Date: 2014-06-01
From: Catawba Mountain Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: clear sky

Today is my 2 month anniversary of being on trail, and at 724 miles in, I am just 4 miles shy of the 1/3 completion mark. Right on pace for a 6 month trek. Perfect! I woke up around 6:30am, but was tired from staying up so late with the local girls. Finally, around 7:15, I got up and packed my stuff. I said goodbye to them, and before I left one of them gave me 2 burritos she made the night before but didn't eat. I initially refused them because I would be in town tonight, and I didn't want to carry two heavy burritos. She really wanted me to take them, and I didn't want to offend her by refusing a second time, so I took them. About a mile down the trail, I unwrapped them from their foil and threw them into the woods. After I did this, a woman was walking her dog past me, and the dog smelled the burritos and took off into the woods to find them. The woman began to freak out and yell at the top of her lungs, "BUDDY, STOP EATING THAT! STOP!" The dog kept eating the burritos, and she kept yelling. Her face was blood red, and I finally told her that I don't think the dog understands English. That really pissed her off, but before she could yell at me too, I left, chuckling as I walked away. I hope the dog enjoyed the two burritos that I tossed. Next, I began the climb up McAfee Knob, one of the most photographed locations on the AT. I really wanted my picture taken there, but when I arrived nobody was there. I knew it was just a matter of time until someone showed up, so I waited. 30 minutes later, Big Shep showed up and took my picture in the traditional thru-hiker McAfee Knob pose - with feet dangling off the edge of the cliff! The picture came out fantastic. The view from the top was fantastic as well. By this time, it was almost 11am, and I still had 16 more miles to hike to Daleville. I took off, and for the next few miles I was still riding the high from dangling off the edge of the McAfee Knob ledge. When I got to Campbell Shelter, I met two folks that were out counting chestnut trees, which is fairly strange in my opinion. However, they did give me some gummy snacks, so they are alright in my book! 5 miles later I got to Tinker Cliffs. I ended up getting lost for the first time on the AT here, due to the Roanoke AT Club's piss-poor trail building/maintaining skills. Tinker Cliffs is an awesome half mile walk along a large stone rock outcropping. After descending from Tinker Cliffs, I got to Lamberts Meadow Shelter, where I ate some Ramen and tuna as a snack. I was still 10 miles from Daleville at this point and was tired. The rest of the way into town didn't look bad on the elevation profile, but I wasn't surprised to see it was rocky and slow going. And of course, the Roanoke AT Club made sure the AT went up and over EVERY hill and boulder pile, even though much easier routes were right next to it. Frustrating stuff.Several hours later, the AT finally reached Daleville, and I went from being in the deep woods to walking in the middle of a modern interstate town. I got a room at the nearby Howard Johnson (again), and went to Pizza Hut across the street. 4 days ago, Earnhart said that he didn't believe I could make it to Daleville in 4 days. Well, 4 days later, here I am! Feels good to be here.