Date: 2015-05-14
From: Stealth Campsite

To: Stealth Campsite
Miles today: 25.0

The cows decided to have a meeting at 6:30 this morning, atleast that's what it sounded like. Always one to avoid a meeting I was up and out of camp by 7:10. Cambo also didn't freeze during the night while cowboy camping, again. He did have a mouse run across his face though.The initial ridge walk was nothing I care to discuss. Let's just say that others had documented similar feelings about it in the Jenkins Shelter Log. Speaking of the Jenkins Shelter Log, we miss you too Burnsides. Have fun at the wedding this weekend.By 1:00 I had finished the 14.3 miles to Laurel Creek which is where Cambo, Hobble, and Moosehead were getting picked up later in the day to head to Trail Days. Only Cambo was there when I showed up so we hung out for about 45 minutes until I needed to move on. We both did our best Forrest Gump waves as I ducked back into the woods.The climb out of the creek was awesome and reminded me of the Falls Lake Trail back home. I've spent a lot of time hiking that trail and I haven't been home since March. It felt good to be reminded of it all.By 4:00 I made it to I-77 and took advantage of the cell phone tower nearby to make a call to the Wife and check some texts. The initial goal was to get to Helveys Mill Shelter at 592.4 but when I realized it was .3 off the trail and the water was another .3 beyond that I just decided to move on. So, I'm camped up on the ridge a little over a half mile from the shelter turn off. The trail is strange tonight with everyone headed back to Damascus for Trail Days. I'm sure tomorrow will seem downright lonely.Never fear though, it's only 15.6 from here to Trent's Grocery where the Wife will come get me tomorrow night. There's a deli inside to keep me company until then.Big day today though and I'm not feeling too bad. The allergies aren't bothering me today and I took some Advil at Jenkins Shelter for some knee pain I've been having. The miles came easy after that. Shorter day tomorrow then another, yes another, zero on Saturday. The Wife put two questions up that she's been getting lately so I wanted to address those.1) How did I get my trail name?On night one I was at Stover Creek Shelter and was getting water with Fiddler. We started talking about music and I mentioned I had just been on The Rock Boat (my second). I also had my Rock Boat bandana with me from the first year we went. He suggested that the bandana sealed my fate. I thought it was unique and on the 3rd night at Lance Creek I made it official.2) Are the cows I'm seeing wild or in someone's pasture?There are wild cows in Grayson Highlands although I didn't see any on the last visit. Over by The Scales there are actually someone's cows grazing. Those are the only longhorns I've seen. All of the other ones are from walking through pastures. The AT in Virginia cuts from ridgeline to ridgeline (at least where I'm at). Sometimes when we come off a ridge and head to the next we'll have to traverse someone's farm land. Generally we have to climb up and over fence stiles to get into the pasture and do the same when we're leaving. The cows like to stand in the middle of the trail more often than not. It's pretty funny to me and I like hanging out with them. These pastures have been the best part of Virginia for me though. This is such a beautiful state and I've always driven by these hilly pastures and remarked how pretty they were. Getting to walk them has been a highlight of this trip.