Date: 2012-05-04
From: Niday Shelter - Tented

To: Campsite just north of Catawba Shelter - Tented
Miles today: 24.7

Day 40 - Friday, May 4thHiking Days 31 / Nero Days 7 /  Zero Days 2Start Location: Niday Shelter - TentedMile Marker: 680.0Ending Location: Campsite just north of Catawba Shelter - TentedMile Marker: 704.7Time: 10h 45min Miles: 24.7Weather: started off just a touch cooler then yesterday.  Stayed ok 70ish until the sun finally broke through the clouds around 2:30.  Then hot 85+\-Evening still very warm 75-78Day actually started on time.  I was up at 6:15.  Packed by 6:40.  At the table and started cooking.  There were three guys that came in last night around 10-10:15.  They were rather rude with their headlamps beaming everywhere and talking.  So I felt no need to talk softly to the others while we all had breakfast.  Boo-Hoo.  On the trail at 7:15.  Actually, considering I had breakfast, that's not too bad.  Left about 5 minutes behind DundeeToday's hike consists of a 1600 foot climb to the Audie Murphy's Monument, back down, up the 1600 again but this time with much more rocky ups and downs inbetween that eventually climbs to Dragons Tooth.  This was much like yesterday but a touch more difficult.  Even an exposed valley walk in the afternoon.  Very spotty water.  After completing Dragons Tooth, I stopped at a campsite for a break.  I thought I would check to see if I had any signal since I haven't since Pearisburg.  I wanted to make a reservation at the Howard Johnson for a real zero day.  Had signal.  Made my reservation.  Then out of nowhere Steve-O comes down the hill.  Apparently he had bad chaffing with the heat and ended up with a short day.  In another minute Dundee came down.  They said the followed a sign that indicated there was trail magic.  I did not see it.  As it turned out there wasn't any there but a family gave th some food and snacks.  Even though I preferred to have a private room in town, i agreed to share a room with Dundee to Help keep his costs down.  Steve-O wanted to split a room so the two of them will split a room.  It all worked out. We did agree to go out to dinner for cinco dimyio (spelling?) As it turned out the water sources were even worse then expected ... Again.  As I ended the valley walk I found the two of them at the base of a small stream that was shared with a grazing area with cows.  No way is this good water. Steve-O indicated there was no more water for another six miles.  So I took a bottle, in case I was nearing death up the hill.  In about three miles the two of them had stopped to drink their water.  I still had mine.  Not near death yet.  They passed me again.  I really needed water but not willing to drink that water I have.  As I crossed a fairly busy road, I came across two day hikers coming back to their car.  I could not believe it but they asked if I wanted a bottle of water.  The guy pulled out a bottle and it was gone in about 15 seconds.  Hit the spot.  Only one mile to the next possible water stop. When I got there, the two of them were talking with some section hikers.  I yelled down about the water and they said the spring was running.  They could not believe I did not drink my water.  I poured it out in front of them.  Grabbed some water and back up to the picnic table by the shelter.  Dundee and Steve-O wanted to get to McAfee Knob.  I had the time but not feeling the effort.  There was a shelter in a mile so I thought I would stay there.  I talked with the section hikers for awhile.  Then on to the next shelter.There was a great spring right before the shelter do I grabbed my water.  I did not stop at the shelter and went right to the tent sites a bit further down the trail.  I even think the shelter was empty.   At the tenting site there were two hikers out for the weekend.  I set up my tent.  They did not seem overly outgoing so I left them alone.  Cooked my meal.  Went to my tent.  The super moon is supposed to be around tomorrow but the night time skies have been very bright the last week or so. The two hikers talked for a while.  It did not seem like they were really good friends so I could not imagine why they were camping together.  Odd conversation they were having. My goal is to wake up at 5:30, be out by 6:00 and catch Dundee and Steve-O as they leave their spot.