Shady Valley, TN (USA)

I was wide awake by about 0500 but the sun didn’t come up for almost two more hours. Mistake 3: should have made breakfast on my stove. Settled for ClifBar and cleaned up the campsite, departing at around 0800. Ran into a NOBO hiker a few minutes later - he confirmed my location on the map (I hiked seven miles last night), meaning that I only had to hike about four miles to my target (Vandeventer Shelter). This part of the hike was harder than the previous day’s - it was windy, cool, foggy and really hilly. I had more energy than I’d expected but was sore from yesterday’s hike and last night’s sleep. Still, I made good time to the shelter and backtracked after only a short break to admire the view below. At this point, I had started being careful of my water - it seemed like I would have enough but I wasn’t sure. And then the sun came out and messed up all my plans/assumptions. When I passed my campsite, I was almost certain that I’d need more water to reach the car. But where to get it? Oh yes, begging for Trail Magic! Someone had to come by in the other direction, though. At mile number nine for the day, I was excited/relieved to see two SOBO Thru hikers (married couple from NY, Snowman and Super-Sport) coming towards me. I tried my best “wet dog” impression and it worked - I got about a liter of water, which seemed like insurance. The “mom” decided that I looked bad enough that she gave me cheese and a huge orange. They stayed with me, talking about their adventures, until the third member of their party, Wanderer, arrived. He was even more friendly, offering me a drag from his Juul. By that point, though, the water had refreshed me and the orange had restored my blood sugar enough that I was “sure” I’d make it to my car. I started plodding through the last six miles, with breaks at the shelter and about 1/2 mile from the end. I hadn’t remembered the number of climbs from the night before (in the dark) and the mountain kicked my ass. I drank every drop of water and all the food I had and felt very lucky when I successfully completed the 22 miles in two days (with 15 miles on Day 2). Kept thinking about the some “For Want of a Nail” but substituted “orange/water”. Fortunately, Trail Magic bailed me out again! Not something I’m proud of, but I learned a bit more about the amount of work and preparation it will take me to finish the AT. Exhausted and sore, decided to go into town for the night.  I left the AT Trailhead on TN-91 (after declining food from Trail Angels having a cookout there) at around 1545.  I used TN-133 to get to Damascus and then continued on VA-91 to I-81.  Drove to Marion, leaving the Interstate a VA-16.  I checked into the Travel Inn (1705) and spent some time soaking in the tub.  I went across the street to Bojangles for dinner (1830).  For the rest of night, I read and watched TV in the room.  Went to bed at around 2200.  Will try another backtracking trip soon! AT Today (RON) = 8.10 miles / Grand Total AT = 1474.96 miles