My day of rest in troutville wasn’t very restful, even though I had a “zero day.”

The mosquitoes were far too bad and the grocery and hot food places were all far, far away down dangerous roads with no sidewalks nor shoulders. It was an exercise in managing anxiety for sure: push it down and complete the mission.

Troutville has some of the best infrastructure available for travellers, with hot water, electricity, and free camping.

However, it’s poorly executed: the location has none of the town amenities that people need on a journey. Most people will walk, shuttle, or hitch to Daleville, meaning that Troutville foots the bill while Daleville makes the money.

I picked up my grocery resupply, ate many sandwiches, and battled mosquitoes nonstop. I picked up a case of trench foot doing long road walks on wet grass. I got a new outfit at goodwill.

I couldn’t find laundry anywhere in town, so I used the wash sink. This is what the sink looked like after washing 1 set of shorts and 1 set of socks.

That is all.

Trail blog 5: Cornelius Creek to Troutville.

My phone was dead here so no pics nor vids on this post. Sorry.

It was about a ten mile walk into Troutville. It was mostly cruise with one big up to get to Fullhardt knob.

When I got to the shelter there were 3 tents set up inside with everyone still asleep. Or pretending to be. I wasn’t able to access the shelter or sign the log.

There was a guy named Ralph who I shared some conversation with. We talked about religion and objective faith. Ralph seemed a bit dismayed at my flexibility of belief, perhaps not understanding it is brought about through uncertainty. Ralph seemed very certain and barely able to concede the possibility of error.

After I made it to the road I took a mile walk to the free camping at the town park.

Normally free camping is a great idea, but I realized soon after I got there it wouldn’t be all rainbows and bubble gum.

The mosquitoes are really really bad. I can’t say this enough. The whole time I was in troutville I was fully clothed with long sleeves and pants. I also liberally applied deet. Everything was ineffective. I received 100s of bites during my stay and I’m pretty sure I’ve exchanged vital fluids via mosquito with every person and squirrel that visited the park.

The other issue, especially arriving on Sunday was that there are no stores near the camping area. If you want to spend any money or acuire any goods you have to walk 2-3 miles each way. There are no sidewalks, no shoulders,and no shade on troutville roads. There is lots of long grass to tromp through and I acquired a minor case of trench foot from walking through wet grass for miles during my stay.

But free is free and I got what I paid for.

I did manage to eat 4 burgers.That was probably the highlight of my day. I picked up some flowers and did some washing of clothes  that never actually dried. Then sleep.

I started out the day at Cove Mountain shelter and got a medium early start. I stopped briefly to enjoy an unmarked overlook.

It was hot even early, though the terrain was mild mostly following the blue ridge parkway. I stopped for a moment at the memorable named Purgatory Mountain, the Peaks of Otter, and other signage.

The construction on the parkway had a section closed which was nice for game. I spotted many turkey vultures, several deer, and my first ever bobcat sighting.

The mama darted across the road and the kitten went up a tree. While it was treed I managed to snag a pic, though of questionable quality given the rain and my phone cam. I noted it’s young paws were very oversized and it wore a nice set of chops on its cheeks.

I stopped for lunch at Boblets Gap shelter before pushing on to Wilson Creek, which was when the rain started.

Another traveller by the name of Bear Quota was occupying the shelter, which was a nice treat given that I’ve been camping alone for more than a week.

After eating I was having a smoke and managed to snag another low quality Pic in the rain, this time of an elusive owl.

I found a full ass phone in the shelter, which I will bring with me to troutville in hopes of finding its home.

I left it at the Beech Hill hostel.

Hoping the rain will move out by tomorrow morning since I’m nearly out of food and can’t afford to lurk here and wait it out.

Today started out with a few dozen bees buzzing around my things at 6am. They were friendly and didn’t sting me. They probably just wanted my salt that I’ve left deposited on every piece of gear.

After quick breakfast I left out in a hurry to try and beat the heat. There is a drastic difference in heat between 4000 and 1000 feet of elevation.

While the day was mostly uneventful, I did encounter a very handsome lizard friend and talked to some sad oaks.

It seems the blight isn’t just for chestnuts anymore.

I stopped at Jennings Creek to cool off before going up to Cove Mountain.

There is no water source here but a storm kicked up and I collected about 2 liters.

The storm didn’t dampen my spirits nor hinder my fire starting abilities.

I even made a super sexy bear hang.

I ate supper, made a log entry, and am now lounging and feeling very full of myself for thriving and defying the elenents in an inhospitable area with the odds stacked against me.

Like Alex Supertramp said, the only thing missing is someone to share it with. Without someone to talk to I sometimes make bold statements over a fire.

I didn’t sleep well last night. The super friendly deer never left my side, snuffling and making noise in proximity of my tent. Even when I clapped and yelled and threw rocks, they just didn’t want to get the message.

After a quick breakfast of pop tarts and peanut butter, I made my way up High Cock knob. The ascent was nicely graded. The summit had no view but was loaded with nearly every kind of edible and medicinal plant I could identify: plantain, jewel weed, nettles, cat mint, cow poke, mullein, and more. It seems the knob is recovering from a fire very well.

I then made my way down to petite gap for a repeat of breakfast. Instead of taking the trail I hopped on the blue ridge parkway.i normally don’t like road walks but it was still early and cool enough. On the way I found terrapin mountain, not to be confused with turtle island.

I hopped back on the white blaze at Thunder Ridge overlook, and for the first time got to see it with no fog or rain in the way.

Thunder ridge shelter had me a nice lunch and found some baby salamanders in the spring before heading down another 5 or 6 miles to Cornelius Creek shelter.

On the way I found some insects doing what they do best.

I passed through the Guillotine on the way to Apple Orchard Mountain and a giant dome.

I didn’t take the blue blaze to the falls this time.

The flies and skeeters aren’t bad here but the bees are very curious and persistent, even with a smokey fire blowing in the shelter.

Supper was had. Now I wait for dark, alone again, except for the bees and the breeze.

I hitched a ride with a local named Forrest after staying 3 days in Hotel Glasgowfornia. The vortex is strong there, and I made it out after 3 days. Fortified with hot dogs and bologna and weighed down with cheese and sausage I set out at a slow pace, stopping frequently for crackers and peanut butter. It was overcast so the heat want too oppressive.

This stretch of wilderness starts out at a Foot Bridge. Foot is both the style and name of the bridge. Here I met Boomhauer and Zoe from Stanimals out for a walk.

After crossing the bridge you stroll along the James river for a mile or so. There’s nice cliffs for bouldering if that’s your thing. 

Then you bank up the hill along Matt’s Creek to the shelter. The shelter was missing a log book so no record exists of my passing there. Then you cross the creek and stchback up a steep hill. A couple miles along the military crest brings you to a saddle and the Big Cove Branch creek. A nice campsite is here for a couple tents.

You go along some more gentle terrain and for several miles in mid July a fire has made a plentiful blueberry harvest. I met Popeye and Tour Guide taking a break near a pretty view, and 4 or 5 other traveller’s that didn’t stop to exchange names but we were all munching blueberries. I thought I recognized Daytona Mike from Stanimals but he was jogging so fast I’m not sure.

After many blueberries I came to the Marble Spring. The water is cold and delicious and there does seem to be a good deal of marble around. I made camp early to avoid the rain. I saw one other traveller whose name I forgot but he had a European accent, maybe Dutch or German.

After the rain I made fire and cooked supper and saw some friendly and gentle deer.

More rain is coming. I took a nap and had a smoke. It is very peaceful here.