May 22 - Central Virginia

DAY #67
START LOCATION: US-60/Buena Vista, VA
FINISH LOCATION: Seely/Woodworth Shelter
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 14.0
TRIP MILEAGE: 811.7
MILES TO GO: 1,367.4

Took a zero in Buena Vista yesterday and hit trail today. I met a very
nice older couple from the DC area at the motel that were taking a
weekend road trip. After chatting it up with them, they offered me a
ride back to the AT trailhead on VA-60 as they were heading in that
direction. They were so nice.

They dropped me off at 8:45, drove away and I started donning my rain
gear. It's a bit of a production. Anyway, in those few moments a very
familiar truck was pulling up. The recognition was mutual as the
driver quickly pulled over. It was John, the assembly line metal
worker who gave me a ride into town two days before! Smiling and half
laughing he yelled over... "Hey Natedog! How was Buena Vista!" I told
him... Collectively the nicest town folk on the trail. I quickly told
him the story of Becky the motel desk attendant that lent me her car
to resupply... He was like, "What can we say man!? We're here to
help!" We chatted for a second, he wished me happy trails and we both
pushed on. It was such a cool full-circle moment. The guy that
welcomed me to town happens to drive by two days later and wishes me
bon voyage. It was like the movie Funny Farm but for thru-hikers in
lieu of prospective homebuyers. Any Leonard Maltins out there... Am I
thinking of the right movie? Ha.

I had a big 1,400' climb out of the gate that saw me
pass 800 miles complete. It was a workout, but I like the big climbs
that way...early. There were boatloads of people day-hiking today...
Boy Scouts, couples, families, teens... And I always feel bad for them
when it's just pouring rain out.

Thankfully the rest of the hike wasn't too strenuous... There was
horribly located water sources today and I just sipped a 1L bottle of
motel tap water for the entire hike to S-W shelter. I got here at a
rather early 3PM. My poor water day was rewarded here. There was a
closely located spring with a heavily flowing pipe. It was like the
nice easy springs in Georgia. I met two new hikers today... Manno and
Mexico. I also saw Mimi and Sam a couple thruers that were at the
Pearisburg hostel a few weeks back. Manno, Mexico and Mimi all decided
to eat dinner and then push on to The Priest Shelter another 7 miles
up. They asked if i wanted to join them... Nah. I was taking it easy
today with rain on the first day out of town. They were a riot to talk
with.

It's an early bedtime tonight. There's better weather tomorrow and I
want to push 20 and set myself up for Waynesboro.... Gateway to
Shenandoah National Park

-natedog