Date: 2015-05-25
From: pearsiburg va

To: Dalesville, VA
Miles today: 80.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Wow! What a week. Have to say that I'm starting to feel it. Was getting a little low, but as always, things have a way of turning out here.Many times, Palomino and I don't hike together, but fortunately for us, we were side by side when the storms hit early in the week. The trail was on steeply slanted rock slopes and the storm created a slip-n-slide into oblivion. It was literally climbing up to a perch and then anchoring before pulling each other up. Not sure how far down it was because of the dense clouds and fog, but when we'd knock loose rocks we never heard them hit bottom.The Audie Murphy (most decorated American soldier of WWII) momument was a special treat, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. We did dragon's tail back in Fontania Village NC, this week, it was time for the dragon's tooth. Amazing. The desent was so steep that rebar was anchored into the rocks building a ladder of sorts. Thankfully, that day was dry, because there was a lot of time on our knees and butts. I have to say, that day took it out of me. Palomino came out with swolen ankles and my knee is oddly shapen now with an added bonus of this strange hip pain. Even with the rain, water sources have been scarce. Sometimes I'm loaded down with an extra 4 liters which adds around 9 lbs to my pack. The extra weight and rocks don't mix well. The terrain was really fun, but it completely drained us - physically and mentally. We found shelter at the 4 pines hostle. Can't even describe what a night there did for us. The place is a 3 car garage with a shower and restroom in it. Donation based only, the owner does it just because he likes hiker trash. Fresh eggs from the hen house, free shuttles to the store and restaurant, and my favorite, a bottomless icechest of cokes. Before the night was out, we were packed. Hobo, Paperclip, Cinderalla, IceFire, Blazer, Hula, SlingShot, SamIAm, Stash, Repunzel, Parks, and so many more. The place was so great, that many stayed an extra night.We pushed on and worked our way to McAfee's Knob, the most photographed rock in Va. We crossed Tinkler's Cliffs where we split a bag of cheetos and a can of rootbeer which had been hidden in our packs for 3 days. The views have been amazing, and the only thing greater is the people that we meet. Fireball's parents were setting up for trail magic when we crossed them. The oranges were a wonderful treat. Rockboat's wife came in to meet him and we all caught up at the HomePlace Restaurant. His wife, Amanda was super nice and picked up the tab. Amanda, if you read this, I'll beat Rockboat with my hiking pole if he ever complains about doing 20 mile days over the rocks to see you. And the wildest was on the way up to McAfee's Knob, we ran across a sign that said "Free Bacon for Hikers". What??? How great is that? We sat around for an hour or so eating bacon. People are great along the trail.Now in Daleville, I'm waiting on the outfitters to open so that I can get my mail drop. I completely forgot that small towns shut down on Sundays and holidays. So, we're using the time to rest and roam town with a crew that looks like they survived the zombie apocalypse.   Final thought - at the bottom of the mountains, everything looks so big. At the top, everything looks so small. Like life, it's all about perspective.Later