Date: 2017-09-04
From: Cousin Bill's Place, Salem, VA

To: VA Rt 311
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: clear sky

9/4/17, Cousin Bill's Apartment, Salem, VAMiles hiked: 2026.1, Miles to go: 164.2Today was a beautful day to be on the trail - both in terms of weather and terrain. My cousin Bill dropped me back off at the trail in Daleville around 8:00 AM. I was planning a 19.8 mile slackpack that would take me past Tinker Cliffs and McAfee's Knob. Even though I spent most of  the morning climbing, trail conditions were very nice, so I quickly covered ground, especially since my pack was very light. I have started listening to James Clavell's Shogun on Audible, which also helped the miles to pass. Since it was a holiday with beautiful weather, there were a bunch of day hikers on the trail. Tinker Cliffs were pretty crowded; however, the views were spectacular. I stood looking over the verdant green Virginia hills and valleys for a long time. I couldn't hang out too long, though, because Bill's son Matthew was meeting me at McAfee's Knob and I didn't want to leave him waiting too long. Bill had dropped Matthew off at the parking lot on VA 311 around 12;30 PM and he was hiking north on the AT for 3.9 miles to meet me on McAfee's Knob. Matthew is 15 and about my size, so I figured he would cover the ground pretty quickly. He texted me after he reached the summit and I realized he had climbed the trail much faster than I had anticipated. I was still two miles away. I kicked it into high gear and covered the remaining trail pretty quickly. As I had anticipated, there was a big crowd at McAfee's Knob. People were everywhere! McAfee's Knob has one of the best views in Virginia. It also has a rock overhang that juts out into air. AT thru hikers like to have their pictures taken sitting on the edge of the overhang, dangling their feet over the precipice. It is the most photographed feature on the entire trail. After a short wait, Matthew was able to take my dangling-feet picture. We then began our 3.9 mile descent back to the parking lot on VA Rt 311. Matthew went first and I had to really hustle to keep up! Ah, youth is wasted on the young. If I could have just a portion of that energy, I would have finished the trail weeks ago. About a mile from the parking lot, this guy jumps out from behind a tree and says, "Boo!" It's Shenaniguy! I haven't seen him since New York! I knew he lived in the area; but, when I had texted with him earlier in the week, he was climbing near Chattanooga. He had been keeping up with my blog and had decided to visit me on the trail when he got home. As he walked back down the trail with us, he filled me in on what Pluck and Silly Spilly were up to and we talked about all the other hikers we knew and speculated on where they were now. In short order, we reached the parking lot where Bill was waiting for us with bottles of cold Gatorade. I reluctantly bid farewell to Shenaniguy and we headed back to Bill's place. After Matthew and I got cleaned up, we headed over to a cookout at the house of Bill's girlfriend's sister. Thru hikers love cookouts! Hot dogs, hamburgers, mac and cheese, au gratin potatoes, fruit salad, chips, and desserts. Yum! Tomorrow, after dropping Matthew off for his first day of school and before he goes to work, Bill will return me to the parking lot at Rt 311, where I will continue heading south. This has been a very nice two day visit with one of my favorite cousins; but, I have to keep heading south. Unfortunately, they are calling for rain. Bummer.