I slept good on top of Pearis Mountain, and decided to take an impromptu day off.

I had a late breakfast followed by a visit from a very friendly doe.

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This site has some of the best water on the trail, an artesian spring that I’ve never seen dry at the top of the hill, and pours cold water even on the hottest days of summer.

I found a tree to make a decent bear hang. Not my best work but it fits the recommended specifications.

I cooked dinner in the evening over a fire: always a good time

Aftet dinner my doe friend came back to visit me.

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.