We tried to be on the trail early this morning, we managed 8:30. We were straight into an uphill section up Brush Mountain which is why we wanted to be earlier to try and beat the heat. It was warm and humid though from first thing today, another warm sunny day. There were lots of bugs/flies around today too, very annoying in your face all the time, they didn't bite though. Luckily this mornings 1500ft uphill was a good path with nice gentle gradients and zigzags/switchbacks. About a mile after the summit we visited the Audie Murphy Monument. He was the most decorated American soldier of world war II and died in a plane crash on Brush Mountain near the monument.
From the monument it was downhill 1500ft to Trout Creek. We filled up with water here so not to run out like yesterday as there were no more water sources on the next section until we reached our hostel for the night. It was back uphill again onto a ridge line, nice paths to start then the ridge became very rocky. A really interesting, quite tough, ridge though, it never seemed to end. At the end we reached Dragons Tooth, an impressive stone monolith on a short side trail. It was a sunny Saturday and was obviously quite a tourist trap, very busy. The trail down from Dragons Tooth was also very rocky and difficult in places. My knees were suffering before the descent, they were much worse after. I had a bad knee day today. Nigel took some extra weight off me today to help. After a mile of descent the AT left the main tourist route thankfully but the trail still remained quite rocky for a while then eventually eased, eventually arriving at VA 624, Newport Road. From the road it was 0.3 miles to get to Four Pines Hostel where we are staying the night. A very large 3 bay garage converted into hostel space with a shower, basic but comfortable enough. The owner Joe and his girlfriend Donna were very friendly. It was Donna apparently who left the trail magic soda cans yesterday at Craig Creek.
We had a shower then Donna shuttled us down to the Homeplace Restaurant for some food. Trish and Jesse arrived just as we were leaving. They stayed and showered and Joe shuttled them down later. It was really busy at the restaurant, we reserved a table for four and were told it would be an hour and a half to wait. We waited outside with hoards of other people enjoying the warm evening sat in a gazebo, Trish and Jesse arrived about half an hour later. After waiting nearly two hours our name was called for our table. The wait was worth it though, lots of nice food. Fried chicken, beef, biscuits, mashed potato, gravy, green beans, sweet corn, pinto beans, coleslaw, apple butter followed by peach cobbler and ice cream all for $14. Free seconds, we were stuffed!
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