Date: 2006-05-28
From: Unnamed Stream 1-mile past VA624

To: Lambert's Meadow Shelter, VA
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

My mom asked me once what I think about hiking, how I can do the same thing all day. You¢d think that most days out here would be similar. Wake up, hike, and sleep...with lots of eating in between! You can probably tell from my journal that its different every day...the terrain is up and down, and so am I.To start out, I didn¢t get rained on last night! I know its risky business to pitch the tent without the fly, but I was nice and cool and could see the stars. Mmmmmm.This morning the gang was headed to this all-you-can-eat in Catawba. They¢d been trying to change my mind, but I held firm and wasn¢t going to spend the money since I was recently well fed in Blacksburg. Well, the 5 miles to the road changed my mind. Hiking through pastures in the blazing heat sparked my fruit juice craving, so by the time I got to the highway I was sold on going into town. But, hah! There were coolers of soda and juice and even pudding snacks in coolers next to the trail! I was so completely content and had no desire to go into town. It¢s been so hot and water sources haven¢t been fabulous or frequent, so I kept Don't Mind and Don't Matter's (Nobo 2004) generosity in the back of my head all day.The hiking made me think of NH today. There were views! And rock steps! And day hikers, which ultimately saved me. On my way down from Mcafee Knob I took a wrong turn and lost the AT. 45 minutes later I found it and continued hiking. I got in a conversation with some day hikers and had an experience similar to Lindsay¢s (but on a smaller scale) on Mt. Laconte in the Smokies.Day hikers: Wow, so you¢re a thru-hiker?Me: (with pride) Yep! This area sure is pretty.Day hikers: Yeah, have you gone over Dragon's Tooth yet?Me: Yep, yesterdayDay hikers: (looking puzzled) So you¢re hiking southbound?Me: Nope, North.day hikers: No, you¢re hiking south.I was hiking right back where I¢d started from before the knob! I somehow had looped around when I got lost and wound up going south. Oops. I spent about 1.5 hours being lost today.So Mcafee Knob was gorgeous, but my favorite was Tinker Cliffs when it cooled down later on. I probably should have camped there, but I felt I needed the company of the shelter tonight since my group is behind me because they all went to the restaurant in Catawba. I compromised and had dinner in one of the most beautiful places I've seen on the trail. Really, I had the cliffs completely to myself and what looked like all of Virginia in front of me.I descended to the shelter for the evening, and was greeted with, "you must be Chardonnay!" It was Don't Mind and Don't Matter! I obviously started tearing up, meeting the people who put out the trail magic that meant so much to me this morning. But they already knew I was overemotional because they¢ve been following my Trail Journals! Honestly, they could quote me on past entries - how funny. It was nice to talk with them about their trail experience and get advice. I needed the boost of confidence.That was my eventful day on the trail! I hope to get an early-ish start tomorrow so I can get all my chores done in town.Time to retire: all sorts of bugs are diving into the light of my headlamp at my face.Good night,Erin