Virginia Blues – The Trek

Day 69-23 Miles Today from Lewis Mountain Campground to Byrds Nest Number Number Shelter, 4,300 feet high, 4,400 feet down, total 1,017 to miles

Wet beginning

I arrived at the path this morning around 8:00 after using the really pleasant privilege, which was a bath with running water. I even used the hand dryer to dry my wet clothes. I decided to put on my wet hiking shirt to dry, since I am walking, I did not want to have to carry the weight of extra water.

The land nap still crashed in his store when I packed and left this morning. Ticker, who left camping in place, was not active either. Ticker and the Australian couple who fed me last night to stay awake late, beyond my ability to get awake. I stayed with them until 9:30 enjoying the fire, the food they prepared and some wine glasses. I appreciate the magic of the path that provided me while giving them all the big hugs before saying goodbye last night.

The Australian couple cooked a wonderful paste food with eggplant and other vegetables in a butter onion garlic sauce that was absolutely phenomenal. Ticker also cooked a meal of chicken and carrots and Brussels outbreaks in a creamy sauce. After all, they had eaten me and asked me to end everything that, of course, forced. I have an insatiable appetite. In general, it was a very pleasant stay last night a welcome change to what has become a mundane walk through the Shennies so far.

The blow of the blues

Dirtnap told me yesterday that I was really fighting on the walk mentally. That made me feel good because I too. I suppose that after 3 days of quite long miles with nothing new and exciting, in addition to the constant challenge of finding water and a place to sleep is something different from the rest of our walk so far.

It rained most of the night last night, so I packed a wet tent. I am not sure what is today’s goal that I would like to continue with my 15 miles per day if possible. I don’t want to have an excessive use injury when increasing too fast, too soon.

I also believe that my melancholy has to do with the fact that Knockerz is not with me in this section. We both have a lot of fun so far. We had our struggles and our setbacks, but it was a shared adventure.

Now I am alone and I walk for hours without another interaction sometimes. I’m fine with loneliness. It’s just a different adventure for now. I will wait for Knockerz to join me soon in a few weeks.

Logistics

After a few hiking miles, I jumped to the road for a little walk. The views are spectacular from the way. It is a Saturday, so there are many cars that happen, but they are not so bad.

Today it is cloudy and threatens the rain later today with a possible ray. That makes camp logistics even more difficult because for me 15 miles today would be in the cliffs hunting a camping place. I really do not want to be in the cliffs exposed during the ray storm with winds and heavy rains.

I walked towards the Big Meadows Wayeside using a combination of paths and road walks. I arrived very early at 10:30 and they were still serving breakfast, so I had a great breakfast bowl.

It was just a little more than 4 miles to the shelter, then, after the camp was scarce, it looked like the next refuge. I grabbed a short yellow walk to approach the Skyland ranch. In Skyland I took a couple of beers and a muffin strawberry cream before returning to make the last seven miles to the shelter.

Multitudes of people

There were masses of people on all the main paths, especially because it was a weekend. The path to Stoney Mountain probably had 10 feet wide with small stones. A very well traveled path, especially today.

Little Stoney Man Cliffs were exceptional. Some of these views from here were the same or better than McAFe Knob. I took a break here enjoying one of the beers I got from Skyland.

Hit a wall

About 3 miles from the shelter, a tree had fallen on the path. While passing it, I decided to sit on the tree for a moment. I could have fallen asleep easily and take a nap, I was so tired. I hope to configure my store and sleep.

Bones, the other Shenondoah Ridge corridor, was already in the shelter when I arrived. Shortly after Viking appeared. Maybe you remember Viking back in the smoks. Viking was the one who responded to my left water kit behind. He gave the kit to Crazy, who then brought it to me. Good night.

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