Date: 2007-04-27
From: Trout Creek, Va

To: Catawba Country Store, Va
Miles today: 14.0

I woke up when the rain had slowed all the way to a drizzle and when I kept hearing voices. In the 15 or so hours that I have been in this spot; i have only heard 3 cars go by. Talk about a country road! When I popped out of the tent I began cooking a big meal to get me over Dragon's Tooth. It is a long 4-5 miles that goes along another undulating rocky ridge. The voices I heard was "Otto"(going sobo from Daleville to Damascus to walk into trail days. I dont know why?) and A female named noodles and another thru-hiker whose name I missed. Otto acted like he knew me this time and we talked a bit; but, I could tell he was ready to hike. He left and soon Hawk came thru. We talked a bit and he and Alley Cat took off. I finally got it all together and left myself. On the climb up to the ridge that leads to Dragon tooth there are old stone fences and big piles of rocks. Some of these stone walls are built on some steep inclines. I really liked the way they looked and imagined all the slaves that built them. It had to be some hard work. On the ridge; I could see just how beautiful the valleys were. Everything is all green down there now. Along these ridges, it is starting to look like spring as well. I actually stopped on the trail here and got Hawk to take a picture of a Pink Lady Slipper. It is a very rare flower and there were several in thsi area. I have hiked for many years and only seen a dozen or so of these flowers. The Dwarf Crested Iris is also blooming. They are purple with yellow stripes down the middle. I need to get Colin Gooder to send me a digital camera as the plants are sprouting and blooming everywhere. I also need to find me an edible greens book. I see so many sprouts that I could eat a big green salad everyday. I did finally get to Dragon's Tooth and enjoyed the view. I know that you all are not going to believe this; but, the climb down off of this "sucker" is the toughest descent to date. There are actually steel hand rails in the rock to assist a hiker/climber. I also resited the temptation to take a blue blazed trail that skipped this descent and went right down to Va 624. It was Alley Cat who got me focused and said that she would not let me do it or something to that effect. That Alley Cat is quite a young lady. Hawk has his hands/talons full with her. She got on me about my journal writing. She said it was shameless. Im not sure exactly what she meant. After going down and then over a final pud; I was at 624! I could not believe it, food! Hawk, Alley Cat, and I walked down to a grocer and I bought a few supplies; but, did not eat anything. I was saving that for the AYCE. I quickly hitched to the Homestead and ate so much good home cooking with two dessert helpings of blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream(my favorite dessert). When I was done, I sat with Hawk and Alley Cat. Then an English thru hiker showed up. He was from Yorkshire. Missed the chaps name. He said that "Mo" was across the street at the country store. We waddled over and we got under a carport behind the store where The English guy, Hawk, Alley Cat, Mo Lassus the Diamond, Toastie, Mt Cameron, and I all slept that night. Mo showed up and we cussed each other for a moment or two for getting split up. I felt pretty bad about the whole deal. I drank a beer and was getting ready for bed when Mo gassed up Hawk and Alley Cat to go "slack pack" 6.5 miles before bed to get caught up to where he was on the trail. They said that they were going to do it and Alley Cat said, "your going to Zero!" I was like what? Dont get me in this! Then "The Diamond" said, "Oh, your in this!"(part of the Neil Diamiond skit). What could I say? We walked out in front of the store and tried to hitch a ride at around 7pm. I thought it would be useless; so, being totally full of food and now having a beer in me; I began to act silly. As Alley said, I stuck my thumb out like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. She got on to me about this; but, it worked. A particularly thin long legged woman named Mindy picked us up. I could not believe it! She took us right to the trail head on 624. Alley said that I had missed out because that woman was really checking me out! I did not even notice! And all of this talk with them and Mo about "The 5 minute Window" as it relates to initial impressions and building relationships. Anyway, without packs; we zipped the 6.5 miles and were in bed at 10:00pm. The trail was just 1 mile from this country store. Mo also was waiting up for a girl from California to show up!