Buena Vista, VA to Waynesboro, VA

Fall 2002 Trip

Wednesday, September 18, 2002

Busy, unbelievable day. I finally finished up my office work and meetings at 4:15 PM. I make a mad dash to the Post Office to mail my supply drop. I hope I haven’t waited too late to send it. After getting hassled at the Post Office because my boxes weren’t already taped up, I paid the postage and walked back to my car. It has started to rain in Charlotte. Traffic will undoubtedly be a mess.

I drive home and get back to Hickory shortly after 6 PM. After loading the truck, eating a piece of pizza and saying my good-byes, I leave at 6:40 PM. I’m headed for Buena Vista, VA tonight to begin my next AT section-hike tomorrow. I’m planning to hike to Front Royal, through Shenandoah, over the next ten days.

Last week I ordered a new GoLite pack to use for this trip. I'm not an ultralight hiker, but I've made enough changes in my gear and I'm now leaving a lot of junk at home so my REI pack is now too big. I ordered the GoLite Trek pack. It has more of a conventional look to it than the previous Golite models. I ordered the medium size, but after loading it with my gear, I couldn't make it work as well as I would like. It seems to be a good pack though, and at 2 pounds, significantly lighter than the REI monster that I carry. Maybe I'll exchange it for the larger version when I return?

After driving through several thunderstorms and driving rain most of the way, and stopping for gas in Elkin, NC, I reach Buena Vista, VA at 10:30 PM. There aren’t any rooms at the Buena Vista Inn, where I’d planned to stay, but there is space at the Budget Inn down the street. The BI’s not a real classy place, especially with the wet, mildewed floor outside the bathroom, but any port in a storm. Compared to trail shelters, it’s an upgrade.

I unload the truck and arrange a few things before crashing just before midnight. I’m already exhausted and I’m just getting started.

Hopefully the storm front with its rain will have moved through by the morning.