Date: 2004-06-06
From: 5 minutes north of Trail Boss Trail,Va

To: A rocky overlook 2.4 miles north of Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 34.3
Weather: scattered clouds

34.3 miles todayA rocky overlook 2.4 miles north of Wapiti Shelter, Va.Stealth tentingToday was a fun day. A mockingbird started singing at 5:30am and I listened to it until 6am when I got up and got packed. By 6:20am I was hiking north. I needed to walk for a while to warm up. It's been chilly at night for the last few nights. Last night I woke up cold and had to get my jacket, hat and socks on and then I slept good again. I walked about a mile and found a dead tree that had fallen over just right to make a good seat. I sat down and ate breakfast and then moved on again. In about 10 minutes I came across some bear scat and it was put there by a big bear. In about 5 miles I came to the road that goes to Bland, Va., but I kept on walking. I hadn't had a whole lot of water left and I finally found some good water about a mile after the road crossing. I drank about a litre and a half. I had been conserving what I had left since late yesterday because I was pretty sure there weren't any good water sources for a while. I walked right by Helveys Mill Shelter becaus! e it was 1/3 mile off the trail. I climbed over Brushy Mountain...that makes about 3 Brushy mountains in 2 days. It kind of makes you feel like you're not going anywhere. I got to within 20 yards of a doe. I didn't realize it until she ran off that there was a fawn right behind her. That fawn has a good sense of survival, because it took off just as fast as the mother. I stopped at Jenny Knob Shelter and ate lunch. Inchworm and Ole Man were there. We talked while I ate and then I got more water and hiked on. I couldn't make up my mind all day about where I was going to go today. I could hike to Woods Hole Hostel or Trents Grocery Store. I chose Trents because there was a sure meal there. The hostel only has breakfast and although that's my favorite meal, I didn't want to wait until morning to eat a good meal. I only had a couple of candy bars left. I got down to Trents which is listed as .7 miles off the trail, but it was only 1/2 mile. I ordered 2 cheeseburgers, a philly c! heese steak, 2 orders of fries and 2 fish sandwichs. Now wate, I know what you're thinking, but I only ate 1 cheeseburger and the philly cheese steak and the fries while I was there. It was about 2:30pm so I packed the rest out for dinner. Oh yeah, I had 2 cokes too. I was there about 1 1/2 hours and while I was eating, a lady came over and introduced herself as the NaviGator. Her husband is Ole Man who I had met earlier. They started their hike together, but 30 miles into it she broke her foot. She's been driving their truck all this time and meeting her husband at road crossings. Pretty soon Ole Man came up and I got ready and hiked on. The rest of the way to Wapiti Shelter was very muddy because it's low and follows Dismal Creek. I got to Wapiti and Jay was there. I had seen him in Damascus, but he hiked out 1 1/2 days before me. He's still trying to dry his sleeping bag out from all that rain on friday. I sat down and ate my 2 fish sandwichs and the cheeseburger. I looked at my book and saw that there was this rocky overlook just 2.4 more miles and decided to come up here and I'm glad I did. I'm sitting here with my legs hanging over the edge of the cliff and I'm watching the sun go down. It's a beautiful pink sky and a big valley below me and it's my home for the night. I also saw 2 other does and my second box turtle today. Ther are some rhododendrens blooming up here.I was walking along earlier today, before I got to Trents and I was thinking about fried chicken. I know The Homeplace Restaurant is coming up soon in Catawba, Va and they have some of the best fried chicken on the trail. Well, I was thinking that since none of my "friends" have brought me any fried chicken on the trail, that I would see if I could hike into Four Pines Hostel on saturday and that way I could eat my fried chicken on saturday night and since they open on sundays at 11am, I could hike the 6 miles from the hostel to Catawba on sunday morning and have fried chicken again. If my "friends" aren't going to come through with some trail magic....I'll just have to fend for myself.One more thing and then I'll be done for tonight. Hello to my daughetr-in-law, Vikki and my granddaughter, Nikki and my grandson, Cody. They just got a computer and can now see what I'm up to and they can keep in touch. Another great day on the A.T.