It is early, 630 and we are up and raring to go. the Weather Network says welcome to the first day of spring, forecast 6 inches of snow in Virginia and the north of where we are. Only 20% chance of rain in the next few days, we are happy!

The wonderful people at the Baptist Church provide free breakfast for all thru-hikers every morning for a month.We are fortunate to be able to enjoy pancakes and bacon, juice and coffee to fuel our big day back on the trail.

Our wonderful shuttle driver is at the motel to pickup up at 9. We are the last ones off the bus as we need to return to Rock Gap and walk through to Winding Stair Gap. As we step back onto the trail and look at the white blaze we think, "right, only 2083.2 miles to go, let's get on with it!" Everyone else is ahead of us. But the views are amazing after we climb up, the mountains peaking out from the clouds hanging heavy in the valley. Just amazingly beautiful. Soon enough we are walking in the clouds. Not much visibility. The forest has changed, there are golden birch and beech trees as well as the massive oaks. 

As there is nothing to be seen in the distance I am focused on what is under my feet. It is wonderful to see the myriad of plants driven by their evolution to come forth in the cyle of the season. It is spring. We are having an excellent day.

We have completed 10 miles but there is an ominous feeling in the air. We are familiar with it. Sure enough within minutes it begins to drizzle, then with increasing authority the rain assaults us. We haul out the rain gear and decide to forego the campsite a couple of hours away. We are by ourselves on the top of a mountain at 5290 feet with a spring nearby. The perfect place to set up our tents. We are having tea and snacks. Dinner is soup and flat bred with salami and cheese. We are dry and warm snuggled in our sleeping bags in our tents. Suddenly we hear gun fire which seems quite loud. In this beautiful remote spot in the mountains we realize that we are camping above a firing range in the valley below. Thankfully it is quiet as the sun goes down.