A recent change in the operating schedule of the train behind my camp I decided it was time to get off the river. Three days of no sleep was really rough.

Not to mention my relative inability to catch fish. I may stay near town a little while longer and I may even try the river again, but the trains have made the situation intolerable for the time being

Getting back on trail after nearly three weeks is always fun.

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.