Day 8-B, 28 APR, Food, Glorious Food

One of the best parts of any long distance hikes (and particularly AT section hikes) is the food options located directly on the trail.  Most of these are located at "trail towns" (places like Damascus, VA, or Hot Springs, NC), but Shenandoah NP has these special places called "waysides."  Since the park is frequented by a variety of nature enthusiasts, the waysides are basically stock for car campers, trinkets and bathrooms for the driving sightseers, and filling stations for thru-hikers.  It's really kind of sad how the thought of food (not trail food, but "real food") dominates one's thinking as a form of motivation.  As you may have guessed, Day 8 (and Day 9) presented us with the opportunity to visit SNP's Waysides.
I was also excited to get out of the rain.  It was a misty but constant drizzle on the morning of Day 8 when we rolled into the Elkwallow Wayside.  We had hiked over 6 miles in less than two hours. (>3 mph is the break point for me as to whether I am hiking "fast," so I knew that I was looking forward to charging my phone, drinking untreated water, getting dry and warm, and getting something "real" to eat.  We were not disappointed.  I had the biggest sausage, egg, and cheese bagel ever and a significant order of unsalted fries (awesome).  After 4 cups of "real" coffee (the first in over a week), I was ready to walk (or so I thought).  I always eat more than I want to eat at these trail towns, and there is invariably a huge uphill directly after the trail town.  However, I can never seem to remember while I am visiting the wayside how much I hate belching sausage-egg-and-cheese for (at least) four subsequent hours.