Day 22 of AT in VA NOBO

Gravel Springs Hut (959.0) to US Rt 522 parking area (972.7)
Total Miles: 13.7

Another 80+ degree day. Got up and going by 8am.
Had to figure out a road crossing/pick up spot today where Bill or Goldilocks could get me into north Front Royal VA. Based on the 2 options, it would either be a 14 mile day or a 20. I chose the 14 as they had to pick me up by 3:30 at the latest, and I didn’t want to start hiking at 5am. Ok, I’m mentally weak! 😃
It was actually a pretty boring day as far as views go. Most of the day was a 1/4 mile away from the west edge of the ridge-line, which meant trekking through a lot of this past winter’s blow-downs.
Bill “Rana” (60’ish) picked me up at Rt 522 and shuttled me 7 miles to the Hampton Inn in North Front Royal. Bill is ex Marines and he is a huge part of this community. Trail runner, trail maintainer, Shuttler, part time VNA for ex vets, he seems to do it all.
From the “Small World”Department: I was leaving the hotel to go next door to get some food. I was talking to the front desk gals when a 70’ish couple was checking in. The husband jumped into the convo and mentioned something about his days at U of Michigan. I was like, my son goes to Michigan, so we got into that. Then the gal says they met when she was living in Darien CT and working at Greenwich hospital (he was a patient). I said, no way, I grew up in Greenwich. He says I went to Greenwich HS, and I said me too! Sooo….. 30 minutes later I got to finally go get food from next door. 🙂
Some good NCAA tournament games on TV then fast asleep by 11pm.Baca lagi