Friday June 5, 2026
The temperature rises but so does the ferocity with which I walk back to the city. Once there I’m going to buy some ice cream that I urgently need.
pillow walk
TOAs predicted, there were a few hikers heading to McAfee Knob before dawn. I still managed to get enough sleep. Once again, I was active sooner than I expected. After eating breakfast, brushing my teeth, and packing up, I managed to get to the trail before 8:00 a.m. It was much warmer this morning and I realized it was going to be a hot Friday hike. Thanks to my extra miles from the previous two days, I knew I only had at least 17 miles left to my truck in Daleville. Not only that, but I was now carrying a light backpack since I had eaten all my food except today’s trail snack. Oh, and today was an easy day of climbing with lots of flat, well-maintained trails. It would surely be a day’s pillow.
Tinker Cliffs
Reaching Tinker Cliffs meant my only major climb of the day was now complete. Now I can appreciate the point of view much more. I could follow the ridge to my left where the Appalachian Trail climbs to McAfee Knob. I could see the ledges at the top of McAfee where I had taken many photographs and where no doubt a group of hikers were enjoying the view. I could see the Catawba Valley created by the parallel Catawba and North Mountains. At the other end of North Mountain I could make out some rocks at the end of Cove Mountain, Dragon’s Tooth. The complete triple crown was visible. What’s more, I had covered the entire scene and more on my own two feet carrying my house and my supplies on my back like a well-traveled turtle.
It was well before 10:00 am and I was already concentrating on what to do when I got back to the city. I figured the logical thing to do would be to stop by a grocery store and see if I could connect to their Wi-Fi from the parking lot. This would allow me to get an early start on my blog post. Of course, I would have to buy myself a gift or two.
McAfee Knob rises above the Catawba Valley.
The view from a lookout north of Tinker Cliffs.
The view from a lookout north of Tinker Cliffs.
Trail delights
As an animal lover, nothing brightens my day more than encountering an interesting animal. Deer that don’t immediately move away are my favorite. I saw some of them today. But I also saw something I hadn’t seen before.
The Polyphemus moth is a rather rare sight. They live only 4 to 7 days. They are big, I guess this one has a 6 inch wingspan.
A deer grazes near the AT.
It was hard to miss this huge moth on the trail.
Date with Daleville
I was eager to get back to the city, so I walked for the rest of the day. When I got to my truck I was ready to drink about a gallon of water. I cleaned myself up and put on my city clothes. I bought a pack (nothing exciting, just a refill of fish oil) and then made a B-line for the ice cream section at Kroger. His Rocky Road had proven to be a good choice on Monday, so I went straight for it. I was thrilled to get a pint for only $2, exactly what I needed after walking around in 80+ degree heat.
I drove to the Food Lion up the street because I knew it was less crowded, had the opportunity to park in the shade, and had a water bottle refill station. I drank a liter of water and made a second trip to refuel my camel for the next day’s trek. I wasn’t able to connect to WiFi from the parking lot, but I reviewed all of my blog posts and made sure they were ready to go live.
I looked around to see the coffee and restaurant options in Daleville and found a nice coffee shop. It would be the perfect place to watch the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday morning. I could probably write all my blogs there and have Sunday afternoons open. There is a place called Moo Moo Delights near the cafe…
Appalachian Update
I previously wrote about a cat encounter that two hikers, Wicked Chicken and Pip, had had on the trail. They found an abandoned but loving cat and spent time with it, feeding it and giving it lots of attention. They spent the next day scouring the same spot where they had found him, but were unable to relocate him. Heartbroken, they had to call off the search because they ran out of time.
Fortunately, another hiker named Hot Potato found Appalachia the next day. After winning her over with a few packs of tuna (a quintessential food for many hikers), he carried Appalachia 5 miles in a dry bag to Burke’s Garden Lodge. The shelter allowed him and Appalachia to stay a few days after he took her to the vet. The vet discovered Appalachia had a broken nail but was otherwise in good health.
Hot Potato was able to contact Wicked Chicken and Pip, who have since brought Appalachia to their home in Vermont.
This is yet another case of “the path provides.” Appalachia was abandoned and in desperate need of a loving home. Wicked Chicken and Pip were the right people for him and were in the right place at the right time with the right determination to give Appalachia the happy life it deserves.
Appalachians on the Appalachian Trail.
Hot Potato takes Appalachia to a shelter in a dry bag.
Appalachia, presumably on the way to Vermont.
Appalachia safe and sound in its new home.
Appalachia seems right at home now!
-See you tomorrow
| Leg | Begin | Mile | End | Mile | Ascent | Decline | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pig farm camping | 715.6 | United States 220 | 731.1 | 2,351 | 3,779 | NOBO |
| 2 | United States 220 | 731.1 | United States 11 | 732.5 | 240 | 193 | NOBO |
Total: 16.9 miles, 40,482 steps
- Hiking type: backpacking
- Camp: van
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