Day 88

Okay Shenandoah National Park. You’ve redeemed yourself with some views, a store with really good beer at less than $2 (and I’m talking a good IPA & a Gose) and the most amazing Trail Angel named Truck Stop. Okay, before I talk about this guy, let me start at the beginning of the day. I wake up and step out of my tent to go get my food bag from the bear box. I should always have my phone on me so I can record times like this but there is a deer standing in front of me grazing. It looks up at me then takes a few steps towards me just to lower its head and continue grazing. Obviously the deer here know they’re in National Park where all wildlife is protected. They could care less about humans. I got back to my tent with my food bag realizing there was actually 3 deer grazing all around the shelter and tents and I was able to take some videos of them. It was a fun start to the day. I ended up hiking around a guy who goes by “turtle wizard” who lives in Portland, Maine so we had lots to talk about. As we reached the first parking lot (there’s plenty of those in the SNP), we saw a sign that said “trail magic” and there was a guy standing next to his vehicle with coolers all around. His name was Truck Stop and he had an amazing spread for breakfast. I had an everything bagel with cream cheese, OJ and took a box of Sour Patch Kids; my favorite. I then found out that he would later be showing up at the hut I planned to stop at this evening. Fantastic! So I hiked on and came across a camp store. Not only was I able to feast on some great snacks but I also got the amazing beers mentioned earlier. Just crazy! I dreaded today because there was a heat warning and instead, while extremely hot, I just made it a shorter day and ended up having a wonderful time at a camp store talking to Turtle Wizard and a few folks just taking a break from driving or car camping. Then I hiked to this hut (this is the same as what I’ve been calling shelters but here they call them huts), met a few new people and then we all got to have an amazing time hanging out with the best Virginia Trail Angel, Truck Stop. This place was full of happy people! He had pizza, coolers full of sodas, Gatorade, beer and White Claw. There were carrots, celery, dips like creamy whipped ranch (never knew this existed and it will change my life) with more candy and fruits. The guy had it all and also started playing music through a speaker. (He was able to even give me my celebratory shot of whiskey I’ve been looking for since we are under contract selling our house thanks to my favorite Realtor since I tried the business and she was my mentor, Sharon Hires. I don’t say this lightly. If you live anywhere near me or the Orlando area and want to sell your house or buy one, she’s the one to call.) Today was one of the best days I’ve ever had and I give all the thanks to Truck Stop (Yes sir, I still remember your real name. Thanks, Barry.) who created an environment where we had a party with thru-hikers and section hikers all having fun. I’m now in my tent, feeling good, with a great camp spot in my own secluded area so I can have all my vestibule doors open and be completely airy watching the heat lightning flash in the sky. Tomorrow I will cross the 900 mark and other than some nasty achilles tendinitis I’m still struggling with but refusing to let take me off trail, I’m feeling great. Until now, I’ve been planning every day up to the next resupply but in this park, I stopped that. I’m planning where to go the next day. I have enough food to get me out of this park but there’s also all these waysides where I can get food to eat all the way. They also have bathrooms, laundry rooms and some have pay showers. This is where I battle my “fear of the unknown.” At some point when I’m almost out of the park or close to being out of food, I’ll go back to planning what I’m doing. Until then, I’m going to continue as a free bird and just plan my next day. I’ll finish this long post with what’s planned tomorrow. I want to stay around huts where I know there’s a water supply but the huts tomorrrow give me either an 8 mile day or a 21 mile day. So… fingers crossed. I’m going to do another 21 mile day like I did yesterday. I see a few good mountain climbs so I may end up having to stop early and stealth camp. We’ll see.