Date: 2008-05-25
From: 2.7 miles north of Lambert Meadow Shelter, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: clear sky

I figured out too late that I chose a poor tent site last night. It looked inviting because it was flat and covered with pine needles...and had a great view looking over the edge of a ridge.It was very hard ground and I remember turning over a lot last night. I also had puffy eyes from the pine this morning.I keep learning! :-)I ate a couple Poptarts to give me a little energy to get to town, where I planned on having a real breakfast with lots of coffee. :-)I woke up at 6am, laid there listening to the morning till 6:40am, then packed up and was walking by 6:55am.It's a breezy, sunny, mild morning....maybe in the upper 50's.I want to remind everyone that I've been walking through an awesome area of the AT and have posted 75+ pictures in the photo section of this journal. Just look on the left toolbar for "photos" and once you click on it, go to "LAST" and work your way through the pictures.I came down off the first hill where I had tented and I scared up a doe that took off running.I passed by Hay Rock with all its modern day petroglyphs/graffiti. It's another beautiful area with the huge rocky ridge and the views of Carvins Cove Reservoir below.I kept walking, took more pictures and since I was the first walker through the area today, I kept clearing the spider webs off with my face. :-)It was a short four miles to Daleville. I did get to see another rabbit on the Trail this morning, but other than that, it was pretty much uneventful.I always get excited when I'm coming into a town because I know I'm going to eat good, get a clean body and clothes....and then eat good again! :-)I walked over to Country Cookin' and had their Sunday breakfast buffet. I did good because I only had two plates of food and four cups of coffee. Ha!I walked over to my favorite motel along the whole AT....the Comfort Inn. It's a regular Comfort Inn, nice and clean, with a good breakfast in the morning and they only charge thru hikers $40.00 a night....and you get a little yellow rubber duck to carry out of town with you! :-)I got the room by 11am and shaved while filling the tub with warm water and shampoo, then sat in there and washed my clothes and myself and made sure my little yellow rubber duck could float.It feels great to be clean and since I got into town early, I should be well rested by lunchtime tomorrow, when I plan on walking out of town. (That would be right after lunch) :-)I got an email from Mrs Gorp talking about how she is really enjoying transcribing my journal because it's her way of hiking the Trail this year....seeing it through my journal and photos.Well heck....now I understand why Liteshoe hasn't hiked the Trail again...she's living it through my vivid description of the Trail, step by step; ah....there's my left foot, humm. There¢s my right foot, uh huh....there's my left foot, ahhhh, there's my right foot! I understand a lot more now. ;-)I fell asleep this afternoon and must have slept for 2 1/2 hours....guess I needed some rest.My clothes were all dry when I woke up, so I headed on down to the Mexican restaurant that some other hikers had recommended and had an excellent steak fajita. Too bad they didn't have good Mexican restaurants along the Mexican border when Mrs Gorp and I were riding our bikes there earlier this year....she might have enjoyed Mexican food more. :-)I stopped and resupplied my food for the next section which will take me into Glasgow, VA, then vegetated in my room the rest of the evening.Another great day along the Appalachian Trail. :-)