Oct. 31st
I had trouble sleeping last night even in a
soft warm bed. I guess I knew that I had to be up by 6 AM to get breakfast
and get an early ride to my start
point on the AT. I woke up at 2 AM and couldn't go back to sleep for
at least an hour. Finally, 6 AM arrived and I went down to breakfast. The
raspberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, fruit and coffee was the perfect
way
to start the morning.
The drive from the B & B to the Punchbowl Crossing took 45 minutes.
It is over 25 miles away and the Blue Ridge Parkway speed limit is 45
miles an
hour. I arrived there about 7:40 and began hiking. Of course, it was all
uphill and with a very heavy pack. I even had a loaf of bread tied on
the outside
of the pack because it wouldn't fit in the inside. Talk about the hobo look.
After the big climb the trail was relatively flat the remainder of the morning.
I stopped at Johns Hollow Shelter and had a cheese sandwich and relaxed for
a few minutes. Finally, bugs drove me out of there. I guess there was not
a hard freeze in that area as there was elsewhere. I haven't seen bugs
in weeks.
I crossed over the James River footbridge at 2:45. It is a long bridge (500
feet perhaps) and was built specifically for AT hikers in 2000. After a couple
more miles I arrived at Matts Creek Shelter around 3:45. I began unpacking
and realized that my blue fleece jacket was missing. I walked back along
the trail and found it only a couple hundred yards back. I knew it couldn't
have
been far because I took off my pack and it was there less that one-half mile
from the shelter. That item is something I can't be without with the cold
I have been experiencing.
My figures show that I have only 54 miles to go to U.S. Highway 220 in Daleville.
It is nearing the end and I'm ready for a successful conclusion to this adventure.
(D’s Note: 12.7 miles today)
Date Modified: Sun, November 6, 2005