Duck, duck, duck hawk...

5/17/08 - Woke up to sunshine - finally!

• Ate brunch on the porch of Panorama's - an old, run-down wayside.
• Saw 4 Peregrine falcons flying together - which was neat because the rangers who were researching them a few days ago had only come across 1!
• Stopped for ice cream at Elkwallow Wayside & met back up with Spock & Twiggy (who were taking time off for their 3rd wedding anniversary -Congratulations!).
• Group was serenaded by ChiliMac's cousin, Ian for the remaining 6 mi to Gravel Springs Hut. Hiking with his guitar, Ian's playlist included (but was my no means limited to - I mean c'mon an entire 6 miles of strumming!!): The Doors, Sublime, Hendrix, and even the theme song from Deliverance. You name it, he could play it!
• 23.5 miles for the day.
• Shelter was full of section hikers (25+) so they filled up with water & hiked an additional half mile to camp back an unnamed fire road.

5/18/08 - Really early start with a brief brunch at THE LAST Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive crossing ever (there have been a lot)!

• Saw another black bear - full grown!
• Hung out at the last shelter in the Shenandoah's for a bit and then headed down to US 522 to snag a ride into Front Royal. On the way they came across a baby fawn - maybe a week old - with its mother nowhere in sight... come to think of it, I hope that bear was headed in the opposite direction.
• Hearts, Tupperware, and Meltdown tried -unsuccessfully- to hitch a ride into town for at least a half an hour. Efforts were thwarted partly because they're a group of 3 scruffy looking guys but also because some jerky section hiker intentionally hiked a half mile up the road ahead of them to get one 1st. No worries though - once Spock & Twiggy arrived, Twiggy flagged down ride in 3 cars flat!
• Front Royal good for Taco Bell, laundry, & resupply. Tomorrow they'll start the aqua-blaze...