I spent my first night on Daleville doing laundry and ordering my resupply through Doordash. I had no desire to go through the rain to get my groceries for the next leg. But I am glad that I took a zero the next day because it took my clothes and gear that long to dry out. It also gave me a chanve to soak my knee with some Epsom salts, so I was pretty content.

When I left Daleville, I had to hike back along the high way to the trail, but at lrast ot was sunny. Unfortunately woth the sun came the humidity from all the rain we had had. Still, my spirits were high and lifted higher when I passed the 1/3 of the way there sign as I made my way pass Troutville and up Fulhart Knob.

Day 1 back on the trail was pretty normal at thos point. My knee was doing well and I was feeling great, even with a pack with 5 days of provisions. Part of the trade off of going longer without resupply. I suppose I could carry a lighter pack and resupply in 3 days, but that seems to waste a day in my mind. Plus my body seems to have adapted to carrying the load. And by day 4/5 it feel light and dandy.

That evening I camp just past Blackhorse Gap across from the blue ridge parkway. Ill be criss crossing the parkway until it turns into Skyline Drive up in Shennandoah National Park, a destination I am looking forward to.

On the second day out , i head along the ridge line, swaying to either side of the blueridge parkway to enjoy the views. Just after the Peaks Otter, I get some blueberry pancake trail magic and run into a hiker I had seen before getying off trail, Leftovers. He had taken some time off to go to trail days down in Damascus and was having a slow start to getting back to it.

After the well appriciated sweet sweet calories, I headed down the mountain ridge and crossed Jennings Creek. And would you believe it, there was more trail magic there too! A couple who had walked the trail in 2020 had put on a wonderful spread of fresh homemade tacos and flautas that were amazing. They actually loved doing the trail.so.much that they moved from the midwest to come live in the area after their hike.

After chatting with the other hikers who came in while eating and enjoying a soda, I headed up Fork Mountain to camp for the night. I knew the next day i was going to do over 3000ft of elevation, so I wanted to get a head start.

Day 3, always day 3, was the hardest yet as I climbed up apple orchard mountain. As I made my way up 2500 ft in 5 miles to floyd mountian first, I stopped for lunch at Cornelius Creek shelter and got more water. Thankfully, I had a few miles of ridge walking, stopping at Black Rock Overlook. Afterwards I kept climbing another 1200ft over 2 miles to get to the top of Apple Orchard Mountain. The views were well worth it and the weather dippler station at the top was cool to see. However, I was glad to get down from the station. I sweat the radio waves were pushing my brain around.

I headed down the mountian and jumping across the Blue Ridge Parkway twice before I set up camp just after Petites Gap. 18 miles and 3000ft+ of elevation had me feeling good and tired, but I definitely had my trail legs back. Which was good becuae I was going to do 20 miles with another 2500ft of elevation tomorrow.

I woke up at 430 am or some reason and just decided get up. But I was happy to with the milage I was planning today. My friend Colleen was going to meet me in Buena Vista and she was going to join me for a day or two on the trail.

I broke camp by 530 am and it was already light enough out to hike. As I made my way down into the valley, I had some Great views of the James River and the morning fog. There was a train going by that you could see from end to end so I stopped and admired the scene. I stayrd long enough that another hiker caught up to me, ghost and we enjoyed the view together. He stayed a bit to take some more pictures as I continued down the trail.

While I was walking along a ridge line something in the leaves jumped out at me and I lept away. As I looked back I saw a snake with something in its mouth. A esstern copperhead had caught a mouse and I had distrubed it as I came down the trial. I stayed and watched it for a while, wanting to warn ghost when another hiker, 007, came up and I showed her where it was. She didn't see it until she was close either, but was able to easily walk around it. She had just past Ghost and was going to wait for him, so I headed down the trail.

I made my way to Matts Creek Shelter and stopped in to use the privy and refill my water as Ghost and 007 joined me. We chatted for a bit before heading down to the James River.

The foot bridge that crosses the James is the longest footbridge on the trail and seemed to be a popular spot with fishers. After crossing the river the climb up Rocky Row began. In 4 miles we would climb up 2000ft, but the views of the valley were amazing. I was drenched in sweat as I stopped at Bog Rocky Row View for a snack and rest, but the breeze cooled me off well and the shade made the spot perfect. From there I could see the weather doppler station on top of apple orchard mountain from the day before as a small dot.

From there I conitnued along the ridge line intil I had to climb up Bluff Mountain. From the top I had a great view of Beuna Vista. I called and reserved a motel room and the owner was also my shuttle driver. He brought his dog with him when he picked me up from Punchbowl overlook and took me into town.

After he took us to the motel, I got settled in my room and waited for Colleen to arrive. Ill spare you the doordash disaster, but alls well that ends well as I got food and some beer that evening.

The next morning we got up and had breakfast at Hardee's before we went to food line to resupply. I was planning on doing a good 5 day to take me up to shennandoah, so it was another heavy one.

Unfortunately, as we got back to the motel to pack and head out, I got the sad news that my husband's aunt had passed away. Thankfully Colleen was there and I quickly made the decision to come home to mourn with him.

Summary of Progress:

• Miles Completed: 67.5

• Total Miles Completed: 798.6

• Location: Virginia

• Weather: Sunny and wonderful