Date: 2008-06-03
From: Reeds Gap (on the Trail), Dutch Haus B&B

To: Gourmet Dave & Sue's home, Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up at 6am and had lots of stuff to pack up, so I got started right away.It didn't take too long and I was out on the back porch drinking coffee. :-)Lois fixed another really good breakfast of pancakes with big apple chunks in them, corned beef hash and some fruit. I had some juice and more coffee.No one has any idea just how rough it is out here. ;-)I said goodbye to Lois and gave her a hug after settling up on the bill. I really enjoy stopping by here....and highly recommend it to any hikers coming through the area.You know it has to be good for me to walk over two miles off Trail to get to the Dutch Haus! :-)Earl drove G-town Colonel and me back out to Reeds Gap and dropped us off.I thanked Earl again. He is the only other person I've ever met that was born on the same day and year as me....12-26-52.G-town Colonel started walking north at 8:30am.I checked my cell phone and had data service, so I hung around for another 15 minutes sending in yesterday's journal entry and pictures before I started walking north on the Appalachian Trail.I walked about half a mile and the Trail crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway to the west side and the Trail got real rocky for the next 4+ miles.I just walked slowly and enjoyed carrying about three days of food when a half day's food was all I needed. :-)Gourmet Dave had emailed and said he could pick me up if I got to Waynesboro today, but he was busy volunteering at the church hostel tomorrow night, so I figured I would walk the 19 miles just so Gourmet Dave could see me again....and I could eat some of Sue's cooking. Ha! :-)I got to Cedar Cliffs and took a picture and enjoyed the view, then walked on to Dripping Rock, where the Trail crossed over the parkway to the east side. The Trail stayed on the east side for the rest of the walk into Rockfish Gap.Blaze was sitting there where there Trail crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway.He said he was hoping to get to Waynesboro today.I walked on and passed by G-town Colonel.I took a little break and gave Goosebump The Snow Princess a call to make sure her and her family were still meeting me at Loft Mountain Campground in Shenandoah on Friday.She said they were still coming and asked if I had any special requests. Well, that caught me off guard, but I've had time to think of a few things I would like to request for the weekend's campout; a 12 pack of 12 ounce Coke in cans and on ice in a cooler, a 10 cup coffee pot with filters and a full pound of Stumpknocker's Blend Coffee beans, a coffee bean grinder, 2 pounds of bacon, 2 dozen eggs, 2 pounds of potatoes, 2 onions, half a gallon of orange juice...not from concentrate, a cast iron skillet and utensils to cook with, 1 pound of hotdogs...preferably in natural casings, 2 pounds of ground sirloin, Bush's Best Baked Beans, potato chips with mango salsa, a nice 16 ounce ribeye (for Friday night), a large lobster(for Saturday night), a good Greek salad loaded with feta cheese and shrimp, a green bean casserole, half a gallon of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream on dry ice, a chocolate birthday cake with "Happy Birthday Stumpy" written on it with pink icing, and any other goodies that Goosebump The Snow Princess might think of, including napkins, a hammock and Pepto Bismal.I'm thinking I've forgotten something. Hummmm.....Oh yeah, and bring enough stuff for you and your family too Goosebump. :-)I walked up to the summit of Humpback Mountain and sat down to eat a small snack.There's a nice rocky overlook up there that had a really nice view to the east.I walked on and came to Bear Spring and drank a liter of cool mountain spring water and filled up one of my water bottles, then walked on.I came up to HiLo and Steadfast in about half a mile. They were sitting down taking a break, so I stopped and talked a few minutes.I was walking along about a mile before the shelter and came up to a 6 foot black snake stretched out across the Trail.I had seen a 4 foot black snake yesterday, and now this 6 foot black snake today....I think I'll stay out of the woods tomorrow. ;-)I walked on and soon came across a scarlet tanager.....I love seeing those birds!A deer blew at me and took off running a short time later.I got to Paul C Wolfe Shelter and saw Cannibal sitting there watching a doe eat about 30 yards away.I sat down and watched the doe and listened to a wood thrush singing just above the doe....and to top all that off, there was the sound of Mill Creek splashing down the mountain.I ate a can of sardines and had some potato chips, but started getting bit by some no see-ums, so I walked on.The next five miles went by pretty quick.I got to the Visitor's Center at Rockfish Gap at 4:30pm and called Gourmet Dave. He picked me up in five minutes....just as it started raining.That was great timing! :-)Dave took me to his home and opened up the whole top floor just for me.I took a shower and Dave did a load of laundry. That's THREE days in a row that my clothes have been laundered by one of those automatic electric washing machines!(I know Mrs Gorp is smiling approvingly right now)Sue got home from work and started dinner.Dave has a computer at the dining table and put on a slide show of his Newfoundland hike.....and now there's another Trail on my list. It's beautiful up there!He even had Newfoundland music playing while I watched the slide show.Sue had dinner ready before I knew it...a very tender and tasty flank steak, buttered pasta, brussel sprouts and fresh bread.It was lots of fun talking to Gourmet Dave and Sue about hiking.It was getting late...8:30pm and I was starting to get sleepy and I was yawing, so I excused myself and went upstairs to bed.The nice thing about being around other hikers is that they know what "hiker midnite" is. :-)Thanks Dave & Sue!Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)