Date: 2012-06-01
From: Skyline Drive 31.2

To: Jenkin's Gap - Skyline 12.3
Miles today: 19.9

Trail Mama: Well, Trail Mama hasn't been able to give anything away for several days now...no one is at the drop off or pick up spots and SOS is seeing very few hikers on the trail. When driving into new territory today after checking out of our hotel in Luray and dropping SOS off on Skyline Drive, I spotted the store in the picture above. It was sitting in the middle of nowhere...I passed it and turned around and went back to take the picture because I hadn't ever seen a store with a combination of fire extinguishers, bait, and quilts! Then I came to the signs that said "Work Zone" and "Blasting Today!" I was glad to get past all that. I was headed for Front Royal with my coupon book in hand. I checked out several places to stay and ended up at the Super 8. Later I found the visitors center and talked to the man there. He told me about a concert on the square tonight (it got rained out) and dancing in the street for tomorrow night. The UM church was having an inside yard sale so stopped there just to look around...couldn't figure how to get to the sanctuary from where the sale was so didn't get to see it. Back at the room for a lonely rest of the day until time to go get SOS. This town is practically in the park so it was not far to the pick up spot. There were terrible storms predicted but once again SOS lucked out. He got to the car just as it started to rain. It really didn't rain much here but most went east of us. We ate at a little downtown spot which was nice and the other half of my meal will make a good lunch for tomorrow.Road Name of the Day: CHIPMUNK LANE This reminded SOS and I of living on Schaper Drive and having so many chipmunks that we ended up getting a trap. We also named them all ...Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, etc. and went thru the new testament one and a half times. We transported them to Harding High School to the woods beside the school where we hope they lived happily ever after!SOS here:Longest hiking day in over two weeks. Only met up with one thru hiker today "Sparrow" from Michigan. "Sparrow" is a young hiker and he swooped by me like I was standing still. I saw him three times. Only because he stopped twice - once to talk to other hikers going south and the second time to eat lunch at the Elkwallow Wayside. "Sparrow" started his thru hike on the 11th of April - one month and one day after we started my thru hike and he is now ahead of us. When I told him that "Trail Mama" and I are "hiking for HIM" and that "Trail Mama" was unable to hike for the most part because of her injuries from our accident, which will be 13 years ago tomorrow - he said would it be OK if he prayed for healing for "Trail Mama"? Of course I replied yes. I have had this happen to me at other times I have been hiking on the trail when Trail Boss prayed for my father-in-law and another time he prayed for Judy/Trail Mama. "Sparrow" was hiking in front and did not stop hiking as he prayed sincerely and compassionately for "Trail Mama" - it is no wonder he is hiking 30 miles a day.Elkswallow Wayside is a gift shop, hiker food supply and also has a grill where you can order sandwiches, fries and a drink. I order a cheese burger, fries and a drink and spent about 45 minutes eating lunch before I returned to the trail - it is the last place to eat before you exit the Shenandoah National Park. Because of all the places to eat in Shenandoah National Park it is a thru hikers dream - eating is always on a hikers mind and many fantasize what they are going to eat next.Today was a very unusual day for two reasons. First, The forecast for the AT in the SNP was for severe storms all day. I did have some rain but not enough to get very wet. What is strange is I did hear thunder off to the east - how it missed me on the trail is a mystery. Second, for the first time I hiked faster than expected and I had to call "Trail Mama" and change the pickup point to further down the trail. As usual, "Trail Mama" was waiting for me. Thanks "Trail Mama" you're the best! This is our hike and it is wonderful experience to do it together.