5/21/01
This morning the rain was pelting the roof of the shelter and it showed no signs of letting up. Summer Dog and Norway were still sleeping soundly and my motivation to get up and hike in the rain was zilch. So I rolled over and went back to sleep and none of us moved until almost 11 a.m. It was a great morning to sleep in and no one came by the shelter so we were pretty sure the hikers six miles back at the other shelter took the same position we did to sleep in. Finally I left the shelter just ahead of my new friends and began hiking at 11:20 a.m. The rain had stopped but the high humidity coupled with wet vegetation along the trail soaked me thoroughly in the first mile. Soon I crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway for the first of many times to come and the fog was so thick I searched forever to find the trail blaze on the opposite side of the road. The fog was relentless through the afternoon and the rain began just before I arrived at the Cove Mountain shelter. Norway arrived minutes later, then Diablo, Ed from Massachusetts, and BamBam and Freebird. Suddenly there were six wet humans and one wet dog to occupy the shelter for the night. The rain subsided temporarily and BamBam built a respectable fire to attempt to dry some clothing. Soon the rain came back with a vengeance along with another light show and we all hunkered down in the shelter for the night. This is week two of rain and it's finally starting to wear on me with all clothing and sleeping gear damp or wet. Still, the trail was beautiful with rhododendrons and mountain laurel in full bloom and numerous wildflowers along the way. Despite the late start it was a successful hiking day in Central Virginia on a beautiful stretch of the AT. Today's stats: low 55 degrees, high 65. Rainy, then foggy, then rainy/stormy. Today's mileage: 13.7; cumulative mileage 734.2.
Special Note; We crossed the 1/3 mark on the trail today. It's hard to believe that the great adventure is a third over already. Onward to Katahdin, Maine.
