Date: 2003-06-25
From: Sawmill Run Campsite

To: Catawba, Va.
Miles today: 9.1

The morning started way too early forme this morning at 1:00. I woke up to the strangest sounds. It took me a few seconds to figure out I was listening to a pack of coyotes. I thought maybe it was hunting dogs chasing a deer. If it was they were the pitifulest sounding dogs Ihave ever heard. I listened as they called to each other and came closer to our camp.Of course,then my bladder decided since I was awake, I needed to releive it. It took me awhile to build up enough courage to get out of my tent. I have never heard of a hiker, or anyone else for that matter being attacked by coyotes, but I was still not happy about giving them a potential and very vulnerable target! Then it got quiet, too quiet, and I had all sorts of visions of being surrounded by animals. Snarling and starving. Wow!! What the woods will do to a person's imagination. Of course I got back to my tent with all my flesh still intact. Much to my amazement and delight. It was several hours before the animals decided to go elsewhere to sing four part harmony. I had breakfast and hot tea next to the stream. The moquitoes were already out in full force, so it was a quick meal. Then it was a long arduous task of climbing up and down and up and down. Why is it that town is always down? There was plenty of rocks to make the trail even more difficult. And the sun beat down on me unmercifully whenever I came out of the woods and had to walk along the ridgeline. Of course there were positives along the trail. Another patch of ripe blueberries, and some ripe blackberries. I threw off my pack and spent some time picking them and eating my fill. There was one view today that I thought was by far the prettiest view yet. At a rock outcropping, you culd see the whole valley. It was mostly the rural section. Fields of hay waiting tobe cut, bordered by those already cut. They formed a checkerboard effect. A small dairy could be seen, with a herd of cows close by. It was a sight that caused me to just sit and study. To see how many different things I could notice. And each time it seemed as if I discovered something new to look at. We all met up for lunch. Charlie had hiked ahead to find us a nice spot for lunch. It was a really nice spot, but the black ants were having a convention there, and we all spent most of our time flicking ants off of us or our gear. I hiked on ahead into town to get us a room. It always stuns me to seemingly be so far out into the woods, yet step off of the trail at times and face a four lane road. Of course today I was grateful the trail passes right through a town. Pizza Hut was the first thing I saw. Of course I went in and ordered a large glass of sweat tea. I don't know whether I sucked down the tea or the air conditioning faster. It was 96 degrees according to the sign next store at the bank. I got our room, and ran a tub of cool water. It was sheer heaven to sink down into it and just relax. I read some of the book that I have been carrying with me, then scrubbed and scrubbed with wonderful peppermint soap. I felt like a new person. Smelled like one too!!When Mudbut and Charlie got here, and got cleaned up, we went across the parking lot to an A.Y.C.E. Chinese Buffet. Hmmmmmmmm....I finished the night off with a half pint of vanilla ice cream, covered with A & W Root Beer.total miles 9.1