June 4 Mile 595

Got up and packed up and left bug city ASAP. It was awful. Took our packs and went 200 yards to a gravel road and cooked our breakfast to get away from all the ants spiders and flies. Last night some crazy bird kept me awake with his singing. It sounded like he was saying "whipporwill" and maybe he was. But he did it faster and faster. Maybe a mating call? But all night! Then had a corporate work day- Hiked from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and did our hoped for 15 miles to a shelter area- it's pretty bug free for a forest.
The hiking today was very nice, a walk in the woods actually. While we are about 2500 to 3000 feet in elevation the forest feels like we are hiking in the Ga piedmont. Realized today is June. 4, the 38th anniversary of graduating from UVA. I thought of it because I am back in Va again and I remember how hot it was the day I graduated. And it was hot and humid today- temps in the mid 80's . Very hot to carry a pack on your back and trudge up mountains. Late in the day a thunder storm was brewing somewhere and the temps dropped about 10 degrees- much better. Hiked over I-77 today and hiked down some roads, always strange to be in civilization, but there were no food opportunities! Had a little trail magic that was much appreciated- the local AT club put out gallon jugs of water on the trail for us. This is the dryest (water that is) section we have come to so far. So having clean water on the trail is a fantastic gift. It was done in memoriam for a thru hiker who died just before he planned to start the trail.
Saw some "old friends" on the trail just as we crossed I-77. Tim and Kelly, now known as Tunes and Tootsie Pops. A really nice couple we met in the very beginning, but hadn't seen for a couple of months. Hopefully, we can continue to run into them.
I mentioned having a corporate work or hike day. On thing I remember working full time was that often the problems you encountered at work, while you thought you had solved them, later you learned they weren't solved at all and you had to continue to work out whatever it was, sometimes, taking weeks or months. One thing I really like about out here, when you encounter a problem mountain, once it's climbed, it's over. It doesn't make you climb it again. You get to constantly move forward, as long as your body will let you.
Saw a big black snake on the trail today, I jumped back and it hissed at me as it slithered away. Don't know if it was poisonous are not. I always give snakes a wide berth.
My blisters are back! Again. Just as they callous over, they return. I need to get new boots. This is ridiculous and has been a problem since I left Springer. Mtn.
We met a new hiker today, named "just Ron" cause someone asked him his trail name and he said "I don't have one, I'm just Ron. " He is section hiking the AT over a period of years. Right now he hiking Virginia. A very nice guy and from Douglas, Ga. I worked with several people from there and Ron knows them all. A small world.
Had a pleasant night tent camping at the shelter and in bed by 9 PM.


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