Day 85 - Monday, September 5

Linda

No one was moving particularly fast this morning, but no one really cared either. Ronald was feeling better, so that was a relief. We said good-bye to Randy about 8:30, then finished packing up and got on the road about 8:40. Had a nice leisurely drive back to the Shenandoah National Park. Even stopped for an ice cream cone at Ho-Jo. Arrived at Black Rock Gap (where we had left off before Labor Day Weekend) about 11:00, and had a ham sandwich and one last nectarine before setting out. We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend off with the family, but the rest of the trail was beckoning us on (how corny!). Tom and Marion walked with us about a quarter mile to the next overlook, then we said good-bye. They seem to have been bitten by the hiking bug. Hope they can keep it up.

We took the rest of the day easily. It was clear early in the morning, but the afternoon was hazy and humid again. We passed by the Rip Rap Trail where we had gone a couple years ago with the Baptist Student Union (BSU) group from college. In a few miles, we came to Turk's Gap where we talked to a couple from Seattle. The man had a Jansport pack with the usual complaint of faulty shoulder straps. We've heard the same story from several long-distance hikers. His were really in sad shape. He had them safety pinned on, but the pins kept breaking. Maybe he'll get a Kelty next time.

We didn't stop at Sawmill Run Shelter, because we'd heard the spring was dry. We were very low on water, so were hoping to find some at Jarman's Gap, since that was the last possible source before Rockfish Gap. Our spirits were really low when we got there and crossed by one very dried up creek. We set our packs by the fire road and walked down a ways, hoping the spring would have water. Fortunately it did, so we filled up the bottles and fixed our dinner of tuna helper right there. It had been threatening rain this afternoon, and while we ate a sprinkle started, so we cuddled up under my poncho to eat. How romantic!

The sky cleared a little, and after dinner we went up over Calf Mountain. There had been a fairly recent relocation and the trail up to the top was awful. This was another situation where the local trail club just went through and slapped paint on trees to call it a trail. Once we got to the top, it was beautiful walking through an open meadow as long as we were careful to step around the cow pies. The vegetation was very interesting through here - with wildflowers and grasses we hadn't seen in this area before. We crossed Skyline Drive again, then headed up Bear Den Mountain. Passed by some cows munching away on the grass - they didn't seem too impressed with us. Doubly had to watch our footing up there. When we got to the top by some towers where we planned to camp, we met a local couple, Emory and Christine Wyant out for their daily stroll. We stopped to talk with them for a while. They seemed very interested in hiking and said they try to walk a few miles each day. I think that's great. We chatted about different places we had been, then I mentioned that tomorrow was Ronald's birthday and that we were going to stop at the Howard Johnson's in Rockfish Gap to celebrate in the morning. They gave us $2.00 to buy a birthday sundae. What a sweet gesture. I got their address and promised to send them a card when we finish the trail.

As a storm was still brewing, they went on down the mountain and we set up the tent to await its arrival. After dark we could see the lights from Waynesboro twinkling below. We watched the lightening light up the sky in the distance, and hoped it would stay where it was. It was a beautiful evening, and the open panorama of Bear Den Mountain. was stunning. We ate our "all new flavor" butter pecan pudding and wrote for a while before calling it a day. Even with the late start this morning, we still managed 14.6 miles.

Ron

We were up early this morning getting everything ready. Everything was packed up in the car, and we said good-bye to Randy. Wally and Carol went home last night. With mom and dad, we headed back to the trail head. We were back at Black Rock Gap, by 11:00. The ice chest was soon opened and sandwiches were made. Dad and I walked down the trail a ways thinking of the day that maybe he could do it. You could tell in his eyes how much he wanted to. Mom said that she might even try it for a day or two.

The four of us hiked a quarter mile down the trial to where it crossed the Skyline Drive again. It was hard, but we said our good-byes then turned and started off to complete our journey. The easy trail gave us both ample time to ponder the events of the weekend. We were not jarred back to the reality of the trail until we had to find water for supper.

We stopped in Jarman's Gap for supper. The clouds rolled in while we were eating. A few drops fell but it cleared soon. We left Shenandoah National Park behind us when we left the gap. Along with the park, we left the smooth trails and easy climbs. A few minutes out of the park and we were back on familiar trails. The climb up Calf Mountain was steep and rough and the trail showed signs of a recent relocation. At the top we were greeted with sweeping views off both sides of the ridge. The cattle that normally grazed there had done a good job of keeping down the vegetation.

We selected Bear Den Mountain as our home for tonight. A couple was out strolling the mountain when we arrived. We talked for awhile about the mountains and hiking. They were interested in the details of our trip. When they found out that tomorrow was my birthday, they gave me some money to get some ice cream. As it was getting late, they headed back to their car and we started looking for a place for our tent. We found a flat grassy spot that was free of the numerous cow pies that dot the landscape. It was under the radio tower that sits atop the mountain. I chose the place, hoping that if one of the storms around us broke loose, the lightening would strike the tower and not us.

After sunset, the lights of the town of Waynesboro spread out before us. Off in the distance mountains storms were filling the sky with lighting bolts and the sound of thunder. The whole scene was exhilarating.

(14.6 Miles - 1284.1 Total)