Journals

According to Pittsburgh:

JUNE 12, 1997 - THURSDAY
   i somehow got my right leg into an odd position during the night, and awoke with some driving KNEE PAIN. straightening my leg eased the pain, and i went back to sleep. i decided not to hike. SUNSHINE and TIMMY did hike...
   the support crew and i headed for WAYNESBORO, VA to SHOP, get the OIL CHANGED in the van, and EAT LUNCH. we then headed for SHERANDO CAMPGROUND, near the BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, to secure a site and set up camp. i headed for REEDS GAP, on the BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, and waited for the ladies. HOOPS was there as i arrived, and M&M arrived shortly thereafter. they kept me company for a while, then moved on...
   the ladies arrived individually, SUNSHINE first. we headed to SHERANDO, and took (cold) showers. we ate supper, then worked out our itinery through MARYLAND. lights out...

JUNE 13, 1997 - FRIDAY
   we were up and ready to go in record time. GILAMAN dropped us off at REEDS GAP, and off we went. at the DRIPPING ROCK parking area, the five mile point of the hike, GILAMAN was waiting. i had decided earlier to hike only to this point. the ladies continued on...
   we headed into WAYNESBORO to pick up PANTHER FAN who was doing laundry, then off we went to CROZET, VA. PANTHER FAN has friends in CROZET that are letting us bunk at their place for two nights. we took showers, lounged around, then GILAMAN and i headed for ROCKFISH GAP, the end (or beginning) of the BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, where the ladies were hiking to. PETER PAN showed up, then shuttled a hiker into WAYNESBORO...
   SUNSHINE arrived, and secured a room at the SKYLINE MOTEL. her husband GARY was due to arrive later in the evening. they had not seen each other in TWO MONTHS! TIMMY and PETER PAN also secured a room. they were expecting friends from the area to stop by. GILAMAN and i headed back to CROZET. everyone was home when we arrived, and we debated supper, and finally headed for PIZZA. then it was back to the "CROZET HOSTEL" to watch "A FISH CALLED WANDA" on video...

JUNE 14, 1997 - SATURDAY
a day off of the trail for everyone...

JUNE 15, 1997 - SUNDAY
   GILAMAN headed for the motel at ROCKFISH GAP where SUNSHINE and TIMMY were staying. he made sure that they were properly outfitted for the day, then returned to CROZET. GILAMAN, PANTHER FAN, and i had a wonderful breakfast at the "CROZET HOSTEL". PANTHER FANs friends had been very generous for the few days that we stayed with them. we packed the van and said goodbye...
   i decided to rest my knee for another day and not hike. we stopped for some groceries, then headed for the LOFT MOUNTAIN campground, on the SKYLINE DRIVE, in SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK. we secured a site, pitched the big tent, and relaxed...
   SUNSHINE had requested a day off at HARPERS FERRY so that she could see her FATHER and GRANDMOTHER. the rest of us did not wish a day off. the comprimise came in the form of seperate hikes. SUNSHINE is hiking miles that will get her to HARPERS FERRY a day before TIMMY, and i am going to hike shorter miles than both of the ladies in an effort to appease my knee. essentially, the van will need to support three different hikes!!!
   we drove to mile 92.4 on the SKYLINE DRIVE to check on SUNSHINE and her husband, GARY (hiking with her for this one day), and to pick up TIMMY. SUNSHINE and GARY arrived, chatted for a while, then continued on. TIMMY came by a bit later and hopped into the van, her hiking day complete. we headed to mile 88.9 on the SKYLINE DRIVE to meet SUNSHINE and GARY. they were waiting and hopped into the van. we then headed back to LOFT MOUNTAIN campground...
   showers were taken. APPLE JACK, a hiker from IRELAND that we had not seen since DAMASCUS, was at the showers, and came back to the campsite with the rest. SUNSHINE, GARY, JACK, and TIMMY hopped into GARYs rental car and headed to WAYNESBORO for supper. GILAMAN, PANTHER FAN and i made supper at the campsite...

JUNE 16, 1997 - MONDAY
   GARY left early in the morning to get to ROANOKE to catch a plane back to FLORIDA. the rest of us awoke at a normal hour (6am). APPLE JACK had hiked out after breakfast. the rest of us hopped in the van. we dropped SUNSHINE off first, then TIMMY and me. i had decided to wear a knee brace and hike TIMMYs miles...
   i did not have any knee pain all day, but my mind was so fixated on the knee that i had no enjoyment. in fact, i began favoring the knee, and ended up with a limp by the end of the hike. the hike ended at the campground. TIMMY had been ahead of me, but i somehow beat her back...
   the guys and i went to the LUNCH COUNTER at the WAYSIDE near the campground for lunch (THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED), then we headed out to get SUNSHINE at SIMMONS GAP, at mile 73.2 on the SKYLINE DRIVE. she arrived shortly after we did. TIMMY had not arrived at the campsite when we returned. PANTHER FAN hiked out to locate her. SUNSHINE and i headed for the showers...
   we met HOOPS and M&M at the CAMP STORE, and they came back to the campsite with us. TIMMY had arrived while we were gone. she had passed the side trail, and did not realize it for a while. HOOPS and M&M set up their tent, and we had a PASTA group meal...

JUNE 17, 1997 - TUESDAY
   after breakfast, i took SUNSHINE to SIMMONS GAP so she could start her hike, and then returned to camp. TIMMY, HOOPS, and M&M headed out from the campground while i was gone. GILAMAN and PANTHER FAN had broken camp and were ready to load the van when i returned. we drove to BIG MEADOWS campground, on the SKYLINE DRIVE, and secured a campsite. They set up the big tent as i made a map for SUNSHINE. This was to be her destination, and i left the map for her on the trail near the campsite. we then headed for ELKTON, VA...
   after groceries, gas, and lunch, we headed to SWIFT RUN GAP, at mile 65.5 on the SKYLINE DRIVE. i started my hike from there. This is also the spot were TIMMY was to finish her hike. after i had hiked for a while, i ran into PANTHER FAN hiking the other direction! GILAMAN had driven him back to BIG MEADOWS, and then returned to SWIFT RUN GAP to wait for TIMMY. PANTHER FAN had taken the opportunity to day hike...
   SUNSHINE was at the campsite when i hiked in. the map had done the trick for her. PANTHER FAN arrived back shortly thereafter. he was surprised to see SUNSHINE. he had assumed that he would have seen her on the trail. the mystery was solved when she indicated that she had taken a break at one of the shelters. GILAMAN and TIMMY then arrived in the van. we took showers. before supper, SUNSHINE and TIMMY gave me words of encouragement. they were concerned that i may be losing my drive to hike. i explained that the pain in my knee is what is bothering me. as we were about to start supper, the rains came. i decided to hop in the van, the others went into the tent. the food was in the van, so i grabbed some BAKED BEANS and VIENNA SAUSAGES, and ate a cold supper. everyone else ate after the rains ceased, which was not too long...
   STELLA BLUE and ARTFUL DODGER, who we had not seen since before HOT SPRINGS, walked in to camp to say hello. GILAMAN and i had taken them off of the trail at MAX PATCH because of STELLAs painful knee. i spoke to STELLA about her knee, and she indicated that her doctor told her that she had simply overused her knee. his advice was to get off of it for a while, then hike with a brace, taking a day off every few days. my knee is not nearly as bad as she let hers get, so i don't think i need to get off of it for a while, but the rest of the advice sounds good...

JUNE 18, 1997 - WEDNESDAY
   a large BEAR wandered through the campground early in the morning! i imagine it did this every morning in an effort to find unattended food. it had no success...
   SUNSHINE and i hiked out from the campground. TIMMY was transported to SWIFT RUN GAP to begin hers. the theme of the day wase DEER. SUNSHINE and i saw at least a dozen. the deer in the park have little fear of humans, and generally keep their distance, but do not run away. we saw a fawn that was barely old enough to walk. it was very frightened of us, and "hid" behind a sapling...
   SUNSHINE and i hiked off of the trail at BIG MEADOWS LODGE, where we had intended to eat lunch. they do not do lunch during the week. GILAMAN and PANTHER FAN came by in the van, and i went with them to the WAYSIDE where lunch was being served. we shuttled APPLE JACK to the trail on the way. SUNSHINE continued her hike from the LODGE. the guys and i secured a campsite at BIG MEADOWS and set up camp. i took a nap while PANTHER FAN day-hiked, and GILAMAN headed for SKYLAND to pick up SUNSHINE...
   PANTHER FAN joined up with TIMMY, and hiked back to the campsite at BIG MEADOWS. GILAMAN and SUNSHINE arrived also. we all hung around the campsite until suppertime, then headed to the LODGE for a meal. the restaurant is SIT DOWN FANCY, completely NON-SMOKING, and served REAL BUTTER! TWO THUMBS UP...

JUNE 19, 1997 - THURSDAY
   TIMMY hiked out from BIG MEADOWS, and SUNSHINE was transported to SKYLAND to begin her hike. i decided to take the day off from hiking. the guys and i had breakfast at the BIG MEADOWS LODGE with HOOPS and M&M. APPLE JACK came in while we were eating. he had hiked the wrong way when he left the ROCK SPRINGS HUT, and thought he had gotten to SKYLAND. he was not amused to find that he had hiked THREE MILES in the wrong direction...
   we headed for FRONT ROYAL, VA, taking APPLE JACK with us. he intended on hiking north from FRONT ROYAL in an effort to catch LAZY BOY. we noticed that JACK was a little woozy. he had been taking some medications for an intestinal problem, and didn't have it all together. we decided to get the things done in town that we needed to do, then secure a motel in LURAY, and not let JACK hike. he readily agreed with our decision...
   PETER PAN arrived in time to retrieve TIMMY from THORNTON GAP, mile 31.5 on thee SKYLINE DRIVE. the guys headed for RATTLESAKE POINT, mile 21.9 on the SKYLINE DRIVE, to get SUNSHINE. supper at PIZZA HUT...

JUNE 20, 1997 - FRIDAY
   PETER PAN took TIMMY and SUNSHINE to breakfast, then to their respective strating points for hiking. the guys, APPLE JACK, and i headed for FRONT ROYAL. we had breakfast at a greasy spoon called the FOX DINER. we all highly recommend this place for breakfast. the guys dropped me and JACK at US 522, and we hiked north. the trail goes past the NATIONAL ZOO compound, and there is a sign that states TRESPASSERS WILL BE EATEN!!!
   the hike was very gentle. i had the knee brace on, but did not seem to be favoring the right leg as before. JACK and i stopped at the JIM & MOLLY DENTON shelter, a very nice facility, with a front deck, benches, covered picnic table, privy, and solar shower. JACK decided to stay a while, and i hiked out with a fellow named PAKABEAR. he and i had a very nice conversation for the next two or three miles. the van was at VA 55 to pick me up. a hiker named ANIMAL caught up just as we got to the road. he and PAKABEAR were short of water, and gladly accepted some from the van...
   we secured a motel room at the TWI-LITE MOTEL, a clean facility with a pool. PETER PAN arrived also and secured a room. he later headed out to retrieve TIMMY at mile 15.9 on the SKYLINE DRIVE. the guys had some things to do, then picked up SUNSHINE at US 522. TIMMYs father arrived, and we all went to GOLDEN CORRAL for supper...

Home