Date: 2014-05-15
From: VA 624 Four Pines Hostel

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: haze

5/13/14 16.3 miles5/14/14 10.4 miles5/15/14 Zero5/13/14 I must admit that the 4 Pines Hostel was quite different. An open bay sleeping area inside a 3 bay garage. But adequate for hikers I suppose. It was also intertaining for those of us who are familiar with this type of living arrangement to see those who are not find their place. I guess having been exposed to this before would make it easier. We got started early and the morning went by okay, there was a early climb but not a bad one. It was Forrester Gump, Taz and myself hiking together, as Crocs had left us in his young dust early on. We had some Trail Magic in the parking area before McAfee Knob from Spoon (2013), and his wife in the form of a soda and an apple. Then we started up to McAfee Knob. The views from the top were spectacular and it was clearly a local favorite as well as there were doezens of day hikers out. Apparently college has ended for the the summer too. We took many pictures and spent nearly an hour there sitting in the shade and just enjoying the breeze and views. Then we headed on towards Tinker's Cliffs just 6 or so miles away. That turned out to be a butt kicker for sure. At one point Forrester Gump looks back and just laughs and says "just look at that", "it just goest straight up!!!". And that it did. No switch backs, just straight up the ridge line. Oh well, we should expect anything different? At the top of Tinker's Cliff's we ran into a Professor from Washington and Lee University out with her class (Ecological Creative Writing ???), and in no time we were on display for the class being introduced by the Professor as "theses are R-e-a-l "Thru-Hikers"". So we warned them not to get to close, answered a few questions for her class about being hiker scum, and then moved on. It was quite fun really. Your opportunites for real recognition out here are few and far inbetween, so yu have to take what you can get. The hike down to Lambert's Meadow Shelter was pretty nice, as in all down hill. The highlight of the evening at Lambert's was having a doe deer just hang out in the shelter area for hours, just feeding around. So peaceful!5/14/14 We didn't get up supper early this morning because we knew we only had a 10.4 mile nero into Daleville. Something we could easily do before noon. It was nice to not get up so early. There is never a time when there is all down hill, all up hill, or as many would have you believe, that the trail is flat, but it was still a pleasent walk to town. The ridge line was a little rocky, and it had some hard to follow sections but still not bad. We made in to the Howard Johnson's at 11:56. by noon! I picked up my mail drop, and secured a room for one night and headed for the shower. Which is the first thing most hikers want when arriving in town. After lucnh of course, at the 3 Lil' Pigs BBQ. So with stuffed bellies, and a clean body I settled on the bed while everything I owned was put into the washer. Forrester Gump had stopped by the Good Will and purchased a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, so he was the lucky one to man the washer and dryer. I just sort of hid my nakedness in our room, wrapped in a towel of course. Later when our clothes were not done by dinner, we decided to just call in Chineese and spend the eveing inside. That evening while watching the weather we realized that there was some seriously bad storms coming in the morning and tomorrow, so we painfully decided to take a zero today and ride out these storms indoors. Why take the risk if you don't have too. So I went back to the hotel office and laid claim to another night in room 130.5/15/14 Taking a zero was by far the right decision. There were a few hardy souls that headed out anyway, but for the majority of the hikers we all stayed in town to ride it out. So far today we have had several inches of rain, with more to come, and a little thunder and lightening. They are calling for flash floods today and tonight here in this part of Virgina, and when all those things come together it makes for trail that then become a river to walk in. Not very happy hiking, trust me. We just retruned from the AYCE Buffet at the local Chineese Establishment so we are all hurting now. To say we ate to much wouldn't really do what happened there justice. The phone service has continued to be bad for just about everyone, so I'm not sure how much better that will be in the future. I have posted a bunch of new pictures that I took over the last three or four days so I hope you guys check them out. And, sitting here typing at the Hotel Computer is sure easier than typing on my phone. We will be heading back out in the morning."Without struggle, there can be no progress"!