Date: 2005-06-01
From: Mile 678

To: Catawba, VA
Miles today: 16.7

Up and gone by 7:17 AM. I shared what water I had left with sleeveless and we both left at about the same time but, we each walked alone. Three miles up the trail we came to VA-620 and crossed over Trout Creek. I met up with Tomato Head there. He told me that TABA (There and Back Again), ran some trail magic out of the back of his panel van there last night. That I missed some good trail magic (TABA can really throw a good party). That is the way it is with trail magic, it is all a matter of timing. I was able to get rid of all my trash there and that in itself is trail magic to me. Tomato Head was from Canada and doing his second section of the AT. He left when he ran out of funds a number of miles up the trail. He also received his trail name from a nasty burn he got on his head. Being a tad bit folically challenged it made his head glow with the appearance of a tomato, hence "Tomato Head".   Trail talk I received a number of miles back (Troutdale Bikers at the Baptist Hostel), told me that there was a Hostel for sale near Catawba, VA. My wife Brenda and I were looking in to the possibility of buying one for a retirement investment. I would love to run one so I checked it out. The price was so far out there that to us it was not the right one. We still are looking but, nothing yet and though that dream is on the back burner it is not forgotten.    The trail took us up and over the Dragons Tooth. I ran in to Corporal and Ramblin man again. I was taking a break on a cliff side when they passed me. I took their photo later on up the trail (near mile 690). For now though what a beautiful rock formation, here I wish I took some photos. The terrain was tough and the" down" was nearly strait down. The trail resembled a rock climbing face more then it did a trail. I remember thinking it would suck to be a south bounder and have to climb up this thing. Also I was glad it was dry because it would indeed be a risky decent if it were wet. Other thru-hikers who did that section in the rain confirmed what I was thinking that day (they told me it was a Bi**h). Afterward I stopped at the store near VA-624. It was a new place along the way and was advertised in the Hiker Handbook.    There I ran in to a NOBO by the name of Rag Man. I heard of him along the trail and hoped to met up with him. Rag Man was a retired Marine who just left the service before starting the hike. He told me how he was going to "Flip" (go to MT Katahdin) and go south. He was to link up with his son and hike with him there. We hoped to met up with each other somewhere up north. We missed one another but I know he went by me by reading the log books at the shelters along the way. I hope he made it, he even said then that his south bound hike was going to go all the way to Springer Mountain (re-doing sections he already did so far).   The goal today was to make it in to Catawba itself. Rain was nipping at my heals so off I went. There was a restaurant in Catawba, world renown, called "The Homeplace Restaurant", but it was closed that day. Timing once again is everything so I logged it in to my journal as a "must do" sometime in the future. I ended up hitching, I should say, walking to town down VA-311. No shoulders on the road so not a good place to hitch. At the trail head there was no "pull off" at the northern side of the road either. Was this all worth it I said to myself, oh yes... The "Catawba Valley General Store" had one of the best burgers on the trail (fresh ground beef). They also had some of the greatest Pizzas as well. The rain came down hard and the owner's of the store let us either pitch tents in the back or sleep in the Feed Barn (I took the barn). Tomato head and Sleeveless were sleeping there in the barn as well, everyone else went in to their tents. Sorry to say that rain was predicted for the next day, for the entire day. As for now, good food and I was dry, not a bad way to end the day. I also was able to call home and talk to my wife and son, all was well and I was missed. I recall saying to myself, "Life is good".