May 19 - Central Virginia

DAY #65
START LOCATION: Thunder Hill Shelter
FINISH LOCATION: Johns Hollow Shelter
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 16.3
TRIP MILEAGE: 777.6
MILES TO GO: 1,401.5

I hiked with a nice guy from Pennsylvania named Chewy yesterday. We
sheltered last night and were so thankful that it wasn't crowded. It
was raining off and on, an we were able to spread our stuff out and
dry it. We got up really late this morning. I finally rolled out of
the sleeping bag at 7:45. We were slow moving to leave as well... Lots
of storytelling and yucking it up. I finally hit it at 9:45.

It would drizzle a bit, then rain slightly then the sun would come
out, then repeat. It has been all very strange soupy humid weather
since I started back after the weekend. But, I can't complain. I'm
staying relatively dry and making great miles.

Stopped at Marble Spring campsite for lunch and enjoyed one of the
most torrential gushing springs yet. It looked like a river coming up
out of the ground. The water was fantastic too.

Hit up Matts Creek Shelter for a snack and I met another hiker from
Arlington, MA named Castor. He and I were trying to decide whether to
continue on to Punchbowl Shelter about 9 miles past Johns Hollow. We
decided to see how we felt after the 4 miles to Johns Hollow.

The hike to Johns Hollow was very unique. It involved a one mile
riverside walk along the wide James River. The trail then crossed over
the James along the longest footbridge on the AT. It was a pretty cool
diversion. Wikiphytes or Google Earthlings... Someone want to check
that distance? It felt about 1/4 of a mile.

I pulled into Johns Hollow at 4:30 and had a tough decision to make.
It was 9 very hard miles to Punchbowl Shelter. I'd get there around
8PM. That would put me at 25 mi for the day and set me up for a nice
11 into Buena Vista. But I couldn't justify it. If I lay up at Johns,
I can dry my stuff out, get a nice long sleep, get out early and make
the 20 mi push to Buena Vista and still end up in the same boat by
Friday morning. So, that's what I did and I'm glad. I'm looking
forward soon to do a marathon day... Today just wasn't right for it.

I'm sheltering again and I'm with Hitchcock, Bulldog and Castor.
Hitchcock and Bulldog are the cameraman and blind hiker duo
respectively. I met them at Trent's Grocery awhile back and spent the
evening with them a few days later at Woods Hole Hostel. But, today
was the first time I'd seen them hiking and also doing their camp
thing. Bulldog is very adept at knowing where his gear is as it sits
around him. He knows where everythig is in his pack and navigates well
around it. He cooks, cleans, sets up his sleeping bag and arranges his
gear quickly and without much fuss. It's almost hard to tell he's
blind given how smoothly he works in camp. He needs no assistance at
all. It's just so impressive and inspiring to have him around. It
makes me appreciate my good health and how blessed I am to have all
the good in my life.

Early night tonight. I have a 20.1 mile day tomorrow... I'm very
excited for it!

-natedog