Date: 2007-07-26
From: South of VA 611

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: light rain

When I awoke this morning, I found that my hammock was dry, no rain throughout the night! And it looks as if the sun is coming out. Yea! I set about packing up, but I am so tired and my feet still hurt. I don't know why, but lately i have been waking up in the middle of the night and staying awake for lke an hour before falling back asleep. You would think after hiking all day that I would have no problems falling and staying asleep. But, I set out on the trail and it is easy hiking. Chief, it is all a ridge walk from Jenny's Knob to Helveys, but it is in the woods and there are places to camp. I stop in at Helveys which is way too far off the trail. I'm all about breaks today. Then its downhill to Kimberling Creek and I-77. An older man missing most of his teeth offers me a ride to town and I think he's a little disappointed when I don't accept - but I don't need to go to town. Its a road walk for a while and then a gravel road until finally turning back onto the trail. Someone has set out jugs of water and the forecast, so I comply with taking another break. Afternoon showers are called for. Great. For the next 6 miles, the trail is pretty flat and easy to hike. It winds around the mountain like teeth on a comb, and I kinda feel a bit dizzy from all the ins and outs. There is nothing to see, not even any wildlife out. I can understand why hikers do big miles in VA - it can be very boring at times. I arrive at the intersection with the Trail Boss trail and take another break. I could go on 2 miles and take a break at the campsite with picnick tables, but feet are killing me. I think the wet socks have rubbed my insteps the wrong way. The two miles to the campsite go by really fast and I realize that my map is not matching the trail. I consider camping here but decide to push on another 5 miles to the shelter. It should be esy as it motly follows a creek. Trail magic in the form of fitness water and Gatorade at the road crossing. Yeah! Then the trail gets ocnfusing. The blazes tell me that the trail follows the high water route, but my Wingfoot Guide and map say to follow the creek. I probably waste about 20 minutes trying to figure out what to to and then decide to follow the white blazes even if means missing a pretty creek walk. Besides now it is thundering and I don't feel so god. I think I may be dehydrated from not eating or drinking enough today.Once I make the huge climb uphill, the highwater trail becomes flat. Once it joins the south junction of old trail/highwater/new trail, it begins to go downhill, which means I am getting close to the shelter. I see a red headed woodpecker fly across the trail in front of me. I have also heard these large birds that make this relaly loud hollow knokcing sound in the trees today. Its a weird sound that seems like it should be made by something larger than a bird. I wonder if its the woodpecker, as it is a large bird.I pass a women tarp tented and say hello. I wonder why she didn't go to the shelter?I arrive at the shelter just as it is beginning to start raining. The rain never amounts to much throughout the evening, but I am glad that I am home for the night. Thee is a section hiking man, Steve, at the shelter and he is friendly to talk to. When, I am ready to turn out the light, I can hear the scampering of little feet. I'm going to have company tonight. Mice! Just stay off of me!Random thoughts of the day:1. Sometimes I think I am going to finish my hike with a beard as big and thick as the men folk only mine won't be made of facial hair but of spider webs. How do the spiders know just the right height to build their webs?!2. My knee was acting up again this morning and I go to thinking about the day I hurt it, the day after my high school graduation. Then I realized that in 2 years will be my 20th annivesary of my high school graduation. Wow! Where did the time go? How did I get so old? I haven't done any of that American dream stuff that preach to suburbia youth - I don't own a house with a two car garage and white picket fence, I haven't gotten married, I don't have children. I've failed at following the American Dream trend. But then again, I'm not really a trend follower. I didn't have parachute pants in the 80's and I don't own a Hobo purse now. Besides, if I was a trend follower, would I be out here on the AT?