Date: 2014-05-06
From: Bailey Gap shelter

To: Nidday Shelter
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: broken clouds

In which I worked overtime.Hiking is my job for these six months. Boy did I work hard today! I had not just one long, hard climb today, but three with some lovely views in between. People were stirring in the shelter around 0600 this morning so I got up and left early too which in hind sight was a very good thing. It was a beautiful morning, no rain last night, just a little damp with a cool breeze, sunshine and happy birds. The chipmunks were out in full force this morning too. I almost stepped on one! I saw 2 deer which also just stood there and stared at me as I walked by providing me with yet another photo op. There also were plenty of rocks yet again! Who said Virginia was flat?! I beg to differ!I stopped at shelter #1 for a snack break. Then shelter #2 for a lunch break and soak in the stream. The next stretch took me through pasture lands of rolling hills of grass, cows grazing on the sides, beautiful barns and plenty of sunshine and more apple trees with buzzing bees. I really enjoyed this part of the walk, just me talking to the birds and cows and myself. I feel like such a small spec hiking through these fields. It's so cool.I was really talking to myself as I climbed over a railing to cross the street when I banged my knee on the guard rail! Another bruise to add to my collection. Then came the keffer oak tree. 18 ft wide! Big and beautiful. Now for the final cruel climb up the power line hill. It had no mercy, no switchbacks and plenty of steep inclines with many rocks! That was a hard one!Water has not been plentiful today so as I was fussing over banging my knee I walked right by the creek and final water stop for the day. Needless to say I didn't get water and realized it when it was too late to turn back. That changes my plan for the day. The next shelter is 0.4 mi off the trail down the side of the mountain. Well I wasn't going there so I opted to hike 6 more miles to the fourth and final shelter of the day. (What logic?) I also came across Dirty Harry and Fran on the accent up the power line so I just kept walking with them. We ridge walked, or should I say boulder hopped and scrambled along a long ridge with wonderful views in the valley of mountains. The race with darkness was on, many miles to make and daylight dwindling. I practically ran down the mountain once off the ridge and made it to the water source to tank up. From there it still was a good walk down to the shelter, but I made at 2015 with about a half an hour of daylight to spare. So now I'm listening to the frogs croaking, the birds are winding down, the trees are swaying and there is chatter around the picnic table. I was thinking as I hiked today that since I run marathons I would like to hike one at some point on this trip. I'd look at the terrain on the map and pick a nice, flat day in which to hike my marathon. I must have jinxed myself! So today I did my unintentional marathon with three huge climbs and many rocks! Not my original plan but what is these days. The only constant is change and being flexible is crucial! So I went with it, was feeling pretty good and hiked my marathon in 13.5 hours. Long work day. Not bad. I'll take it!