May 20: Bryant Ridge Shelter
 
Miles Today : 26.8
Total Miles : 198.5

Arg - more rain! This is really starting to get to me now. So I woke up this morning to find a new guest in the shelter who apparently arrived overnight. This guy is definitely a weird dude, and as Papa Squa from '99 would say, he is a Special Unit. There was no conversation and he was really not a happy camper. Fortunately, he was heading south and he was gone quickly, not to be seen again.

About eight o'clock, I started off into the rain with Gypsy. It was a really miserable morning and after only four miles, I ducked into the next shelter. Springer was still here, packing up his stuff getting ready to head out for the day. I filled my water, had a snack and headed back out into the mist with Springer, leaving Gypsy to re-organize her pack.

Springer and I made great time this afternoon. A good amount of the trail today followed the Blue Ridge Parkway, so the terrain was mild for the most part. During one of the NINE crossings of the BRP today, a small pickup truck pulled over. It was a couple of thru-hikers heading back to the trail from Trail Days. They brought along some trail magic just in case they saw any hikers - SWEET! A coke, an apple and a banana later, I was back on the trail.

At the 22 mile mark, I crossed Jenkins Creek on Jenkins Road and I thought that I was done hiking for the day. There was a public pavilion on this road with well water and a campground a little further up the road that sold beer - I was set! A thru-hiker, Old Ebb, was kind enough to give me a ride to the campground and the pavilion. His wife was out to visit him, so he had some wheels for the week. Well, my plan was perfect, except for the fact that the store was closed and the pavilion was pack with locals. So four more miles it was.

I was glad to make the trip, too. The hiking was moderate and the shelter is really the tops. Apparently, it is one of the biggest on the trail, and it has all the luxuries you could want from a shelter. Here tonight is Springer, Beer Master, Mike, Ziti and Reader, Gypsy and myself. It has been a long day, however, and tomorrow starts off with a 3000-foot climb over a 4200 foot mountain. Time to get some rest.

-Chomp

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