Fun & Sick Times

Day 66

We woke up and left quickly to hike the 1.8 miles to US 60 where we tried to hitch. Two cars passed going the direction we needed in fifteen minutes. We feared it might take awhile. Then Yote showed up, also to hike into town, on this, his twenty-first birthday. We were also joined by a young brown dog from a side road where it looked like some kind of construction was going on. He was overjoyed to see us and we were happy to have his company. The third car that passed stopped for us and a kind, though hard of hearing, older gentleman took the three of us down the winding road to the town of Buena Vista, over nine miles away. Nepsis and I went to the Blue Dog Art Cafe where we had yummy cinnamon rolls, coffee, and hot chocolate. We used the local library some and resupplied at Family Dollar and the Amish Cupboard, the latter of which had some awesome snacks and fresh baked bread. We ate at the Blue Dog Art Cafe again for lunch where Yote was celebrating his birthday with some surprise family and friends. He offered us some of his birthday cake. A lot of locals talked with us and wished us well. So far it was the friendliest town we've stopped by at. On the way out we bought some strawberries from a farmer's stand. It didn't take too long before we got a ride back to the Trail. It was early evening as we headed up a steep incline that lasted almost three miles. From the top we hiked a little down to Cow Camp Gap Shelter where we spent the night, eating our strawberries before we went to sleep.

Miles hiked today: 5.6 Total AT miles completed: 806.4 Total AT miles left to hike: 1378.9

Day 67

We woke up a bit late after a cold evening and started hiking, as always. After a few miles we walked through a stretch of meadows with good views. The terrain wasn't too bad since we stayed up on the mountain tops. During the second half of our day we reached Spy Rock, a rock outcropping we had to climb up. The views were great, but there were lots of tourists. In fact, all day, we had seen more day-hikers and weekend-hikers on the Trail than ever before. When we arrived at The Priest Shelter we found the place teeming with tourists. Thankfully we still nabbed a spot in the shelter. There is a tradition at this shelter to write confessions in the trail journal, usually associating with Trail-related crimes such as yellow-blazing, using a vehicle to bypass part of the Trail, or washing dishes near where hikers get their drinking water. For most of the evening I played Taboo with a group of weekend-hikers before going to sleep.

Miles hiked today: 16.8 Total AT miles completed: 823.2 Total AT miles left to hike: 1362.1

Day 68
We woke up early and hiked a bit before heading down four miles off of the Priest. We hiked fast and stopped by the next shelter in the late morning. There were so many weekend-hikers milling about. We then hiked the three miles up Three Ridges Mountain, passing many weekend-hikers on the way. We felt good to hike so much faster than them, but anyone would after hiking every day for over two months. Once we were at the top it was just a few quick miles to Reed's Gap where we hitched a ride from a woman. She drove us five miles down winding roads to the Devil's Backbone Brewpub which was in the middle of a large piece of open property. The woman was surprised that the large parking lot was completely full. She claimed the most she'd seen was ten cars. Near the entrance was a gathering of packs where we placed ours. The place was packed as we filed in and pushed ourselves to the bar where we found Oconee, North Star, and Dawg. We arrived here around 2:30. We stood behind them and enjoyed beers. Although the building was huge the seating area was quite tight. The walls were covered with stuffed wildlife. After a couple hours and beer at the bar Nepsis and I sat at a table for dinner. A former thruhiker had recognized us for what we were and bought us another round of beers. Then Voodoo showed up and the six of us thruhikers got a table outside  at the beer garden. We had a great time and eventually got to playing corn-hole. Then a family of thruhikers arrived. The couple have a boy and a girl a year or two under ten and they are all thruhiking together. The kids were smart and friendly and North Star played with them a lot. We all stayed there until it was dark and then walked across the lawn and behind a building where the owners of the Brewpub let thruhikers camp. It was well past hiker midnight and we all fell asleep as quickly as we could.
Miles hiked today: 15.5 Total AT miles completed: 838.7 Total AT miles left to hike: 1346.6

Day 69

We woke up, packed up, and walked to the road to hitchhike back to the Trail. Hardly any vehicles passed, probably because it was early morning on a holiday, and soon Dawg joined us. After a bit a Guy in a pick-up truck picked us up. Nepsis rode in the front while Dawg and I had a chilly ride in the truck bed. When we got to the Trail we started hiking fast on flat terrain until we got to a road where there was trail magic. A middle aged couple and their friend offered us pancakes, sausages, coffee, powerade, watermelon, and homemade chocolate chip cookies. After we enjoyed this second breakfast we hiked on, fast again up the very gradual Humpback Mountain and down to a shelter where we had a late lunch. When we started hiking again we were very slow, even though the terrain was pretty easy. After a few miles we arrived at US 250 where Dawg was standing next to the guardrail. There was a sign posted on it with about thirty Waynesboro residents' phone numbers, all willing to come pick thruhikers for free. As Dawg was about to dial a number, a yellow pick-up truck pulled over and we all squeezed in the messy truck. He drove us to Waynesboro and gave us his card in case we needed to be driven anywhere else. He informed us that the hiker hostel in town was closed for a few more days so Nepsis and I went to the Quality Inn to check-in and clean up. At the hiker box there we found the shirt Nepsis had lost! On our way to dinner we ran into North Star, Dawg, Voodoo, Hoops, and Rough Bananas and all went to a local buffet-style restaurant together. After, we went back to the hotel room and relaxed by watching TV until we fell asleep.

Miles hiked today: 19.2 Total AT miles completed: 857.9 Total AT miles left to hike: 1327.4

Day 70

We woke up, ate continental breakfast, and hung out in the room until we had to check out. Since we were taking a zero, we walked over to a park where the town allows thruhikers to camp and set up our tent. We then had lunch at a cafe and bookstore where I was finally able to obtain a good book to read on the Trail, a collection of short stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. We then caught a bus to the other side of town and got off at Walmart. From there we walked a mile to a movie theater where we saw X-Men: Days of Future Past. Once it was over we walked into the lobby only to find it was pouring rain outside. After deliberating, the manager offered to let us use their phone and Nepsis called the man who had picked us up the day prior. In ten minutes he came and dropped us off at Walmart so we could resupply and eat a cheap dinner from their deli area. We took the bus back to the other side of town and walked to the park. It was raining and we decided to stay at the hotel another night instead of camping out. It was easy to persuade me to do so because my stomach had felt weird for the past few hours. So we took down the tent and walked back to the hotel. Very soon after arriving in the room I rushed to the bathroom with diarrhea. I collapsed on the bed. A little while later I had to rush to the garbage bin to throw-up dinner. And more diarrhea. And then I threw up whatever was left. Nepsis went out to buy Gatorade and a small pack of crackers for me. I stayed in bed and watched bad TV with my stomach hurting. It was hard to sleep, but I did. I felt extremely dehydrated, but could only manage a few tiny sips of Gatorade during the night. Every few hours I made a trip to the bathroom for more diarrhea.

Day 71

I woke up feeling better, but still weak, so we decided to stay another night at the hotel. I stayed in bed all day, eating only the pack of crackers and drinking the Gatorade. I didn't have much of an appetite. Again, we watched whatever was most tolerable on TV and rested all day long until we went to sleep.