up the hill and a cozy bed.