I woke at 5:15 and was on the road by 5:40 after a breakfast of clementines and a pop tart, my first since childhood. Some of the alpacas were sitting in the field and the light of my headlamp caught their eyes staring at me.
The first two miles were noisy – I had to walk down a highway tgen cross over the interstate, and long after that the sound of truck engines air brakes outcompeted the birds. I walkrd in darkness through fields and woods waiting enough light from the dawn so I could turn off my headlamp. I heard robins, a wood thrush, red winged blackbirds, towhees, a cardinal.
Just before mile 550 I passed a post that had “1/4 GA – ME” carved into it. Yep, on day 38 I hit the quarter-way mark. Only 114 days to go at that rate.
The trail alternated between forests and meadows. Some of the views from the higher meadows were breathtaking. The mountains in Virginia are more rolling tgan further south, and probably not as high.
Around noon I met Billy Goat, who said he had spent two hours holding a doe who had broken her two front legs, then he put her down. That took both compassion and courage. We discussed how far we wanted to walk and after checking the mileage both decided that Chestnut Knob Shelter made sense. I headed on first. He passed me an hour later. Ah, the speed of youth!
It was a long day with a very long climb at the end, but at least it was a gradual climb. I got to the shelter around 7:15 so basically was on the trail for 13.5 hours. A bunch of people were at the outdoor picnic table and two or three dogs. Billy Goat. Captain and Avalanche. I forget the rest, I guess I was pretty tired. The shelter has a view of a giant crater probably 3-5 miles wide, created by a limestone sinkhole. Should have a great sunrise tomorrow.
It was a great way to spend my birthday, and thanks to everyo e who sent birthday wishes!
Mile 546.1 to mile 570.1 = 24 miles
