Date: 2015-05-22
From: Catawba Mountain Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 17.8

Some folks came in very late to the campsite last night. With one snoring, one's alarm going off three times this morning starting at 6:00 AM and the cold night, I didn't sleep very well. That's okay, it's McAfee Knob day.At about 7:45 Die Hard showed up and we headed up the mountain. Forever was still getting ready so we told her we wouldn't leave until she got there. The hiking was easy as this is a well used day hike trail and smooth as butter for the most part.We got up to the top in record time and spent the first few minutes touring the rocks. From the far end you could see the Roanoke Airport and Downtown. It's the best view we've had in a while. After that it was obviously picture time. I know a lot of my friends and family on Facebook are familiarising themselves with the trail through my journal so I had a kick at the "oh my gosh" responses to my legs being dangled over the edge. Rest assured this is a tradition for everyone that goes up there and it isn't nearly as terrifying as the picture makes it seem. Still though, I've always wanted that picture.From there it was a little over 5 miles to Tinker Cliffs. Once we passed the last gap the climb got pretty steep as it crested hill after hill. But, as a Southbounder assured us, the climb was worth it. The trail walked along the cliff edge for about a half mile and the views down in the valley were ridiculous. It took quite a bit of effort to get there so the crowd was far thinner than McAfee Knob. We headed down the hill and Forever stopped at Lamberts Meadow Shelter for lunch and I pressed on. At first it was an easy walk that turned into another five mile ridge walking rock scramble. By the time I got to the bottom I was exhausted. The bad part was that Mrs. Rock Boat had made her way about half a mile into the trail and when I saw her I was hot, tired, and sick of rocks. To put it bluntly, I was a little rude and my only excuse was that I was hurting. She handed me a cheddar bo biscuit from Bojangles and a Gatorade. Then some Oreos sent by Chris and Taylor that I devoured while walking. Thanks guys!We got out to the road and shared some cookies and Gatorade with Die Hard, Weatherman, and Forever. Then took Die Hard and Weatherman down to the outfitter. Everybody in Daleville is beat up from the last few days of rocks. Nobody has anything good to say about the trail from Pearisburg outside of McAfee and Tinker. I'm just glad to be here.We got to the hotel and I took a bath just to soak my legs. They still hurt but it helped. I hadn't been to the Homeplace yet so we headed over there for dinner. We saw Icefire, RouGarou and Palomino when we walked in and they invited us to eat with them. Dinner was great and the conversation hilarious. Definitely a good time.We saw China Rock, Lightning, and one of their friends on the way out and gave them a ride the mile and a half back to the trail. That road was crazy, nobody should walk that. Having a car out here is like having a superpower. The world is much different when you're going faster than 3 MPH.We came back to the hotel and knocked out my laundry. Another zero tomorrow as I'm starting to get out of range for Wife visits and we're taking advantage while I'm close. It's been 119 miles since Sunday and I need a breather anyway. I have a couple of spots in my ankles that need some rest.I haven't checked yet but I'm really hoping there's a hot tub downstairs.