Date: 2003-05-10
From: Marble Springs

To: Johns Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Wow, what a storm we had last night. I stayed up late to finish The Nanny Diaries, a bookI picked up to helpp me slow down in the ever-longer days of coming summer. It lasted me all of three days, and now I have to catchCadence, who bought a colection of Jack London short stories, with the understanding that we would swa once finishing. But anyhow, the storm, the storm. I was just finishing reading as I heard it approaching, rumbling in the distance. The walls of my tent flickered with te far-off lightning. And then, it was on top of us. The rain hammered down hard. I felt like shouting to Oly and Don, because I knew they were awake. It was so loud, the lightning flashing blue, my whol tent aglow for seconds. I looked out the mosquito netting with each flash. I felt like it was out of a horror movie, each flash revealing a monster or murderer coming closer! And there I was in my tent, a very thin wall between me and the torrent, protecting me and all my gear as the wind howl! e, thunder clapped... I closed the book, layed back down, crossed my fingers and repeated, "please don't leak, please don't leak, please..."And the morning was gentle and lovely. Ate breakfast, was lazy breaking camp, and it was all downhill to the James River, where we crossed and caught a hitch to Glasgow for a resupply and meal. GREAT hitch, which is to say, he gave me a story to tell. He called himself "Junior" and was headed to a drag race. Showed me pictures of his car as he intermittenly took sips of Jack and Diet Pepsi, Shaggy blaring on the radio. I think Oly, who was in the bed of the truck, got quite a ride. Junior took some of those curves kinda fast.In town, we hit the AYCE and then grocery. Oh, was my pack heavy with enough food to get me to Waynesboro. Oly stayed to do laundry and I stood infrontof the gas station with my thumb out. It wasn't five minutes before a guy called over from the pump, asking if I was a hiker, then offering a ride. Turned out to be another colorful hitch. His name was Gary and he was a historical sculptor, commissioned for statues and monuments. Also told me he did a bit of trekking, though when he did, it was in eighteenth-century moccasins, etc. So I of course asked if he had read "Confederates in the Attic," which he had. He was in the area now, just having bought a home and working to remodel it over the coming years. He offered his place to me, and it was so tempting! It was one of those random acts of generosity out of nowhere that happens out here. I thought I should take advantwage, but I haverealy liked being out in the woods these past days. It's been rainy, but only in short showe! rs, with plenty of sun in between to dry off. I have been washing clothes in the streams, eating well,doing reasonably easy mileage... I felt good. So I declined.Found Stringbean at the first shelter, who was confused, as I was supposed to be ahead of him. Thought about pushing on nine more, but it started raining again, so I sat tight with my single-digit mileage. Met Goldberry and Lucky, and heard that magic awaits us up the trail tomorrow.