Date: 2003-06-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Day 80 6/12/03 13.5 milesWe all had an early breakfast in the Motel Lobby. Then Cherry and Daryl left for Natural Bridge to find a campsite. They carried our packs in the RV so we were able to slack pack about 14 miles and meet them at Taylor Mt. view on the Blue Ridge Pkwy. Seneca is having a pain on the top of her right foot. We hiked about 7 hours and then went to dinner with the Hall's. Footslogger and Turtle went on the next shelter. She is leaving the trail in 2 days. We are doing a ) mile day tomorrow and will meet up with Janet and Norm (our sister in law). We are spending the nite in the RV at Natural Bridge KOA. Day 81 6/13/03               0 milesSpent the day visiting with Norm and Janet, Cherry and Daryl - Cherry's birthday is tomorrow so we had a cake with lots of candles. We went to see the Natural Bridge.Day 82 6/14/03 15.2 milesCherry and Daryl dropped us off early at the Camellias Shelter near the Blue Ridge Pkwy. We are slack packing south. After a few minutes we ran into Skidmarks Baloo Rumbler, Jersey and Tiperary a catholic priest from Ireland. A few minutes later we met Footslogger and BA turtle and said our good byes to her. When we reached the next shelter we saw Cheesecake, Wild flower, and Raven who informed us that he and Sparrow have broken up. A few minutes later we ran into Pockets and Sparrow on the trail. Later we saw Old Bill, Psycho Pat, Fire feet Baltimore Jack and several other hikers. We finally reached RT. 43 where we met Cherry and Daryl at 6:30pm . We had a big dinner at the RV.Day 83 6/15/03 7.4 milesThe Hall's dropped us off at Bear wallow Gap and we slack packed south to Blackhorse gap. They picked us up at Taylor Mt. overlook. Day 84 6/16/03 0 milesWe had planned on doing a 20 mile slack pack today but it rained all nite and is still raining so we decided to do another 0 day. We drove to Lynchburg VA and toured the Stonewall Jackson House and visited his grave and then drove thru the VMI campus and later stopped at our favorite place, a Super Wal-mart. Day 85 6/17/03 20 milesWe slack packed north from Cornelius Shelter all the way to VA 501 where we crossed the James river on the longest footbridge on the AT. We hiked for 11 hours. This was our first 20 mile hike. It rained and drizzled all day and there were no views from the trail. The Hall'[s picked up again and we had a nice spaghetti dinner at their RV. Good friends and good food. Day 86 6/18/03 12milies mm778.0After breakfast at the Pink Cadillac diner, the Hall's dropped us at the Trailhead on the James River. They left for home and we started north again. The sun tried to come out and we had a nice view of the James River valley from Little Rocky Row. We stopped for lunch at the Little Ollie monument. Later it started to rain again and we set up a hasty camp.   Day 87 6/19/03 mm793.3 13 milesIt rained non stop all nite and finally stopped at 9:30 am. We managed to stay dry in our tent. We hiked down to Peddler Dam wh8ich holds back Lynchburg's water supply. We took a break there. We stopped again for lunch at Brown Mt. Creek Shelter. Then we started an unending climb up to Bald Knob at 4100 ft. elevation. In 4.5 miles we gained 2600 ft. We ended our hike 9.5 hours later at cow Camp Gap Shelter. Mud on the trail was 2 - 3 feet deep for a 4 mile stretch. Today nats and deer fly's were bad and the steep climb late in the day made this the hardest day so far. Day 88 6/20/03 mm807.9 17mile & 5mi BBIt started to rain hard just as we finished packing so we made a dash for the shelter (about 50 yards away ) We waited out the storm with 3 other hikers and a dog. We hiked up Cold Mt. a nice bald with great view and later we got to Tar Jacket Ridge with more views. Shortly after a lunch break at Seeley Wood Worth Shelter we hit the 800 mile mark. A few minutes later we saw our 1st rattle snake on the trail. We got to the Priest Shelter around 8:00pm After we set up camp we cooked the best trail meal yet "Tortellini noodle with pepperoni and a can of Vienna sausages with an envelope of tomato sauce mix. The temp is about 50 degrees at 10:30pm..