5/22/06 Monday: Bobblets Gap Shelter to Thunder Hill Shelter (23.6mi)

PICTURES:
1. Nice vista from this overlook close to the "turkey episode"...LOL...
2. Thats yours truely standing in front of Bryant Ridge Shelter, a new and rather unique design. I had lunch here...
3. Met this Husband and Wife team each with their dog section hiking south. We chatted over lunch
4. Picture taken from "Black Rock" around 1800
5. Thats me again relaxing and enjoying the vista from Apple Orchard Mtn (4225")
6. An interesting rock formation call the Guillotine

I woke up energized after yesterdays big day with hopes of even more miles today and at 0745 I was off... I was walking on the AT along side of the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) and expected some easier terrain. Well, the terrain wasnt much easier...LOL... I think its just us hikers are in better shape... ;)... Anyway, A couple of miles out the strangest thing happened... I startled a rather large wild turkey who commenced to flying across my path, stopping me in my tracks. I reached for my camera while this bird continued gobbling and literally started running circles around me. LOL... I wasnt sure what to think or do, and the darn thing wouldnt stop for me to get a decent picture... It must have ran 6-7 times around me, staying about 30 feet away all the while. It finally flew away, clumbsily and I continued on my journey, still wondering what just happened. I was later told that the turkeys are now nesting and the turkey was probably just trying to draw my attention from the chicks... Ahhh... spring...aint it wonderful...LOL... After 7 miles, I stoped in about 1015 at the Cove Mtn Shelter for a 20 min break and snack. The morning weather had been cool and cloudy and the sun had just come out...:)... I was soon on my way and by 1315 and 6 more miles I reached Bryant Ridge Shelter for a 1 hour much needed lunch break... I had a 2000ft climb after lunch that I wasnt looking forward to...:(.... And it proved as touch to accomplish as it looked on the map... at about 1700 and5 miles later I came to Cornelius Creek Shelter where I took a break and chatted with a young day hiker with Yoshi popping in about the time I was about to leave. Yoshi decided to stay where he was, and the day hiker left for a side trail to the BRP where his dad was picking him up. My plans were to be in Waynesboro by Saturday to meet an old friend I had not seen since High School, so I decided to get to the next shelter since the weather was so wonderful...and you never really know what tomorrow will bring... I finally arrived at Thunder Hill Shelter around 2030...no need for the headlamp tonight...:)... The night would prove to be quite chilly, dipping down into the low 40s... Our elevation was 3960... pretty high up... and usually 10 degrees cooler than in the valleys...