After more than a week on the trail without a day off, we could think of only one thing: hotel! Someday on the trail, I want a zero day where I only have to sleep. The daily toll of hiking just wears us down even though we’re not even hiking 100 miles/week yet. Today, we were just focused on making it to town ASAP.
Farm All was up and out before we even thought of getting up. Murphy, Iron Man, Pilgrim and the two girls (no, we haven’t gotten their names yet) were just a few minutes ahead of us getting out. That just left 3 weekenders that came in well after hiker midnight—it must have been 9:30 before they got in. I could hear them laughing and drinking until almost 11. They camped down by everyone else which was better for us in the shelter. When they headed out, they brought a big bag of trash and tried to put it in the bear box. We told them they had to carry out their trash. They seemed rather put out to have to carry their empty beer cans. I made a note to keep an eye out for a trash bag by the trail as we were walking.
It was an easy 9 miles to Daleville. There were several scenic overlooks, but they just didn’t have the drama to them after McAfee Knob. Yes, we had great views; Virginia is beautiful, but what have you done for me lately. It just didn’t hold a candle to our expectations of Three Pigs Barbecue with their free banana pudding for thru-hikers.
There were lots of interesting rock formations on the ridge walk into town. We stopped for lunch overlooking Roanoke, VA with it’s airport and the Carvin Cove Reservoir, but we were hot, tired, and ready for showers and greasy town food. Can anyone see a theme here? Town and food were all we cared about.
After one more overlook, Gnome started out and said he smelled something funky in the air. Normally, if I’m out front and someone says they smell something funky, I will take ownership. I have a perfect body…for converting anything I put into it, into methane. I think I should creat a vehicle that would run off of a gas collection probe shoved up the drivers rectum. To refuel, all you have to do is eat McDonalds once every other day.
There was a little debate when we got to town—get a hotel, or eat first. We saw a bunch of hikers headed to Three Pigs. Debate settled. After we all left, we saw the owner out front painting over the third pig. From this day forward, Two Pigs in Daleville will be the first hiker stop.
In the end, we just stayed at the Howard Johnson’s because it was the closest hotel to the trail. It was conveniently located across from a Mexican restaurant, so we were good to go. Behold the power of porcelain.
EFG