Date: 2019-06-12
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Super 8 Daleville
Miles today: 15.4

Town! I know it¢s only been a few days since I was in a town, but today I was headed to Daleville. The trail crosses the main road in town, so it¢s very convenient. I still had 15 miles ahead of me though and it was going to be a long 15. This section of Virginia is so rocky and difficult and today was brutal too. Definitely not a nero into town, but I just wanted to make it to town and crush some mileage after my Angel¢s Rest resting?I headed out about 9/9:30, which is a good leaving time for me on average. It¢s so hot out I may need to change that and leave earlier, but I¢ll be satisfied with that leave time otherwise. It¢s much better than 11 or later, which has happened a few times and is right in the worst of the heat. I talked with a woman and her daughter for a bit who were section hiking, and they headed out before me. The day started with a little more downhill, but then I had to climb up to Tinker Cliffs. It was so steep and difficult, but I made it up to the Cliffs and they were wonderful. I met a few section hikers from the area and they asked me about my trip. I got the usual ¢do you feel safe as a woman?¢ questions, but they were incredibly nice. They left and I decided I wanted a pic, even though this wasn¢t the iconic pic. So I set my phone up on my pack and took my picture. This method seems to do the trick! I was surprised by the lack of tourists here though. It was the middle of the day now and this is one of the three main hikes and views to see in this area. There was no one but those section hikers. Hmm?I headed down and the elevation on Guthook made it look like it was all downhill from here, but it was so rocky. It was miserable. I was scaling rocks and hopping over them and lifting my heavy pack with me and I just hated it. And I just wanted to get to town. I had a few stop and cry breaks because this is all so mental at this point. I ate a few granola bars and headed on each time. There was a moment where I laughed because a blaze was pointed going off a cliff. And I actually believed that was the trail. I was prepping to climb down this cliff after following the ¢blaze to nowhere¢, but turned myself around to check again and saw a blaze far in the other direction on a tree. I wouldn¢t put it past the founders at this point to blaze off a cliff though. Lord have mercy. I then listened to Road to Nowhere and more Talking Heads as I went. There was another cliff blaze moment, this time with two pointing towards each other at the cliff. Lovely! Off another cliff, you say? I was losing my mind at this point. So many rocks and cliffs and the sky was looking pretty ominous. It was definitely going to rain and I thought I¢d get stuck on top of this exposed ridge scrambling over wet, slippery rocks. Maybe I would end up sliding off that cliff blaze anyway. Ugh. I was 2 miles from Daleville and still scrambling on rocks. Where¢s this lovely downhill I was seeing? Oh it¢s in the last mile. Just scramble for 10 miles and then it¢ll go down! The downhill was certainly short and it was starting to sprinkle. I was incredibly anxious. And what more could happen, but an uphill! It actually went gradually up for the last little bit! I was laughing from exhaustion, annoyance, and anxiety at this point. A deer came running right in front of me on trail and I wasn¢t even phased. I just stared at him and continued. Sup bro lol. The deer don¢t tend to scare me anyway though, there¢s plenty in CT! And we hate them cuz they eat our plants and carry ticks and I¢ve had a few near hits in my car that caused a ton of panic. Go back into the woods and take your ticks away from the trail! Lol.I finally made it to the road. Alleluia. I could see the Super 8 from where I was, and I was staying there. I had to move the reservation when I left Angel¢s Rest so late, but was all set. I showed up and knew I smelled. I was drenched in my own sweat, plus the sprinkling rain. It had only been a few days, but that¢s all it takes out here. I smelled horrible all over again. The manager was very helpful though. I don¢t know why I had two beds, but I did. I ended up spreading out on both. Beds, shower, room, rest! I had done two very difficult days. I was proud of myself for kicking out those miles after my Vortex stay. I took a long hot shower and headed to this Mexican restaurant right across from the hotel. There¢s always a Mexican place! Lol. I had two large frozen margaritas, and they were on sale! Score! I had pork carnitas, which were okay. The margaritas were also only okay, they kinda tasted like slushees. I ate alone, which I don¢t really  care about these days, but it would¢ve been nice to have some hiker friends around. I saw none in there. Ever since Pearisburg, I hadn¢t seen a lot of people that I knew. Salamander was a couple of days behind, which was impressive considering I slackpacked 60 and she just hiked that regularly. But I was so anxious, I didn¢t wanna zero here. I knew we¢d catch up with each other eventually! I got back from dinner and blogged a bit, and then passed out in a hotel bed full of pillows, my heaven. I still hadn¢t organized my food, but I¢d do that tomorrow. Little Debbie