Date: 2018-06-09
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Glasgow
Miles today: 14.6

Thunder Hill did keep me up last night. The flashes of lightning were like strobe lights going off in my tent. It then proceeded to downpour. The little spring next to our tents started making intense bubbling sounds as the rain came in. I thought my tent might be under a puddle of water as the spring filled up. It never got that high though. In the morning the black flies came back with a vengeance. I was tryings to eat my oatmeal and they were flying all around me. Occasionally they would land and commence the biting. I can't wait for the north with all the black flies! We headed out around 9 am, one hour earlier that usual.The terrain today was going to be mostly downhill into the access road to Glasgow. I was wasn't looking forward to it because down hurts more than going up. It was going to be a 10 mile down. About a mile from Thunder Hill we came to an overlook to the valley below. It was the first time I saw clouds below us in a valley. They've usually been above or I've been in them. We hung out there for 15 minutes just admiring the view. A trail maintainer who I met yesterday showed up. He had lived in Akron Ohio for sometime as well. His wife was originally married to William Foot a trail maintainer in the section. Foot was instrumental in acquiring funds for building a foot bridge over the James River. Rebel Yell was planning to jump off that bridge today even though you can get fined. We headed on another 4 miles. Some of the areas didn't have switchbacks and did a number on my ankle. I haven't had knee problems in awhile and attribute that to getting stronger. We all stopped for lunch. I made another black forest ham, cheese, and bagel sandwich. The ham has still been keeping and hasn't made me sick yet. We then headed another 7 miles downhill to the foot bridge. It was the longest foot bridge on the AT and was 30 feet above the water. Rebel Yell found his spot on the bridge, climbed over the railing, took one second to gather his thoughts, then jumped into the James. He was in the air for a few seconds then penciled into the river. He was completely fine. Kazi followed in his path and also jumped in. Theo went nuts. He was whining and screaming until Kazi came out of the water. Theo looked out for everyone in the group. We walked across the bridge then waited for a hitch to Glasgow. As we were waiting Santiago rolled up slack packing from the other direction. I hadn't seen him for awhile and didn't know where he was. A woman was picking him up and offered Stealth and I a seat. When I got in she said $5 a head. The shuttle drivers were making bank since they only had to drive 5 miles on way.  When we all got to town we stopped at Scotto's for dinner. The front had several backpacks and we knew we were in the right location. They placed us in the back with all the other stinky hikers. I got a pitcher of beer and a grilled chicken salad as well as a cheese steak sub. Blaze walked in. I hadn't seen her in sometime and I thought she was way ahead. We hung out until 7:15 then Scissors and I headed over to the laundry mat. I got dressed just in my rain skirt with no top. We hung out in the parking lot as locals stared at us as they drove by. When laundry was done we headed over to the hiker shelter in town. The shelter had a shower, electricity, firewood, and port a potties with toilet paper. It was luxury. I took a hot shower. It felt nice after today's hike. A large group of us sat out in the field. Stealth told a story about being haunted by his ex girlfriends grandma. Her spirit was attached to a catus that they all got. She would place things perfectly in the center of the room and change the TV station to her favorite Latin music radio. Stealth's dogs would just stare at the ceiling and bark. Before she left for good she placed 3 clammy fingers on Stealth's leg and was gone for good. We hung out until 11 pm then called it a night. Stealth gave me his leftover calzone from Scotto's which I happily accepted.Tonight I can hear cars driving around town. I'm happy and clean.