Spent a good night at the Trimpi shelter in the tent with Piper. The professor and a lovely couple who live in a van teach rock climbing.There is a picture of them. Other campers felt they heard a bear rambling around at night. I did not hear anything nor did Piper. They didn’t leave there tent. Hiked 10 miles to the road closed Mount Rogers Visitor Center and called Mr Sparkles for a ride to the Econo lodge. They did not have a laundry machine so Piper and I walked at least a mile with my backpack wearing my rain pants and jacket. Everything else was dirty. Starving so on the way their was a McDonalds but only drive thru open because of Covid. So I ordered and got in lines between the cars with Piper y to o get our food. People must have laughed at us. Then went to the laundromat to wash clothes. Then resupplied at Walmart with Piper. Got back to the motel at 10:00 PM. Of note walked through a field with cows. Piper barked once. I had her on a leash. Cows just looked at her the calves trotted away.

5/3/21 Spent night in the motel. Piper got a shower. Packed up so much food pack heavy. The city of Marion has a bus to take hikers to the trail or store. They picked us up at 11:15. Piper just jumped in the bus/van like a pro. Took her own seat. Got to trailhead it was late and intermittent rain so short hike to the shelter where Eagle and her friends were already there as well as the professor. Got spot in the shelter. Others came later. Rain stopped. Short hiking day. Saw my first Red EFT of the year.