Day: |
038 |
Date: |
Monday, 9 June 1986 |
Start: |
|
Finish: |
|
Daily
AT Miles: |
19.6 |
Daily Other Miles |
1.4 (0.2 from motel, 1.0 to Post Office,
0.2 to Shelter) |
Total
AT Miles: |
718.4 |
Total All Miles |
743.6 |
Weather: |
Very warm, humid, mostly sunny. |
Accommodation: |
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Two croissants, chocolate milk.
Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter, health bar. Dinner:
Noodles and chicken, pop tarts. |
Aches: |
Feet still sore. |
Animals Seen: |
Two grouse, two black snakes, rabbit. |
People Seen: |
Eight AT Thru-Hikers (two by stages), one
day hiker, many others. |
Pictures: |
Here |
GPS Track: |
|
Journal: |
Got up at about 7:30am after not a
particularly good night’s sleep – too much food and
air-conditioning. Stu left to get his mail in Cloverdale and, after
an unsuccessful attempt to ring Barb, I left at about 8:40am. It
was a bit of a wrench to leave all that comfort behind. I could
easily have stayed another day and was glad I had only scheduled 20
miles for today. I rejoined the Trail, which had recently been
relocated, and in about 45 minutes, after a not particularly
pleasant walk through waste grassland and beside the freeway,
reached a road. I left the AT and walked down the road about a mile
(supposed to be a ½ mile) to Troutville and went to the Post Office
where I collected my mail – but no shoes. I found a phone and rang
Barb at about 10:00am and had a nice chat. The comforts of home are
becoming more attractive. I went into the grocery, bought some
stuff for breakfast and ate that while I read my letters (Barb (2),
Marj, Peter, Jean, Bill). Time was passing but I decided to take my
time. I returned to the Post Office mailed some stuff to Barb,
Marj, and myself at Linden and left at about 11:30am. I was
fortunate to hitch a ride back to the AT and began walking. After
crossing a bit of farmland, it followed a country road for a few
miles which was quite pleasant in the warm sun. It then entered the
forest again and climbed steadily to Fullhardts Knob on a reasonable
Trail. I stopped by the Trail for lunch and read the Kew Camberwell
Athletic Club newsletter and Barb’s again. After lunch I continued
on the pleasant Trail and met Mike of The Greenhorns running back
along the Trail to retrieve a neck charm he’d left at
a stream.Shortly after I reached Wilson Creek Shelter where I met AT
Thru-Hikers, Darryl and Melinda, and Frank of The Greenhorns. I
stopped for a break and a chat.During the break a day hiker came
down the AT from the north, said hello, and retraced his steps. I
left 10 minutes later and soon caught him up the hill but he had no
intention of letting me through so I slowed my pace and chatted to
him. He stopped for a drink and I passed and the AT soon reached
the Blue Ridge Parkway which it paralleled for the remainder of my
day to Bobblets Gap Lean-To. There would good views at various
points down both sides of the Blue Ridge. I reached the Shelter at
7:10pm and found Stu and Gus (a southbound AT hiker, by stages) who
was a real nice guy. We had a good evening in the Shelter, which
had been adopted by a local, Running Richard, who kept everything in
excellent shape for AT hikers. A bear had been seen in the vicinity
the previous day and there were a few jokes about the food bags hung
over my bedding, but it was an uneventful night. |
|
ADVENTURE LIST
Round Ireland
(2016)
Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)
Via Alpina
(2012)
Australian Alps Walking
Track (2011)
Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)
Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)
Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)
Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)
Three Peaks Race
(2004)
Appalachian Trail
(1986)
Alpine Track
(1983)
|