Walking In Circles

6.5 Miles to Jenkins Shelter

The trail goes by the Davis Farm Campsite.

By the Numbers

Coffee and tea count:
Starbucks: 7
Caribou: 5
Third Place: 3
Whole Foods: 1

Food count:
Sports Beans: 87
PurFit Bar: 5
Whole Foods Brunch: 4
Slim Jims: 4
Packages Beef Jerky: 4
Lifesaver Gummies: 1
Ice cream: 1
Gatorade (2.5 serving bottles): 4

Shoe count: 4
Sticks Body Glide: 2

Miles completed/remaining: 561.6 / 1,614.6
Average number of miles/day remaining: 7.08

Coffee and tea count:
Starbucks: 7
Caribou: 5
Third Place: 3
Whole Foods: 1

Food count:
Sports Beans: 87
PurFit Bar: 5
Whole Foods Brunch: 4
Slim Jims: 4
Packages Beef Jerky: 4
Lifesaver Gummies: 1
Ice cream: 1
Gatorade (2.5 serving bottles): 4

Shoe count: 4
Sticks Body Glide: 2

Miles completed/remaining: 561.6 / 1,614.6
Average number of miles/day remaining: 7.08

14.0 Miles to Walker Gap

A few springs in the area; interesting.

It was a strange walk.  Rained most of the time.  Part of the walk I wasn't really sure where I was going, though it was very pretty.  And then at the very end near a road a couple made a u-turn and pulled up next to me.  They looked like the sort that ask for directions.  The woman rolled down the passenger side window and said, "I just wanted to say that I see you walking every morning and you are such an inspiration.  You are looking great!"  THANK YOU, I said.  My feet quit hurting and it was an easy walk the final couple of miles!

And then a guy pulled a car directly in front of where I was walking.  I gave him my "you are a misbehaving two-year-old" look.  He rolled down the window and I was expecting a "Hey baby, you wanna get in my truck?" but instead he said, "I'm sorry I cut you off."  HUH?!  I didn't know what to say; no one has ever apologized.  "Um, thank you."

By the way, the paper said there are "hundreds" of streetwalkers where I walk.  I have to question that since I see all of 10, max, humans on the sidewalks on any given day and rarely is there a likelihood that any of them are streetwalkers.  But I'm sure the paper has a bunch of guy's hopes up now.

12.2 Miles to Va. 610

It wasn't a very interesting walk and my knees are still killing me from that run/bike/swim dealio from two weeks ago.  However, I discovered that what everyone says about cold water is TRUE.  I couldn't quite find the ideal 60 degree water for 6 minutes, so I did 65 degrees for 15 minutes instead and it is awesome.  I hugely recommend it!!

4.1 Miles to Atkins, VA

Today I saw a whole line of rush-hour traffic come to a stop so that mommy duck and her ducklings could cross the road.  This may have a bad outcome in the future, but for today it all worked out, and I won't be back to see anything bad.

4.3 Miles to Chatfield Shelter

I sort of kind of thought I was on the right trail, but I wasn't really sure.  And I absolutely did not want to walk back the way I came- I refuse to do that even when I'm driving!  So I walked and walked and eventually discovered that YES!  I was on the right trail!!

6.5 Miles to Brushy Mountain

Home of a HUGE state prison.  Ahhh, maybe that was why everyone looked at me funny while I was counting out my pennies for a Starbucks.  It was a beautiful cool morning, cool enough to want a coffee.  I counted out $2.83 and the coffee was $2.96.  Took everything out of my bag again and found four pens (?) and fifty cents.  YAY!!!!

6.5 Miles to a Freeway

Dumb john is a repeated of terms, isn't it?  I got out my cell phone... I really thought I was going to have to call the police or I'd have a john camped out on my front step.  He wasn't threatening in language or demeanor, but he just wouldn't let up with what ended up being begging.

By the Numbers

Coffee and tea count:
Starbucks: 5
Caribou: 4
Third Place: 3
Whole Foods: 1

Food count:
Sports Beans: 79
PurFit Bar: 5
Whole Foods Brunch: 3
Slim Jims: 4
Packages Beef Jerky: 3
Lifesaver Gummies: 1
Ice cream: 1
Gatorade (2.5 serving bottles): 2

Shoe count: 3
Sticks Body Glide: 2

Miles completed/remaining: 514.0 / 1,662.2
Average number of miles/day remaining: 7.07

16.5 Miles to Trimpi Shelter

The shelteris named for a trail enthusiast who died at the age of 18.  His family donated the money to built two shelters.  I'm not the only one who would like to know more about this boy, but there's nothing more to be found on the internet.

This was meant to be a gentle standard Saturday for me, but I didn't realize that I was still plenty fatigued after the swim/bike/run six days earlier.  Add in an 85 degree day and there was plenty of suffering.  Points for me, when I finally stumbled over the finish line I was a pound up from when I had started and had gotten in almost all of my salt for the day.  I was a little worried because I wasn't peeing and I wasn't thirsty-- I was actually going to go to the ER if I didn't pee before bed-- but ultimately I think I wasn't thirsty because I had kept up with my fluids properly while I was walking.

To which point- what the heck is the purpose of G2 aside to annoy me to death?!!!  Okay, I know the purpose is so that SUV driver can cruise right up to the door of the mini mart and pick up something sporty and low calorie from right inside the door for his sporty and low calorie life.  But 16+ mile walking woman needs all her salt and calories for her fairly high calorie lifestyle and the real Gatorade is at the BACK of the store!  Sigh.