June 24 Mile 853

Got up at daybreak to a cool breeze blowing briskly through our campsite. Pretty refreshing after the past few days. Ate our breakfast on the rock overlooking the valley and packed up excited about finishing this part of Va. By the time we get to Rockfish Gap  at the end of the day we will have covered almost 400 miles of Va! Hiked along the top of Humpback Mtn. My outside left foot blister hurt and my right sole ached. Always something, but no knee pain even in going down. So that's an improvement. Yesterday and today for about 3-4 miles hiked right next to an old stacked stone wall that was about 4 feet high. Can't believe how much labor it took to build it! And who did it and when? Perhaps a boundry marker. Seen some before but never this long. Passed by an old chimney and stone foundation right next to the trail, on a hillside. Very odd spot for a house, we thought. Made about 8 miles by noon. We stopped for lunch by a nice stream. Took off our boots and put our feet in the water for awhile. Ahhhh! Then hiked on  down the mountain, no views of course and then finally the openness of the road and the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway and across the road, the Promised Land for thru hikers-SNP -the Shennies-  Shenandoah National Park. But that will wait til Saturday. Today, we go to town! So at 2:30 we had gone 13 miles and were at Rockfish Gap, a familiar place to me as I drove thru here many times during my college days at UVa just 30 miles east. Unfortunately all the motels and buildings here are abandoned. But was told a trail angel free shuttle list was avaliable. Found the list on the back of the abandoned visitors center and called the first number. Nice people, a retired minister came up and drove us down into Waynesboro to our motel.
Relaxed had a super dinner at Mings Restaurant- great place - all you can eat. And then that evening had a special treat as my big brother in my fraternity at UVa came over from Charlottesville for a visit. Super to see him.
Slept in a real bed and had electricity. Called my Sweety and had a nice long conversation. We've been out here since. March 23, less the two weeks for the wedding, basically 76 days, and I really do miss her. She'll be joining us soon for a bit, and I really am looking forward to that!




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