Day 60: Jenkins Shelter to Helveys Mill Shelter

14 miles

Pretty easy day; a big climb at first and then an easy (almost flat) 5 miles. The terrain is getting easier. (This does not mean I am getting any faster; just that I'm not as exhausted when I reach my destination).

GREAT SUCCESS with a hitch into Bland. We were walking down the gravel road to get to the highway going into Bland, and a white pickup was going pretty slow down the road (the same direction we were headed). OWL said, should I ask them for a ride? I said SURE, and so she threw out her thumb. Much to both our surprise, the truck stopped - it was an older guy with his wife - and he said he'd give us a ride down the mountain. As we were climbing into the back I asked if he was going into Bland...he said no...I said no problem, we are thankful for the ride down the mountain! At the bottom of the mountain he said - we have time, I'll take you into Bland....where do you want to go? I said DAIRY QUEEN and he started laughing. (I'm guessing his wife talked him into taking us).

DQ was an amazing thing, and as a special bonus, it was in a gas station so I could get a few candy bars also! I had:a cheeseburger, fries, chili cheese dog, soda, and a georgia mud blizzard. I could have eaten more - but we had miles to go before the shelter so I held back a bit. I just THOUGHT I had HikerHunger before! Charged electronics and called my folks. I tried to talk OWL into staying in town (at the Big Walker Hotel) but she was not enthused. So decided to try to hitch back to the trail.

We had a terrible time getting a hitch. Finally, after OWL said "this is the last one" and I tried my infamous "we'll get in the back!" hand signals, a guy (Seth T) in a maroon truck pulled over. My hero! I am always so excited to get a hitch. It just makes things so much easier.

We walked the final 2 miles to the shelter. Saw KFox and Gumby tenting, and Mr. GiggleFits and his girlfriend Paisley in the shelter. They are the most hilarious shelter mates I've had so far! (Once I found out his name was Mr. GiggleFitsI have to admit I had high expectations). There was synchronized boy stretching (even though Gumby is the most inflexible Gumby ever), and shared whiskey. As an improvement from yesterday, today's privy had two walls. (The one yesterday had zero walls; just a toilet seat on an elevated platform).

Day 55: Troutdale Baptist Hostel to Partnership Shelter

14.5 miles

Don's brother is trying to do an insane hitch back to Grayson Highlands - some 50 miles back. So he got up at 5am to go stand by the road and increase his chances. We took our time getting ready - it looks like it will rain outside but without cell service or anything nearby there is no way I want to stay another day.

We needed to hitch a ride back up the mountain (about 3 miles). Lots of cars and trucks passed - some people would even wave - but no one stopped. Finally a little old lady in a giant maroon truck pulled over. "I hate to ask this, but would you get in the back?", she said. "Ma'am we are so delighted to get a ride - we would love to get in the back". We rode to the top of the mountain - where we thought we wanted to get off - but once there realized it wasn't quite where we wanted to be. But, we got out anyway. She asked - is this where you wanted? and OWL said - well not quite but it isn't a problem, we'll walk from here. The lady said - well get back in the truck and we'll go! So we did.

We thanked her profusely as we left. She said - my husband...well he's deceased now...but he always would stop to pick up hikers. He always asked them to get in the back, though.

I said - Really I would prefer to ride in the back. She looked at me, kind of shocked, and said "really?". Yep, I said. I am dirty, all my stuff is dirty and I don't want to mess up anyone's truck. All I want is a ride.

She smiled - we thanked her again - and then drove off. Super sweet lady. I hope our interaction encourages her to pick up other hikers - but I understand people's apprehension of hitchhikers, especially in a town a little bit off the hiker path.

The wildflowers are absolutely gorgeous today.

Got to the Partnership Shelter - this is the Taj Mahal of shelters with a shower, a sink, and an outhouse. There is cell service from the parking lot, a dumpster for trash, PLUS there is pizza delivery and a shuttle into the town of Marion. Saw a note from OWL saying she had ordered a hawaiian pizza - my favorite!

Rango, Torch, Half and Half, and two others are staying upstairs in the shelter tonight.

The Virginia Creepers are here again tonight. I like talking with them a lot. A few of them are trail maintainers in the Shenandoah area. They also gave us some salad to go with our pizza - I'd never had lime vinegarette before but it is delicious!

OWL & I split a two liter of Sierra Mist (thinking we were being smart by ordering soda with no caffeine) - and were up until midnight riding a sugar high.