Date: 2008-04-12
From: Niday Shelter VA 

To: Unnamed Campsite VA 
Miles today: 15.8

Day 55 ¢ Saturday April 12 ¢ Unnamed Campsite VA ¢ Miles Today: 15.8 Total Miles: 690.0It rained last night - a couple heavy but brief bursts. This morning when we got up, it was about 70 in the tent, but 60 outside. We started out in shorts and a T-shirt and because of last night¢s rain, our first few low-lying trails areas had water on the trail. It appears that the storms were very localized as most of the day it was very dry with no sign of rain the previous night. It wasn't too far into this mornings hike when we crossed over a road and a stream and saw a bright red ice chest! Our hearts went crazy with hopes that it was full of goodies for us and sure enough, it was. We snagged some pretzels, crackers, a package of graham crackers and two cokes each. The cokes were placed in a plastic milk crate in the stream, cooling for us! A great little stop ¢ actually not a quick stop, as it probably took us a half hour to decide what to select and then eat it before we went on.This morning we started out with a pretty good incline, which was nice because we had cooler morning temperatures. This low front that was supposed to be coming through has not arrived yet. Today was our 4th day in the 80s. Perhaps just the very low 80s - a tad bit cooler than yesterday. Today we passed the Audie Murphy monument, the most decorated American soldier of WW II. The monument is just off the trail where he died nearby in a plane crash.Our struggle for today was the long stretch without water. We cooked our warm meal for lunch, before we left the comforts of water. When we removed the lid from our stored pot, we found Trail Magic - a small bar of milk chocolate with a hint of mint flavor from Amanda and Josh. Last night we hung our food bag in the shelter and obviously Josh and Amanda snuck into there and left a goodie for us. That was very sweet of them and a very nice treat. Giving up such a valuable possession means a lot out here. After lunch, we left the valley floor and river, our last water source until lunchtime tomorrow. We stocked up and hauled 3 quarts of water and used it sparingly though out the day. As we climbed 1500¢ in the hot sun, Grasshopper was quite bummed that we did not stock up on more water. Poor planning.The 1500¢ foot climb was up Cove Mountain to Dragon¢s Tooth. We did not actually climb the side trail to Dragon¢s Tooth, as it was a weekend and there were a ton of weekend hikers out. I also don't think that Dragon¢s Tooth is anything one would want to climb with a backpack. The couple miles up and down Cove Mountain were pretty much rock scrambles making us wonder why this area of the trail is rated just a 5.   But it was fun. We continue to see lots of signs of spring. A few more flowers and bushes are blooming. More trees are coming out with their green foliage. The white blossoms of perhaps a Dogwood and the purple blossoms of perhaps a redbud or maybe a wild cherry are out coloring our views. We really don't know our foliage, but we can pretend. We¢re hoping that a full forest canopy will be here in a couple weeks to protect us from the sun. We continue to wear our bandana safari cover, as our ears and neck need to take a break from the sun¢s rays. There is rumor that rain will arrive tomorrow. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be an all day gully washer or just a sprinkle here or there. We'll take the clouds; we don't really want the rain but I guess we'll deal with what we got. Our feet and knees have taken quite a beating over these last few days with the higher than normal miles and the tons of rocks. Southwestern Virginia will go down in our memory as a place with spots of heavy, heavy rocks, which are hard on the feet, the lower ankle area and the knees. We have decided to spend at least one day in Daleville, possibly two nights, to give our legs a break and get some food into our bellies. We're camped alongside the trail, around mile marker 690, as the next shelter is 8 more miles and we did not want to do that today. A 50¢ish man doing his weekly day hike stopped to talk to us in camp this evening before sundown. He was an odd character, but probably extremely bright. He was into natural herbs for medicinal purposes and was telling how he was treating his mother¢s heart issues via herbs and how he had beaten the doctor¢s odds of her surviving.The news from some section hikers is that we'll hit a stream shortly after breakfast tomorrow. Even so, we're using our limited water sparingly, just in case.It's just before 8:00 and about 65 in the tent. Cooler temps probably arrive tomorrow, but I think we've said that for the last 3 days, so who really knows. One more good hiking day and then a partial hiking day into town. Lookout, here we come. We need a shower though we're not stinky. Josh and Amanda upon first seeing us yesterday said, ¢You guys look so fresh!¢ I don't think they've learned the trick of freshening up with stream water yet, but we could definitely use a shower, a clothes washing and just some good R & R. We're looking forward to it all. Goodnight from southwestern Virginia.