5/8/01
After yesterday's rough hike I needed a break and the trail obliged. It was a nice rolling graded trail that took me to the crossroad to Bland and Bastian, Virginia by lunch time. I was determined to press on and not get sucked into another town, so when Hip caught up and stuck out his thumb to catch a ride to Bland I watched him get in a car and leave. I was still finishing lunch when Rocky and the Bedouin appeared at the crossroad. By then lunch was completed and I listened to the radio's forecasted afternoon thundershower report. Rocky and the Bedouin secured a hitch and before they could put their packs in the awaiting pickup truck I hurriedly threw my pack in the back and hopped in. We were dropped off at the lone intersection of two roads in "downtown" Bland, and we spied a diner/convenience sore which Rocky and The Bedouin gravitated to immediately. Even though I had just polished off my trail lunch the "special" (2 hot dogs and a soda for $1.89) was too tempting to pass up. It was a mile walk to the Big Walker motel just outside of town at the I-77 freeway exit ramp. After finding Hip who had already checked in and giving him some cash to split the room, I walked down the hill to the Dairy Queen to satisfy my now incessant quest for milkshakes. After sucking one down it was time for a shower.
I called the local library after my shower to see if Bland had internet access and was pleased to learn that it did. Another mile of hiking and I had the library to myself to surf the net. I spent two hours reading AT websites and catching up on my AOL mail then surfed Campmor, REI, and backpacking manufacturer websites for lighter gear. Yes, I'm on a mission to continue weight reduction in my pack. My knee joints and hip joints are feeling the cumulative effect of daily pounding so it's time to find a way to make another 5 or 10 pounds go away. The rain began while I was in the library. The phone rang while I was net surfing and the librarian said the phone call was for me. What? It was The Little Guy back at the motel, confirming dinner meeting time and wanting to know if the library had a decent collection of books for sale. I convinced him to make the mile hike to see for himself. We finally had to leave to make the 7 p.m. rendezvous time at the Log Cabin restaurant with Hip, Rocky and The Bedouin. After dinner I searched the nearby woods to give The Little Guy a lesson in poison ivy recognition but was unable to find any. Hip and I spent the balance of the evening in the room with some cold beverages and the movie, "The Green Mile". It was a restful afternoon and evening which my body needed more than I realized. Here are today's stats; low 48 degrees, high 62. Cloudy with light rain in the afternoon. Today's mileage 11.8; cumulative mileage 575.5.
