44, 7-28-07: The Last Day.

The last day. So-Close was getting extracted at well, but had to be up and out earlier, so she wandered out of camp while C and I were still groggily coming towards wakefulness. We loaded a lot of our extra food into a bag or two and hung it in the shelter. I hope someone found and loved it. I was certainly ready to leave it behind. It was tasty, but those last 11 miles just didn’t need that much help. It was a really easy 11 miles, no real climbs of note. We did get trail magic! This was super awesome! Yesterday we saw a cooler, a laundry basket, and some plastic bottles in it. C and I thought: ‘how rude of people’ and went on. So Close checked it out, and it turns out that it was a cooler full of Gatorade for hikers. The laundry basket was for empties. So we saw another cooker, wandered over, and looked in. Victory! Gatorade! Consumed! It was wonderful. Once more, I felt a rush of affection for the VA hiker clubs. We hit the road we were meeting the parents on at about 115. When I had talked to them, something about 3 or 4 oclock was mentioned. Caleb and I, needless to say, didn’t want to stay that long. There was talk of Josh coming and bringing his phone, so I pull out mine and check to see if I got signal. Which I did! So I call, and I hear ringing, which was also exciting. And then it went to voicemail. I was sad. Mom must have heard the phone go off without being able to answer it, because she called right back. Dad, Mom, and Matt had camped out that night at a state park nearby, so they were ready to roll. We hang out, and I think ate a snack. Then a tan van rolls up and pulls off the road. We exchange greetings, hugs, and many smiles. Everyone was impressed by how badly we smelled. Then we got in and left…and Caleb and I were off the trail, seriously off the trail, for the first time in many days. It had overtones of melancholy to it, but we were with our family, and it was great to see everyone, so that was totally awesome. There was a shower at the campsite, and Mom had provided clean clothes for us, so Caleb and I both got a shower, I got to see myself in a mirror for the first time in a while (lots of extra hair on my face), and we both got to wear cotton for the first time in a while. It really is comfortable. Help them pack up, make a cup of tea, and we’re on our way. Back to civilization, but with the Trail still behind us, calling us softly, but very, very persistently.


The last brekkers. Yay oatmeal!













A neat view. The mountains seem to have gotten smaller.












Lunch. Glorious lunch.













A really awesome valley, part one.













The valley, part two.