Date: 2018-10-31
From: Pig Farm Campsite

To: Miller Cove Road
Miles today: 18.1

It was warm when I woke up. There was a slight breeze. The moon and stars were bright in the morning sky. I could see Schooner's headlamp across the trail. Down below at the shelter I could see headlamps. Looks like everyone is awake. At 6:50 I headed up to the top of McAfee Knob, a steep .6 of a mile climb. At the top I came to a vista looking east. The mountains to the east already had an orange glow. I dropped my pack and went on a bit. The famous cliff overhang was up the trail but when I got there I concluded the sunrise may not be fully viewed from that point. I headed back to the first vista. Schooner came in and then Moose and a group of the boys. In this group was Cub and Wild Bill whom I met last night. Wild Bill asked me while peering over his round spectacles "Mr. Lake, will you help me take off the backpack?" I lifted the pack which was heavier than mine. Too heavy for a nine or ten year old. Schooner snapped photos of the group with the group's cameras. I told Moose the famous overhang was above but I didn't think sunrise would be as good there as here. He decided to take the boys up there. Wild Bill asked me "Mr. Lake, will you help me put my backpack on?" With Moose's assistance I lifted the pack up so little Wild Bill could get his arms through the straps. Then the group headed on over to the overhang. A few minutes later another leader of the group came by with several boys. He asked where the rest of the group was so Schooner and I directed them to go on a bit. The sunrise was beautiful. The Blue Ridge Mountains were highlighted by the orange sky. Then the big orange ball crested over the ridges. Magnificent sunrise! I headed out following the trail downhill for a few miles. I arrived at the first road crossing at 10:15. It was six miles from there to VA 624 which has a store nearby. I decided to challenge myself. If I could get to that road before 1 p.m. I can go to the store. The trail followed a ridge for nearly two hours. The ridge was like a saw, frequent ups and downs. Then a drop through some old pastures, across a road and more pastures. The trail went up a stream and on the other side was an intact old rusted water wheel made of steel or iron. The building that once covered the water wheel was pretty much reduced to rubble. The trail continued up the stream and then up and over a ridge dropping to VA 624. It was 12:40. I won! Off to the store! The store was down the hill and a short distance on another road. As I walked across the parking lot I saw three burly guys sitting at an outside table observing my approach. I figured they didn't like a stranger nor a hiker. At the store I dropped my pack. One of them asked bluntly and with a southern drawl "Where ya goin'?" I told him Georgia. Another asked "Where'd ya start?" I told him Maine. Then they asked lots of questions and were quite friendly. When the conversation was over one said "Our hats are off to ya." Another said "God bless ya!" I thanked them and went in the store. I got two hot dogs, Uncle Ray's BBQ potato chips and a large Dr. Pepper. As I returned outside the burly guys were in a compact car backing up. They all waved out the open windows. I thought those burly guys in that little car was not cool. While eating, a hunter asked if I saw any bear. He said he saw a big one up the AT. He asked if I saw any snakes. He said the rattlers are out and dangerous this time of year. He said muzzleloader season starts Saturday and those guys will shoot at anything. I concluded this guy was just trying to scare me. I headed out and back to the trail. It was 1:18. The next section of trail was up to Dragon's Tooth, a row of giant teeth like rock outcrops. The trail was rocky and the last section was climbing up small cliffs similar to New Hampshire. It is the worst section of trail since New Hampshire. I was over the top at 3:15. I stopped at a vista where I could see back to McAfee Knob and the sawtooth-like ridge I hiked. Hundreds of things were floating in the air in front of me. They weren't birds but leaves being blown up the ridge behind me and then over and above me. The next section of trail was like Pennsylvania. It was walking on rocks again for a few miles. But then the trail finally descended off the ridge on glorious switchbacks down the mountainside. It leveled out in a large tall grove of beautiful Tulip Poplars. I've never seen so many together. The trail climbed then dropped to Trout Creek where I picked up two liters of water. Then I crossed Miller Cove Road where Schooner and Sprocket were setting up their tents. Sprocket is hiking from Daleville to Pearisburg. I went up the trail a short distance and began setting up my tent. An ATV came up the road and pulled in. The guy began talking to Schooner and Sprocket. My first thought was this guy was telling us we can't camp here. Then he walked up the slight hill towards me. I watched the grey haired man with a frizzy ponytail as he got close. He asked "Do you want a Yuengling?" I said "Yes" as he handed me a Yuengling Lager. We talked some and then headed down to where Schooner and Sprocket were. Doug said he lives nearby and helps hikers. He said he plans to open a hostel up the road. After finished the drink I thanked Doug and went back to finish setting up my camp as it was getting dark. A tough interesting day and I'm beat. As of today I have less than 700 miles to go. I can hear the creek nearby. I hope to sleep well.