Day 97 (September 29)

We completed another 18 miles in the Shenandoah National Park today. The trees are changing daily. Beautiful. I saw a bear on the trail. The youngster was within five feet of the trail and I barely noticed him as I was trudging uphill. When I did look to the side, he looked back, casually eating acorns in sort of a half seated, half lying down posture. He was unperturbed. I moved ahead on the trail because that's what they tell you to do. I wish I'd taken a picture, but I forgot all about it. He was a very black bear, and I can confirm that he was not a man killer. We are staying in a campground tonight with coin operated showers, a camp store, laundry, and folks from all over the country roughing it in their campers. Pleasant. 

Here are a couple views from today, hard to do the beauty of this place justice with a photo.