PA to VA (4/27/2023)

A breif overnight rain made me choose morning coffee and oatmeal at my site in a feable attempt to dry the rainfly. Started riding south again at 0900. Stopping for brunch and gas just North of Carlisle PA just after 1100.

Found a "wild" campsite near Wytheville, VA on the Zumo XT. Never used that app before, so I downloaded the android app at a fuel & coffee stop. More details existed on the android app, mainly a few stay reports. One said it had no cell signal, another that it was muddy and they had a lifted van. Given that it poured rain in the evening I was worried about the road with my nearly worn out rear tire, and arriving so close to dark. But it turned out the road was crushed bluestone, a little thick in places, but great all the way to the campsite.

What a relief. As I rolled to a stop and my back tire dropped into a hidden mud hole. It was slick and I was stuck. Too deep in the hole to get the either side or center stand down. Nothing within reach for traction. I crushed a full gatoraid bottle trying to prop up the bike. Also found I had cell reception by getting a phone call. Eventually I just layed the bike on it's side, and put some rocks from the fire pit into the hole. Then dragged my bike's front end 90 degrees from it's starting pont. Was then very happy to learn I can lift the bike with three loaded cases. Ending in an easy ride out of the hole and the start of setting up camp in the rain.

It was raining and the forecast said it would get heavy overnight, but should end by 0800. In the rain I prefer a tarp and hammock. My first tree selection was too far apart for large pines at 7 paces. I had the tarp fully setup when I discoverd the hamock wouldn't reach, then had to pivot to tree pair 6 paces apart. While setting up I changed clothes down to only the wet frog toggs, to keep as dry as possible. Then changed back to dry clothing to sit under the tarp and call home.

Eventually I sorted out what I needed in the hammock to stay warm. Heavy rain and temps near 50F. Ended up with the therma rest first, then me in the sheet, followed by the camp blanket tucked around me. With a hat and camp pillow I was almost warm. Because the blanket isn't wide enough around the shoulders, I ended up putting on my fleece jacket too