Date: 2007-06-15
From: Glasgow

To: UA 60 - Buena Vista
Miles today: 21.8

June 15, Mad at Stevie WonderAs I climbed up to Big Rocky Row this morning, I was cursing Stevie Wonder. He was in my ear singing about how he wished it would rain. Rain it did. All day. What Stevie Wonder doesn't know is that rain in 50 degree weather isn't pleasant. But still I heard him out.Eric dropped me off at the trailhead in Glasgow at 9 a.m. Again, I was not full of motivation and I was pretty sleepy too. But, I began hiking. About four miles uphill, a few over, and a few down. It was pretty cold up on top and for some reason I was a mess today - I had to stop like every twenty minutes for one reason or another. I was not having a good day and I definitely was not enjoying myself. Ten miles later, I was sitting in Eric's car on the Blue Ridge Pkwy. eating lunch in warmth and not getting rained on. Very much appreciated.One interesting thing I did see today was a memorial for a little boy who had died in the exact spot in 1891 after wandering from his schoolhouse. He was not even five years old yet. I cannot even imagine where that schoolhouse was because that mountain was tall! After lunch and drying out a little, I had eleven more miles ahead. I dreaded going back out into the cold rain. But, it definitely was not as bad as the morning half. The terrain was easier so I was able to move faster and get good time. It even brightened up a bit and the rain stopped for a while. I ran into Melk near the Pedlar River Bridge which was exciting because I hadn't seen her since Daleville. She, Ronin, Young Eagle and I have all been updating each other on our whereabouts so that Team Average can soon reunite. Each night, I get funny text messages - sometimes with photos - to report.Toward the end of the day, I ran into a skunk on the trail. This was unprescedented! I tried clanging my trekking poles together. Nothing. It wouldn't budge. After a few minutes, I decided I had to just keep walking. I walked and banged my poles together and luckily it ran away. I can't imagine being sprayed by a skunk!I was ready to be done when Eric met me on the trail with about 2.5 miles to go. He was with some odd guy that talked the whole way out of the woods. Very odd. Very frustrating. I told Eric to leave his friends at home next time.We finished up at about 6:45 p.m. and I just took a hot shower. My feet are all torn up from walking in soggy shoes all day. No views to report today - everything was foggy again.Maybe it won't rain tomorrow. Here's hoping Mr. Wonder keeps his thoughts to himself.- Sound of the fan in the bathroom.Post Trail Thoughts:This day still makes me cringe a little. I was a total mess in the morning. I was cold and it was rainy and I just wanted to be hanging out with Eric in the comfort of our hotel room. I finally broke down and called him to ask if he'd meet me for lunch so I could warm up in his car. When he got there, I had the heat on full blast and I was soaking wet so everything was steamy. I was so glad he was there. It didn't make me want to keep hiking that day but it did make the afternoon much better. It was good to run into Melk again and I was looking foward to the A-Team reunion. And then there was that oddball that followed Eric in on the trail (I wonder why all the crazies came out when Eric was visiting?). There is no good way to describe that man other than creepy. We tried to nicely get away from him but, since we didn't want to hike in front of him, we couldn't really go too far...and if we stopped, he stopped. He talked about being mad at his boss and pointed out what all of the stone structures around were. He was odd. I remember walking with pepper spray ready. I later found out that it was this same man that was walking around naked in the woods shortly after we saw him. In fact, Young Eagle ran into him at the time. Oh...Virginia.