Date: 2014-05-13
From: campbell shelter

To: daleville,va
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: light rain

Thankfully the rain last night washed the clothes i hung to dry and it stopped early enough for the wind to have everything perfectly dry by morning. Like a night laundry service! With Daleville on the mind we and not a good water source we ate a quick breakfast of pop tarts packed up and rolled out. We were also trying to beat the heat. It was already humid and was supposed to get up in the 90's, too dang hot for this guy. Not far into the walk we came upon a box tortoise. Thats what i waa told they are anyway, definitely a toroise though. The cool thing they can do is completely close up shop. I picked it up to look at his face and he had a different idea. He closed his head and feet completely in his shell and sealed it up tight! Turtles cant do that. Then it was the big climb up to Tinkers cliffs. It was thankfully going to be the biggest climb of theday and we would be getting it over with fairly early. The trail follows along the cliffs for about a half mile and you can look over to McAfees knob and see the ridge we have been following for a couple days past. Cool to see where you have been hiking for the last three days. While up on the cliffs we kicked up a whitetail deer, one of the most malnourished ive seen but there wasnt much grass up there so it was no surprise. We took a short break to admire the view and eat a snack but it was a quick one because we were both out of water and thirsty so it was off to the next shelter to stock up, hopefully with a better water source. Glad it was only a mile and glad there was a stream to filter the water from. I drank down a liter and a half and put another 1.5 liters in my pack. That should be plenty for the nine more miles to town. By this time it was getting really hot and really humid. Some places it was rediculous where you could feel the sun cooking the moisture out of the ground and into the air i was trying to breathe. What i would have givin for fresh air and a cold drink! The water in my camelback was nearly instantly warm and gross but it was wet so i drank it. I must have looked pretty bad at one point because a turkey buzzard flew over and landed not far from us and stared in our direction, sorry buddy, not today. Disappointed he took off. Toward the end of the hike we walked a ridge overlooking a big old river full of refreshing water. It looked soo inviting but was way too far away, just like that ice cold soda i was dreamin about. We could hardly take time to look at the river beause it was getting so hot we felt like we were baking in the sun. I ran out of water with about 2.5 miles to go, i wasnt worried because it was mostly downhill so i wouldnt be sweating as much and using so much water. That being said, running out of water is way more challenging mentally than physically. Your brain starts to get concerned and you have to keep calm and reassure yorself its not a problem. On the way down the hill we had to cross under huge power lines which meant going out into the sun. I would cringe and internally protest everytime it happened but what was i going to do? Not go? By the time we got very close i was very thirsty and we were discusing what we would drink first. We both chose gatorade so the conversation turned to which color. Thats what happens when you get close to towns, you talk about food and drinks. Nearing the road we saw a cooler, TRAIL MAGIC!! Nope, empty. Its just as sad to have an empty one as it is happy to get a full one. No matter, i was a quarter mile from happiness. At the gas station i bought two quarts and drank em both, delightfully freezing my brain. You know its hot when youre glad to freeze your brain. Bought a hotel room, took a shower, and dismantled my pack. Thats what happens when you get to a hotel. Many chores to be done still, cleaning and drying is the biggest. Laundry is always a concern and food. Feeding a hungry hiker is no laughing matter. Spice met up with us and was going to stay the night with us to cut the cost of the room. He offered to sleep on the floor and he is a nice kid so we let him stay. First we went to wendys for a predinner meal, then to the grocery to resupply, then to a bbq joint for the real dinner. Full and happy we wandered back to our indoor home for the night. A few phone calls and laundry would fill the rest of the evening. Oh in the middle of the mass feeding i bought new shoes, solomon trail runners. Ive read you should get new ones every 400-500 miles. We were 725 miles so i thought i would take a look. I found a pair that fit well so i got em. Pretty excited about this. I posted home my old ones for sentimental reasons and my sleeping bag as well. Its been so hot i havent used it and i want to downsize. On the walk back to the room i picked up one more quart of gatorade and drank that before bed. Happily rehydrating in an air conditioned room i scratched my bloated belly and thought, 'oh yeah, this is what i call livin'.