Date: 2010-06-25
From: VA42

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

This entry is to sum up the miles I couldn't post between Pearisburg and Front Royal.After finishing the 18.5 mile hike to VA 42 it was time to move forward, out of our comfortable room to Catawba. It is centered around McAfee Knob and Dragon's Tooth. We choose to stay at the Catawba General Store where the proprietor allows hikers to camp behind the building or stay in a storage room (10 x 20) with electricity. Of course the room won out over tenting and we could charge up phones and cameras. The day we arrived, the area for tenting is used for a farmers market.Cahoda birthday was celebrated at the unique restaurant and a local favorite called the "Homeplace". It is served family style with all you can eat fried chicken, roast nbeef, mashed potatoes gravy, pinto beans, green beans, cole slaw, bisquits and tea or lemonade for $13 each. The group bought Cahoda her dinner and gave her cards, one Half Left and I have carried for 2 and 1/2 months (her brother Dale gave it to us when he shuttled us back in Dahlonga).The dessert was peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream, yum! We all enjoyed the local booths with organic goods, homemade breads and cakes along with vegetables and art. After they left other hikers arrived. We have met many of them before, Nimblefoot, Puck, Restless, Crazy Train, Radar and Peru. It was nice to see them and share trail stories. Staying up a little past hiker midnight, we had a few beers and talked about plans. Many of them spoke of aqua blazing. It all seems so far in the future but doable.In the morning, we hiked to Mcafee Knob. The hike was easy compared to the days of hiking before. Upon cresting, we discovered a wonderful view out of the green tunnel that has surrounded us. We took lots of photos and relaxed taking in the view. Leaving was hard but we must move forward darn it.Skipping forward to Waynesboro where the Shenandoahs start:Wild Poodle and Cahoda decided to stay at the Grace Hiker Hostel, a church that let's hikers stay in a fellowship hall for free. We choose a hotel for privacy. Half Left decided we need to send all of our extra gear and food home while we are in a town so we spent the first evening seperating the used from the expendable. While we were doing our boxing up, we got a phone call from Low Key, our hiking friend that we started the trail with. He was headed back from Massachusets to meet us by bus. We told him of a shuttler that could pick him up and bring him to the hotel. What a treat for Half Left to have a man friend with us. He is constantly surrounded by women and I'm certain it takes it toll. Low Key arrived about 10PM to a warm welcome. We stayed up late catching up on life, he got a room and planned to hike with us through the Shenandoahs.Half Left and I sent our boxes off by UPS at the local Ace Hardware. On our way back we noticed a bearded man sitting at the hotdog stand. Half Left says that's Red Baron! I disagreed saying his beard was too long but sure enough it was the infamous Baron. He had shuttled to meet up with us. Half Left was beside himself with all the testosterone surrounding him and I now am surrounded by MEN. Red Baron got a room across the hall. We purchased some adult beverages, donned our swim attire (hiking clothes) and all sat around the pool, me swimming and the boys in there little slice of heaven. It was very enjoyable seeing the guys smiling and being able to relax and let the trail be out of mind for the brief moment.Wild Poodle and Cahoda left town a day early to set up camp in the national park at Loft campground. We planned to shuttle up the next day. Another hiker named Mrs. Pinkie Jones arrived and got a room at the hotel. She is another Aussie from Perth. We welcomed her to spend time with us and enjoyed her company. She asked if she could share our shuttle and of course the answer was yes. She took a fall and is limping pretty bad, I am not sure how she will do on the trail but there is lots of opportunity in the park for rides.The fun had to end, up early and the shuttle to Loft Campground by a local Lyle Kerby. He grew up in Waynesboro and told us of all the history when the roads leading to the park were gravel. He pointed them out, amazing you could see exactly where they were. As we entered the park, a bear ran across the road. He pulled over for us to watch. Arriving early at camp the girls were already gone hiking so we set our tents up and hiked around getting familiar with our new home for 3 days.While we were at the camp store the girls showed up with big smiles. They gave us a ride back to camp. The next few days we continued our hiking, not too hard terrain, just up then down then up then down. It was like a green tunnel just like other hikers describe.We moved camp on the 3rd day to Big Meadows another really nice set up. Camping in the Shennandoah NP is really nice! Our campsite was within 50 yards of the AT, showers and laundry close by along with ice and firewood. The lodge was about a 10 minute walk. Hiking was again easy but the temperature was in the 90's and not much water on the trail to drink or cool off. The shelters are called huts and are clean and comfortable. We stopped only to eat lunch and review the registers. The local hikingh club also maintains some locked cabins that can be reserved.While at our campsite we met Ian who is from Wash DC. He greeted us with deli style treats like copicola ham and mozzarella balls with sun dried tomatoes. His energy amazed us, we would be about to fall out and he would be zipping around just as happy as could be. He told us lots of interesting stories and helped us with info about DC. He even road into Elktown and bought us stuff at the grocery. Thanks for the company, Ian and please sign the guestbook so we can contact you.We must move on so off to Front Royal stopping on the way to get in a hike we left saying goodbye to our neighbor Ian. Z