Date: 2015-05-28
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter, VA

To: Glasgow, VA
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: light rain

7:30am-12:30pm:An awful start to the night ended fair enough to where I was able to grab a little sleep. Burnsides and I quickly vacated the shelter due to snoring and gnats. We tried cowboy camping about 20ft outside of the shelter, but were bombarded by an endless army of gnats. We eventually gave up, put up our tents by headlamp, and were able to finally fall asleep. The gnats remained this morning so we were all packed and on the trail within an hour. I immediately began climbing Floyd Mountain, a climb that would take me up ~2,200ft over 2 sweat-soaked hours. Stopping at Cornelius Creek Shelter halfway to the top of the ridge, Moosehead, Safari, and I would down a few liters of water before continuing on. I stopped at Black Rock Overlook, exchanging plans for the day with Burnsides in the process, before relaxing and enjoying the view for a bit. It's important to make time simply to enjoy the journey, not just proceed through it. A group of older women part of a hiking club stopped to ask me an array of questions, but it ended in trail magic after they offered me a bag of chips and apples. I would down the chips, but carry the apples up Apple Orchard Mountain where I'd later split them with Moosehead - seemed appropriate. One particular lady was in the process of informing me of the downhill approaching as she passed when, in slow motion, she hit an exposed root and face-planted at my feet. After helping her up, I noticed that where I might normally chuckle to myself, I was inspired by how she dusted herself off, smiled, and went about removing the root as I continued. A fine example of the AT spirit. After summiting Apple Orchard Mountain at 4,225ft, Moosehead, Safari, and I continued down to Thunder Hill Shelter, passing the guillotine in the process, a large boulder wedged ~10ft above the trail between 2 rock walls, daring hikers to stand beneath and grab a picture.12:30pm-5:30pm:After lunch I decided it wouldn't be smart to continue another few days with the lack of food I was carrying. Although I could've stretched it, I would greatly be denying my body more calories than I already do. I made up my mins that I would need to cover another 14.6 miles in order to reach a road that would take me into Glasgow, VA. It was 12:30pm and an afternoon full of ups and downs awaited. I was off, leaving Moosehead and Safari behind, and wouldn't see them again. Down through Petites Gap, I would begin climbing Highcock Knob, rising 700ft in a mile. Near the halfway point I would meet Luna who I helped with distance info. She also had plans to reach town if she (we) made it in time to potentially hitch. I continued on another mile before reaching a campsite and seeing 2 familiar faces I hadn't seen since pre-Trail Days 2 weeks ago: 2 Bad Dogs. We briefly caught up on recent happenings before I had to continue on in order to keep pace. I've said it before and I'll say it again: probably the 2 coolest people on the trail. I finally reached Matt's Creek Shelter around 4:45pm with Bean Counter, a former accountant. We exchanged pleasantries and, with cloudy skies and thunder echoing above the towering mountains, I was quickly off to cover the final 2 miles to US 501.5:30pm-1:30amThe final 2 miles passed quickly and I was surprised to reach the James River Foot Bridge, the longest foot-use-only bridge on the AT, by 5:30pm - less than 5 hours to cover 14 miles. I crossed the bridge, light raindrops dancing across the surface of the James River, and felt lucky the storm had stayed just south. When I reached the other bank, I was greeted by a group of hikers enjoying the end of trail magic. Luckily I was offered the last 2 hotdogs and as many Coke's as I wanted - I took 2. I was then offered a ride into Glasgow by a former Army Ranger of 30 years. He and I, along with his 14-year-old deaf dog and 3 other hikers, boarded his camper and were off.Entering Glasgow, a 2-stop sign town from what I saw, we were dropped off in a small park tucked behind the town's only restaurant. The park offers a shelter, free shower, and free electricity to hikers so I was able to utilize all for the evening. Very classy move by the town. After setting my tent up, I walked over to the restaurant, Scotto's, serving Italian/American favorites. I ordered a foot-long Philly, a foot-long turkey and swiss, a side salad, and at least 5 Coke's. With dinner complete, except for the turkey and swiss that I would donate to other hikers, I strolled around the central town area enjoying a nice, relaxing evening. Across the street in an empty field stands a dinosaur with no real purpose other than, I assume, make motorists think twice as they whisk through, most surely on their way to somewhere more exciting. Burnsides and I plan to climb on it in the morning. I stopped into a local grocery and resupplied and then ventured a block over and watched a few innings of an adult softball game where men try to relive their glory days under the glow of the lights and oh's and ah's of loved ones. It reminded me of the league I played for while living in Frankfort, KY and the evening felt perfect.I returned to camp to drop off my supplies when anpther hiker, Twinkle Toes, informed me that my doppelganger was in town. Unsure of who she meant, another hiker friend, Duck, said that Burnsides had dropped by looking for me and was at Scotto's. I walked back over and spent the next hour hanging out, exchanging sips of Coke for beer, and chatting with fellow hikers. The shelter is currently home to a dozen or so hikers who enjoyed themselves by staying up well past the hiker's midnight of 9:00pm. Burnsides and I chatted with Duck and Luna, enjoyed a 40oz of Miller High Life, and rotated turns in the shower. It was a solid evening after a well-earned 25-mile day. It's currently nearing 2:00am and I'm probably the last one up. Burnsides and I plan to treat ourselves with a slower start than usual as a way to reward the day's efforts. A train passes by in the distance; Twinkle Toes snores in her hammock nearby in between fits of mumbling; I rest with a full stomach and fuller appreciation for the land I continue to experience each day.Here's to a stocked food bag, roadside dinosaurs, and apple's on apple tops with good friends.