Date: 2004-06-10
From: Fullhardt Knob Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 26.8
Weather: scattered clouds

On the morning of June 10th I rose at Fullhardt Shelter to see the sun peeking through the trees on our mountain top home. It was nice here. Out back, about 20 feet behind the shelter there was a strange faucet where the ground began to fall away down the mountain. It was strange as it turned out because it must operate a valve 20 feet back under the ground in the cistern so that the pipe can drain and not freeze. Unquestionably though there was water. That was great.This was to be another near 27 mile day. Wow. Buick started out a little after me but caught up to me at Curry Creek where I was just toweling off after having dunked myself in a small shallow pool. We both filled our water bottles too. Yesterday had been a very dry day high on the ridge cliffs. There was a need to make up for that fairly dehydrated day and not let it happen again. It hurt me coming into Daleville for sure.Moving on while Buick did a bit of bathing, the trail skirted around with out doing much climbing for a couple of miles to another river crossing. This one involved water cascading through a pool formed in a big rock. That little tub of rushing water just shouted, sit here. It couldn't be passed up. Buick showed up as I was drying off. It was just great. From here we climbed a bit to Wilson Creek Shelter. It was a fine place to share for lunch part one. Buick got out ahead of me for a bit here. At the sign that said Black Horse Gap, something clicked in my head. Wait a minute. That meant something. A quick check of the Handbook page in my camera pouch confirmed it. This was mile post 727.5, the 1/3 mark. That meant a photo with the timer. It took a couple of tries to get it right but that was fine. It was hard to believe that a third of the trail was done. My state of mind was really beyond description. On top of that, the Blue Ridge Parkway is just a hundred feet to the right of here. There were many fond childhood memories rolling about in my head of trips driving along this scenic stretch of road with my parents and brothers on visits to my grandparents in Lexington, Virginia.The trail would intersect with the Blue Ridge Parkway about six times today. Mostly these meetings would be at turnouts with overlooks. The views were of course amazing but always hazy. These were also great yogi opportunities.Bobblets Gap Shelter was two tenths of a mile down a step set of switch backs. We didn't really want to go. We could eat lunch part two here on the trail but we needed water so down we went. The water was good but the bugs were nasty and so was the privy. We ate and left. It was hot.The trail hit more overlooks. It went by Cove Mountain Shelter for lunch part three no doubt.We had been anticipating the next shelter. By now we could pretty well judge our progress by using the time since our last known location and our rate of travel. The shelter should be near but the trail was leading us along a river in a valley and the shelter was named Bryant Ridge. Finally, at 26.8 miles, cruising up a gentle valley at dusk by a small brook we notice a structure up on the slope to our left.Just before crossing a little creek a set of steps leads up the hillside to the most amazing shelter yet. This place was a post and beam palace. It had lofts, decks, levels and windows. It was just unbelievable. I wanted to live in this thing. There was a twenty something couple there. I really want to remember their names. They were pretty cool folk. They were just getting up from the table and about to turn in up in the loft. After all it was getting dark.Buick and I settled in at the table on the porch as they cleared their stuff. We fixed our respective dinners.After dinner though it was time for our 1/3 celebration. We had picked up a cherry cheesecake mix back at Krogers in Daleville. We made it by the light of our headlamps and a candle that was left on the table. Our pan lids acted as our pie pans. I even had four leftover birthday candles. That's a one and a three. Get it. We got some good though silly pictures too. What a great and calorific way to celebrate.