June 8, 2004

I hiked 17.9 miles today, starting at John's Hollow Shelter and finishing at a campsite before Brown Mountain Creek Shelter.  I climbed Bluff Mountain a 3,372 foot elevation where I stopped at a memorial.  In 1891, a four year-old child had wandered from a schoolhouse and went seven miles up the mountain before he was found dead.  I was saddened by the story and touched by the hiker paraphernalia left at the stone marker.

I hiked on to the Blue Ridge Parkway and hitched a ride to Otter Creek to pick up some refreshments for Bear and me.  I hitched back to my pickup point with a couple from Michigan, the Reeds.  As we were passing mile marker #54 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I saw my first bear.  A good sized black bear was crossing the Blue Ridge Parkway!  Yep---my first bear sighting after hiking nearly 800 miles was from the back seat of a car.  I was happy to see one nonetheless and now know that there is a bear out here in my vicinity.

I pressed onward to Pedlar Dam where I was provided some terrific trail magic by Dan and Judy Williams of Parrott, VA.  They have been treating thru-hikers two weeks a year for the last 20 years.  I ate two Polish sausages on a bun, green peppers and onions, baked beans, cookies, Coke and Ho-Ho's.  Yummy!  Dan and Judy honeymooned at Punchbowl Shelter 26 years ago.

Bear and I pressed on past the dam where we came across a skunk, deer, and a fawn.  We pitched our tents, hung the bear bag, and bathed in the refreshingly cool creek.  I just finished my Ho-Hos and am off to dreamland.