Date: 2017-06-01
From: Lamberts Meadow Campsite (719.0)

To: VA 220 to Troutville, VA
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Day Eighty Two (1 Jun)After a great nights sleep we woke, as we always do, to one LOUD chirping bird; what a great alarm clock! We pack up in about fifteen minutes, it is now a mindless routine. We both deflate and pack our pillows, next Sparks stuffs his sleeping bag in its cinch sack, I fold my sheets and put them into their Peregrine waterproof sack. We both deflate and roll up our Thermorest pads and all is stuffed into our backpack while inside the tent, so we are well versed for rainy days. Lastly, I take down the tent and pack in my backpack while Sparks puts Propel into our water bottles. Propel contains potassium, vitamins, and sodium, items that after heavy sweating need to be replaced and you definitely know it when you are depleted you feel tired in your muscles.We headed down the trail on this clear beautiful morning doing GTT (Going to town) speed. Thinking nine miles would be easy we had quite a bounce in our step....okay then we woke up! There were the usual ups and downs plus another ridge walk that requires rock scrambling. We hiked with Blue Stem for a bit; we find it most interesting to hear about where folks come from and little bits about their lives. There were beautiful views one of which we found Lucky and Javier camping, what a couple of nice guys. View from Hay RockView Heading toward DalevilleWhile hiking, we came across some awesome rock formations!Huge Rock FormationFalling Rock FormationBushy trying to hold up this rock formationWe walked right up to, and close by, the top of one of the huge power lines! You could hear the electricity through it; the buzz/crackling!!Power Lines close to the TrailAfter four and a half hours we finally made it to town. We stood just outside the trail head and tried hitching, with our "Hiker to Town" banner, but no takers. Other hikers (Swiss Miss, Hot Sauce, Cruise, and some others) came stumbling out of the forest blinking and such smiles, some even whooped so we were not the only ones fooled by the short miles. Many hikers stay at the Howard Johnson (there is also a Super 8) right by the trail head with many eateries nearby, however, we opted for the Holiday Inn Express, which was further away. There is a four lane busy highway that you have to cross to continue on the trail. We called Homer Witcher shuttle driver, listed in AWOL, and they arrived in minutes telling us no charge since we were on their way, but we still gave them money for gas; it is important to give the shuttle drivers support or they go out of business. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express that is not in a very easy place to walk to Walmart or the trail head but there is a Cracker Barrel across the street. :-pWe hoped to go to trail days on June 2 but it doesn't start until 4:30 PM, and that is just a free dinner; we will pass on that since the event is way out of town and all roads are highways that are a bit scary to hike on. They may have a shuttle but we haven't found how to access it. I guess we will just go back to the trail I had hoped to see the vendors, we want a Steripen Ultra that will do away with mixing chemicals and the twenty minute wait time required with chemicals. We quickly get into our room, ahhhh so nice, there is a Kurig machine in the room, so we have great coffee! After a refreshing shower, switching into our town clothes (laundry can wait we are hungry), we hurry over to the Cracker Barrel for lunch. I can't believe I can drink four glasses of soda, we don't even drink soda at home. Once we are filled, back for a nap, even with a "lead foot" trotting around upstairs, in the room above us! This hotel has a new washer and dryer so laundry is a breeze only a dollar to wash and a dollar to dry, they sell soap at the front desk.The only local shuttle driver is going out of town tomorrow evening but was kind enough to take us in the morning to Walmart to resupply before they go.We hiked from Lamberts Meadow Camp Site (719) to US 220 to Daleville, VA. (728.1) for a total of 9.1 miles.