START LOCATION: Niday Shelter
FINISH LOCATION: Random Stream near Catawba, VA
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 17.7
TRIP MILEAGE: 694.3
MILES TO GO: 1,484.8
It was chilly last night. It got down into the upper 30s. It was a
great test for my new 45 degree sleeping bag. With my smartwool legs,
capilene top and my bag zipped up tight in my tent, I was warm. Success.
Out of camp by 8:30AM. I wanted fast miles today. The cool sunny
weather supported this venture. I had dreams of AYCE country cookin at
the Homeplace Restaurant in Catawba. I flew. I came upon some trail
magic bottled water that saved me a trip to a shelter .5 off the
trail. That was awesome.
I reached Dragon's Tooth around 2PM. Dragon's Tooth is a gigantic 20'
tall, 100' long series of outcropping boulders that stick up like
monoliths from the ridge. Hence the name. There were weekenders from
Roanoke all over the place. It was gorgeous out and took some good
pics. I even was able to get in my Happy Mothers Day call. It's a good
thing too...
I reached the road for the Catawba AYCE and walked the .3 miles to the
convenience store there. Their pay phone was removed. Glad I got my
mothers day call in when I did. Because, while the convenience store
let me use the house phone, I was limite to 5 minutes. Whew. I got a
report that if I continued on the one mile to the AYCE, I'd run into a
two hour wait, due to Mothers day. This meant a very very late evening
of finding a random campsite. I thought better of the AYCE and lightly
resupplied at the convenience store and camped a mile north by a
stream with Walking Man East, Grace-n-Glory, Toenail and Stargazer.
All great couples.
It's another cold night ahead of mid-30's, but I will be warm! Hahaa.
Oh, less than 1,500 miles to go!
-natedog
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