Day 71 - Friday, May 31, 1974 - Waynesboro to Sawmill Run

19.2 miles - 562.2 cumulative miles

Morning fog burning off

It's amazing how far we go and how much we go through in a day.  Like tonight, the scene is so completely different from this morning, that it's hard to believe.

We got up this morning and behold, there was a thick fog outside.  Real thick.  Had breakfast at Howard Johnson's and got set to go, leaving at 9:00 in the fog.  Hiked through woods and got soaked from the trees and undergrowth.  Passed over open topped mountains with fantastic views, but we didn't see a thing.  Got lost for awhile in a couple of spots, the fog was so thick.  Passed through a herd of cows and then it started clearing.  Hiked on through another herd and entered Shenandoah National Park.

Had lunch at a spring and went on, crossing Skyline Drive.  Lots of Mountain Laurel out around here.  Stopped at Sawmill Run shelter for water.  Sign there: "Watch for Bears". 

Went on and on, crossed Skyline Drive twice again and came to the Rip Rap Trail.  No way we'd go 3.3 miles down 1,000 feet to the shelter.  Went on and 1/4 mile later went up into the woods aways, found a campsite.  Kind of illegal:  within sight of the trail and, we found out later, too close to the road.  Good enough, though.  The weather was partly cloudy all day.  Probably will rain tonight.

Day 70 - Thursday, May 30, 1974 - Waynesboro, VA

0.0 miles

Town day.  Last night we went to see Woody Allen's "Sleeper".  Great movie!  We walked around town today and checked out all the stores.  I bought a recorder and Rick bought a Jaw Harp.  Went food shopping and spent over $20 again.  Money goes fast.

Checked out of the Hotel and went to the post office to mail some stuff home.  Got a ride to Rockfish Gap and checked in to motel there.  Walked up to the Ranger Station, got a permit for our first 2 nights out.

Had turkey dinner at Howard Johnson's, with free seconds. 

Day 69 - Wednesday, May 29, 1974 - Laurel Springs Gap to Waynesboro, VA

9.7 miles - 543.0 cumulative miles

We had a little rain early this morning, after a poor night's sleep in the tent.  Got going at around 9:00.  Rough trail.  Rough climbs and descents.  Hiked 5 miles to the parkway parking lot at Humpback Rocks, where we went to the information center and a restoration of a cabin, etc.  Had lunch and then continued on at around 1:00.  Ran into two hikers heading south from Rockfish Gap.

Blue Ridge Parkway Wayside

We both were feeling real down and tired today.  It was also very hot and humid and windy.  Lots of views along the way but couldn't see much with the haze.  Passed such scenic spots as power lines and a dump.  Ran into another hiker out for a few days.

Got a ride into Waynesboro on our first try in a BMW.  Two guys into hiking and camping.  Went to the post office.  Got some letters, but no banana bread.  Checked into the Wayne Hotel.  Classy joint. 

Day 68 - Tuesday, May 28, 1974 - Harpers Creek Leanto to Laurel Springs Gap

18.6 miles - 533.3 cumulative miles

Looking back at the Priest from Three Ridges

We got up around 7AM and had breakfast.  Left around 8:30.  It promised to be a beautiful day.

Views from Three Ridges

Immediately began to climb Three Ridges.  Reached the first Ridge and sat on the rocks in the sun for a long time.  Beautiful view.  Then we went on to the second Ridge with two really fantastic views, one of which was looking across the Tye River valley to the Priest.  Descended for a long way from there and found the Maupin Field Shelter.  Had lunch.  Then on to Reeds Gap. 

More views...

Met our first hikers since the Priest at a parking lot for an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Two girls headed south and a guy just hiking generally north.  Also a cyclist came up and talked with us for a while.  He's riding down the Parkway aways and then to Lynchburg, and eventually to Cape Hatteras.  Gave me a good idea - how about a bicycle trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway?

                                             Another natural standing stone,
                                             like the one we saw on the Priest
                                             yesterday.

Climbed a long way and then descended a long way to Laurel Springs Gap where we set up camp around 5PM.  After dinner we walked out to the Parkway only a short ways away and saw what there was of a sunset.  Not much.  But the view was fantastic.  All flat farming land. 

Saw lots of Azaleas today.  Scared up another grouse who wanted to attack us.  Saw some hawks, too.  Really great day and great weather.  I really enjoyed all the views.

Day 67 - Monday, May 27, 1974 - Priest Leanto to Harpers Creek Leanto

7.4 miles - 514.7 cumulative miles

Harpers Creek Leanto

Rain last night.  Rain this morning.  Wet and foggy and cold.  Brrrrr!!

On Priest Mountain

A stupid mouse ate through my pack again and got into the food.  He also chewed up the strings on my sleeping bag.  These mice don't like me for some reason.

Cripple Creek

The Boy Scouts left around 9:30.  The other campers out in the woods were still around when we left at 11:30.  The trail went down, down, down until we reached the highway, 3,000 feet down.  It cleared up by the time we got down there.  Stopped at Oliver's Snack Bar, but couldn't get an answer when we knocked at the trailer, so we started to leave.  Then the lady came out, called us back and opened the snack bar for us.  Had hamburgers and cake and ice cream.  Talked with her awhile.  Also signed the register.  Joe H. was there 12 days ago.  Some people from Hartford were signed in 3 days ago. 

Priest Mountain from the Tye River Valley

Started out again at 2:30 and went to Harpers Brook Shelter, 2 1/2 miles up.  Will climb Three Ridges tomorrow.  Can't find mention of Maupin Field Shelter in the guide book.  If we only knew where it was. 

No one else here at the shelter yet.  Haven't seen a Thru-hiker since the day we left Roanoke.  Strange.

Harpers Creek

Nice brook near the shelter.  We were the first ones to sign the new register!

Scary sign at Harpers Creek

Day 66 - Sunday, May 26, 1974 - Wiggins Spring Leanto to Priest Leanto

12.5 miles - 507.3 cumulative miles

 We got up early and left the shelter around 8:00.  Went a couple of miles over exposed hills and sat around for a half hour in an open field to soak up some sun.  Nice views all the way to the Priest.  Hiked up and down mostly today.  Met four guys, two who are starting in Maine in a month heading to Georgia.  We exchanged names - will probably meet somewhere.  Also met a couple with 3 dogs.

View from Spy Rock

Climbed Spy Rock around 1PM and met an older couple there.  Had lunch and sat around for an hour and a half.  Fantastic views.  I scared up a large bird, must have been a wild turkey - didn't get a clear view of it.  This afternoon I scared up a grouse and her chicks.  I was walking along and heard some movement in the leaves.  I stopped to look and all of a sudden the grouse came running towards me with tail spread and wings flapping.  Scared me to death.  Thought I was going to be attacked.  She continued to yell at me and jump at me, then she moved away some, crying and squawking.  Trying to distract me from he chicks. 

Wild Cows

Came across a small herd of cows on top of a mountain in the woods.  Saw lots of azaleas.  Very sweet smelling. 

Azalea

Got to the Priest shelter at 4:45 and were surprised to find the shelter empty.  Good spring.  The Boy Scouts from Wiggins Spring arrived at 5:15, camping a little ways away.  A couple is camped up the trail a ways, and another 2 hikers are also camped out near the shelter.  Rick and I have the shelter to ourselves.  Cold now.  Might rain tonight.

Spring at the Priest Shelter

Number 7

Day 65 - Saturday, May 25, 1974 - Punchbowl Spring Leanto to Wiggins Spring Leanto

19.9 miles - 494.8 cumulative miles

Punchbowl, the morning after The Peepers

We made it through the night with our sanity still intact, I guess.  Actually the peepers stopped later on during the night, all of a sudden - silence. 

Punchbowl in the morning

Near Pedlar Lake

Mountain Laurel

Pedlar Lake Dam - Lynchburg Reservoir

It was a beautiful clear morning.  I was really anxious to get going, I felt really good.  So we pushed on through to the first shelter, passing by some really beautiful brooks, past the Lynchburg reservoir and along Browns Creek.  The shelter was newly repainted and was real nice, but after lunch we decided to push on to the Wiggins Spring Shelter.

Little Irish Creek

Route 60 crossing

We climbed to Bald Mountain, 2,000 feet up from Route 60 in 3 miles then down 1 mile and up one mile to an open topped mountain like the balds down in Tennessee.  Really fantastic views.  Could see The Priest and Three Ridges among other mountains. 

Jack

Bud Man checking out the views

Got to the shelter at around 6:15.  Not sure if it was really 20 miles.  The mileage fact sheet said it was, but the guide book figured it to be around 16 miles.  Found the shelter occupied with 4 people.  Enough room left for us.  Boy Scouts camped out nearby and other hikers tenting, too.  Must be 20 people here, at least.  The spring is fantastic, a big hole in the ground with lots of cold water pouring out.  Nice spot. 

Comment seen in register at Browns Mountain Shelter:  Destination: The Priest.  Purpose: To see God.

Day 64 - Friday, May 24, 1974 - Johns Hollow Leanto to Punchbowl Spring Leanto

9.1 miles - 474.5 cumulative miles

Punchbowl Spring Shelter

Got up around 7AM and began a rough day of climbing at 8:15.  We climbed and climbed and climbed...Got some real nice views though of the James River and the surrounding mountains.  It was hot today, but mostly cloudy most of the day.  Real nice view from a fire tower.  Only saw one guy and his dog, Buckwheat, going south.  No one else all day.

Views of the James River

Got to the leanto early in the afternoon and got bored.  I sewed up the holes in my pack.  Got a big hole in it from a mouse last night.  Put on my "note"  patch and sewed a button on my shirt.  [Being domestic]

Ottie Cline Powell Memorial

 [For the story behind this memorial - http://blueridgecountry.com/archive/favorites/ottie-cline-powell/]

Views from Bluff Mountain Fire Tower

The shelter is near a small pond full of salamanders and frogs.  We have a bird nesting in the shelter.  And a rabbit under the shelter.  This evening, right now, the peepers are really going at it.  Very loud all around the shelter.  I'm getting a headache and they are messing with my concentration.  I may go crazy tonight listening to this!  They are LOUD!!  And so HIGH-PITCHED!!

Sunset on Punchbowl Pond