As evident in the picture, the shelter was bustling last evening, and this morning some hikers are already gearing up to set out on the trail. Meanwhile, I prepared my breakfast and coffee in the picnic pavilion. I was joined by a father and daughter duo from Hawaii, who shared with me their tradition of taking two weeks off from work each year to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail. The father expressed how awesome it is to hike with kid and spend time together, especially when the kids are grown up; you hardly get to see them. It was heartwarming to hear about their bond strengthened through such adventures.

Strolling through this beautifully maintained trail.

Today is a momentous occasion for me as I joyfully commemorate reaching my first 100 miles on the legendary Appalachian Trail. I am aware that this accomplishment represents only a tiny fraction of the nearly 2,200-mile journey that lies ahead. Nonetheless, I am celebrating this milestone with great enthusiasm and gratitude for the experiences and challenges that have brought me to this point.

Originally, my plan was to hike up to Manassas Gap Shelter, a distance of about 13 miles, starting in the morning. However, upon reaching the shelter by 2 p.m., I found myself ahead of schedule. After a brief lunch break, I decided to continue hiking southward. With plenty of daylight left and feeling refreshed, I eagerly pressed on, eager to soak in more of the trail's beauty and make the most of the day.

What a coincidence! Today, I encountered two hikers on the trail, and interestingly, their trail names also revolve around dogs. I met the gentleman known as "Dog Catcher" and his wife, who goes by "Lost Dog." They are thru-hiking the entire trail together. It was a delightful and enjoyable encounter with the couple. By the way, my trail name is "Lucky Dog," adding another canine companion to our trail adventures.

As I was just a quarter mile from the shelter, the heavens opened up and started pouring rain. Without a chance to set down my heavy backpack and retrieve my rain jacket, I found myself caught in the downpour. Luckily, another hiker was rushing to the shelter with an umbrella and kindly ushered me inside, providing cover for my upper body.

Today has been my longest day yet, covering a total of 18.4 miles.

The Jim & Molly Denton Shelter sits about 200 feet off the trail and offers ample space for up to 10 people. Upon arriving at any shelter, my habit is to scout out available spots, and fortunately, I found one. Adjacent to the shelter, there's a separate cooking pavilion, where I sought refuge from the rain and prepared my meal. Additionally, there's a solar shower nearby, which, although I was already soaked from the rain, would have been quite useful if I had arrived on a scorching day like today, with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees.