June 19 Mile 786

Long hot day. Trying to make Buena Vista, Va to resupply Sunday afternoon. Wishing we could do just a  couple of 14 mile days to get there. But out here water is always the thing that controls your hikes. Virginia is far dryer than the other states we have been in, especially along the ridges. So inspecting the maps and guidebooks, we knew that we could do a 9 mile day or an 18 mile day to coincide with the water sources. Plus on a very hot day like today, you drink alot more, especially uphill. So we started off our normal time, before 8 AM and did our first 9 miles by 1 PM. It was a great hike, mostly downhill, but it took us by a beautiful creek Matt's Creek, for a long way and then by the James River, which is more like a lake at this place. Crossed the river on a long foot bridge and came thru a popular tourist area , but no food or drinks here. Hoped for trail magic- no luck there either.
Hiked up another beautiful creek to our last water source of  the day. Now we had to fill up for a 9 mile hike up a 2300 foot rise over several miles, climbing three separate mountains . Again, Va is not easy! It was as hard a hike as I have done. Maybe it was the heat. I think I drank nearly 4 liters of water today,
At the last mountain top at 6:00 pm got a cell signal and called my Sweety. Seem to only get signals on the tops of mountains.
Got to our camping area about 7:30 where there was water. A very long day, almost out longest hiking day of the trip.
There is a pond here and the bullfrogs are croking up a storm. And there is a real storm brewing out there somewhere cause the thunder is getting louder and louder. A little wind would be good to cool us off. It can get stuffy in this tent with the rain fly on.
Not a bad day pain wise. My knees did well and I had a  new blister, of course, with my new hiking shoes. Try to pad that as well as I could, but it keeps growing. The sole of my right foot ached a bit by the end of the day, but what can you expect after 18 miles! All in all a very good day. We have gone 67 miles in 4 days and that's very good for us. Only have to do 11 tomorrow. And it's Father's Day!


Sent from my iPhone