5/19/06 Friday: FREE DAY IN TROUTVILLE,VA

I spent the morning updating my blog, doing laundry, and keeping in contact with Jackie who was flying out here for a visit... She arrived around 1300 a bit sleep deprived, so we settled for a bit of R&R in the room ;). After dinner we drove to Roanoke Airport to get me added onto the rental car contract, they apparently need to see my drivers license. Following that we went to the mall to visit the outfitter for some possible gear upgrades but didnt find what we were looking for. We ended up at the supermarket to pick up a few thing for the room and for my next leg of the hike. Were planning to do the skyline drive tomorrow. Should be a nice day for it... Sorry no pics today...:)...

5/18/06 Thursday: Campbell Shelter to Comfort Inn, Troutville, Va

Woke at my usual time, 0630 and out again by 0715. Didnt get too cold in the shelter, probably in the high 40s last night and low 50s upon waking this morning. I get some extra water for the day and head out for Tinker Cliffs with the hopes of some nice vistas...I was not disappointed.... I spent about 30 min taking pics of the vistas before moving on the the Lambert Meadow Shelter at 1000 for my first break. With no one there and no notes from anyone I know in the Journal there I quickly move on with Troutville and a hot shower and Jackie on my mind...not necessarily in that order...;) I had lots of nice views with plenty of ups and downs in elevation, but nothing too severe and by 1315 I found myself having completed the 15miles and on the road heading the .8miles to the Comfort Inn from the AT.

PICTURES:
1. A welcome site at 0630...The sun shining through the trees...Sign of a nice day ahead...
2. On my way to the cliffs from the shelter I came across one of many memorials along the trails edge... The natural beauty found here along the AT touches many of us deeply...and forever changes our perspective on life...
3. Approaching the cliffs the large boulders become more jumble and as you can see piled to form covered walkways...
4. View from Tinker cliffs of the valley below....
5. A look back at the multiple promeninces along what is known as Tinker Cliffs...
6. Descending from Tiner Cliffs you begin to appriciate the magnatude of this pile of rocks you were standing on...
7. A view of Troutville and an adjoining lake...

5/17/06 Wednesday: Pickle Branch Shelter to Campbell Shelter

I was up and out by 0715 again, leaving Yoshi behind... We had two opportunities to stop into Catawba variety stores today. I decided to take the first of the two, a .4mi road walk at about 1030 off VA624 onto VA311. As I was approaching VA624, wouldnt ya know it...more Trail Majic... a cooler loaded with all sorts of drinks, peanut butter sandwiches and baked squares, and an assortment of snacks. I samples a peanut butter square and grabbed a Pepsi and a snickers, jotted a thankyou down in the kind persons journal and left for the convenience store satisfied with my appetizers. Im always like a kid in a candy store when I walk into a convenience store off the trail. This time I didnt have any hot dinners for my tonight, having had two last night as I was killing time at the last shelter having arrived there at 1500. I picked up the common hikers trail food Lipton/Knorr rice sides and some tuna in a foil packet. I went to the counter and ordered two 1/4lb cheeseburgers with everything, picked up a 20oz Doctor Pepper and $10.00 later I was outside sitting enjoying my wonderful cheeseburgers with fresh tomato, onions, and lettuce. I had to run back in to compliment the chef before I left... I was moving a bit slowly after downing those two burgers but soon enough I digested them and felt energized for the rest of the day... At 1300, 6miles later I arrived at the second opportunity of the day to head to a convenience store... But still felt quite satisfied from my first stop and with the one mile walk down a steep road into town decided against it. I tried to make a few calls instead. Earlier at the store I tried to call Jackie but couldnt get a good signal. Here, I a had a real good connection, so I chatted with Jackie and my Mom for a while...I moved to the Johns Springs Shelter just in time to get out of an afternoon shower. Spent some time at McAfee Knob (WOW) with pics and plenty of sun before finally arriving at the Camnpbell Shelter for the night...

PICTURES:
1. More variety of wildflower...looks a bit like an iris..
2. Views from the Dragons Tooth Peak
3. Getting back on the trail after my two cheeseburgers... thank God the walk was pretty easy for a while allowing me time to digest...
4. Met this gentleman from New Jersey section hiking south...enjoying the day...
5. More assorted lovely wild flowers near Catawba, always brighten my day...
6. Doubleclick to notice the inscription here... An eagle scout project by a local group which included a number of these bridges across rock faces...much needed especially when wet.
7. Ohhhhh, I've dreamed about this shot for some time...McAfee Knob... all I can say is Breathtaking!!! The most photographed site on the AT. I used the tripod with a 10 sec timer and ran around in time for the pic...No one else around at the time...Perfect weather too..
8. This is just a part of what I was looking at from the Knob... You just have to experience this one for yourself... The camera does not do it justice...
9.Later that evening it started to hail...I was able to capture the hail bouncing off the deck.

5/16/06 Tuesday: Sarver Hollow Shelter to Pickle Branch Shelter (16mi)

The Sarver Hollow Shelter was new, having been built in 2001, and expansive with a deck and shared by just the three of us over night... Oh and a family of birds nesting in the rafters too...LOL... I had a great nights sleep and by 0745 I was out and back on the trail following Trenchfoot and leaving Bunny. The day started partly cloudy and stayed that way throughout with temps early in the 40s climbing into the 60 by midday up on the ridge... I stopped at the Niday Shelter at 1000 for a snack and to use the privy and headed out after about 20 minutes since it was still chilly. I crossed VA621 and headed up 1600ft to the Audie Murphy Monument perched atop this unnamed mountain very near the spot where his plane crashed back in 1971. For those who dont remember the name, Mr. Murphy was the most decorated soldier of WWII. I took an hour break at the memorial where the skies brightened and the sun warmed me and dried my clothes. Trenchfoot was just leaving the site as I arrived and Bunny stopped by for a visit about 30min after I got there. I moved on to the Pickle Branch Shelter, and wouldnt you know it was another .3miles off the trail. Nothing like adding these half mile trips to the end of your day...;) I arrived at the shelter about 1530 and had dinner. It was getting chilly as the sun set so I got into my bag by 1800 and after jotting down some notes about the days events I nodded off alone in the peaceful night. At 2000 I awoke as Yoshi arrived for the night. We chatted a bit, He's from Florida and fell behind his group when his girlfriend came to visit him a few days back. He had been doing some big days trying to catch back up with today being a 27miler for him...We were both out by 0930.

PICTURES:
1. An lovely early morning pic from the deck of Sarver Hollow Shelter... A bit overcast but will prove to be a great hiking day...
2. Found this sign hanging on a tree... interesting bit of trivia...
3. I passed upon another lovely flowering shrub. I cant get enough of these spring blooms... I long to see my garden back home at times...
4. This bright red bird with an interesting call perched itself here just long enough for me to take a pic... I love this camera...
5. Audie Murphy's memorial... A great man from Texas recognized by a local branch of the Vets of Foreign Wars. What a nice tribute...
6. The Rhododendrums are blooming here in Virginia...Lovely

5/15/06 Monday: Bailey Gap Shelter to Sarver Hollow Shelter (21mi)

This was to be my longest day of the week. Still due to the relative ease, the +/- elevation gains averaged about 400 were pretty frequent but not the long sustained ones like in Georgia.. By 1030 we covered about 6mi and stopped at the War Spur Shelter for a snack for a 45min break, having made real good time there. The walk was pretty uneventful throughtout the day with no unobstructed view to be had. I had dinner at the Laurel Creek Shelter about 1400 with the sun shining got some water and head out after a restful one hours stop. While crossing VA630 I was able to chat with Jackie and my sister Dot for a bit before finally moving on to the Server Hollow Shelter for the night at mile 666...LOL... This shelter was .3mi off the trail down a steep side of the ridge. Just Bunny, Trenchfoot and I stayed here for the night, while the rest apparently moved on to the next shelter. It was cldy and again cool in the 40's when we finally retired for the night.

PICTURES:
1. Now this is a sign that you can really appreciate...LOL... I beg to differ...I am not "Here"...
2. Some low clouds in the valley below...but still some awsome views...
3. More vistas today...A nice day for a walk...
4&5. Nice change of pace...more walks thru some pastures...with more cows...Hope Skunks on her guard for those nasty cows...;)...LOL

5/14/06 Sunday: Rice Field Shelter to Bailey Gap Shelter (17mi)

A new week and a need to be in Troutville by Thursday means I can slow down a bit...sounds good to me...:)... We had some rain over night and chilly temps again, that was after some lovely afternoon sun and 70 degree temps. Im up and out by 0730 and stop briefly for water at a campground an hour down the trail... I have wonderful Views of West Virginia upon awaking and throughout this days ridge walk... I arrived at the Bailey Gap Shelter about 1530 just before the rain set in with another cold front. We were all in our sleeping bags by 1800 just to stay warm. Thanks to the earplugs I had a somewhat restfull night. We had older guy cutting some pretty loud ZZZZ's last night driving 2 out of the shelter, one who decided to start hiking at 0300. LOL...

PICTURES:
1. Some nice walks today... and as usual I enjoy the solitude of walking alone... Quietly always on the lookout for wildlife... Not much of that up on these ridges thought a variety of birds of prey can be seen and heard daily. They are very majestic looking and command the skies round these parts...
2. Not sure what this is. Some NSA devise for keeping an eye on all us undesirables I suppose...LOL
3. Hey Peter... They named a Wilderness Preserve after you...;)
4. Its always nice to know where your at in the middle of nowhere...LOL... In this case I'm not far from the end of my day... A much welcomed site...