A Road to Nowhere

If you are supposed to be walking down a horse trail and find yourself thinking “Wow! These horses must be nimble!” you are not on the right trail.

About a week ago, I was on the verge of writing about communal living, coffee, and the airing of grievances. I decided instead to drive five or six hours to Shenandoah National Park to walk in circles around Virginia, which is for lovers.

On the second day out backpacking, two day hikers commented on the baseball I was tossing with myself. I offended the one in a blue shirt when I mentioned how much easier it was to hike here than in New Hampshire. The one with a beard remarked that he’d never seen anybody hike carrying a baseball, and blue shirt asked if I didn’t get bored out here alone with nobody to talk to. I winked and said Rawlings made a fine conversationalist.

Shenandoah’s main attraction is the 100-odd mile Skyline Drive, which, in classic fashion, offers motorists rather than hikers the best vistas. Alternately to the left and right of this lovely road runs everybody’s favorite Appalachian Trail. Itching to get outside and take advantage of the early summer in Virginia, I found a “loop” recommended by the park website.

Historically, I have bitten off more than I can chew on these trips. I resolved this time to cut miles to avoid exhaustion, frustration, and non-peace. I had mixed…