AT Day 49

2014/5/19 Mile 857.8

Early morning started with a large continental breakfast at the Inn and then a quick 18 mile slack packing adventure back to the gap. Luckily there were lots of shuttle options because Waynesboro wasn't directly on the trail.

Lunch in the room because I was cheap and then laundry and the laundromat. Walked down to Kline's Dairy Bar for a large chocolate fudge brownie sunday while I waited.

As I was leaving I noticed one of the other customers was also taking off so I asked her for a ride to the outfitter (which was about a mile out of town) and she has was nice enough to to take me. The only condition was that we go to McDonalds for a sunday first. No complaints here.

Got my mail drop and some new boots. Went back to Merrils. Hopefully the bigger size and the fact that they are wides will prevent blister-pocalypse number 2. Hitched back into town and was picked up by a hiking enthusiast. He was really interested in hearing about how I selected gear and the tradeoffs I made. We sat and talked for a bit in the parking of the hotel before he left.

Had lots to squeeze in before dinner. Treated my clothes with permethrin and did a test setup of the new hammock. After that I ran my tent down to the post office to bounce it forward to the next mail drop.

I guess I forgot to mention that I ordered a Warbonnet Blackbird hammock while in Daleville. Figured I would give hanging another try in a different company's product. Should be interesting.

Dinner with a bunch of other hikers from the hotel: Sunshine, New Beard, Munchy, Owl, Scrambles, and Vegemite. We went to the local Chinese buffet. It was OK, but I'm not sure I should be allowed in buffets with the hiker hunger. Too dangerous.

After dinner we headed to the local bar for a few beers. Met Fritz and Pyro there, two hikers that had just come back from trail days. They had lots of interesting stories to tell.

I called it a night before it got too late. Wanted to make sure I was ready to leave by 800 the next day so I could grab a ride with owl back out to the trail. Busy day but fun.