Blacksburg, VA (USA)

When my company asked if I could go to Blacksburg for a Career Fair, I was happy to accept the opportunity!  I worked in DC until about 1400, took the Metro back to my car and started my trip to Blacksburg (I-495, I-66, I-81, US-460).  Upon arriving, I first checked the Courtyard near VT (full).  Filled up on gas at Speedway (1800) and then found out that the Red Carpet Inn had vacancy (check-in at 1805).  Changed clothes and then drove north, eating dinner at Taco Bell (1845).  The AT was only about 20 miles away, so it was hard to pass up another chance for a hike... The sun had nearly set by the time I located the trailhead on VA-630 (a back road northeast of Newport). I hiked SOBO into the woods and climbed a gentle slope for about half a mile. I startled a large deer and he took off running (he startled me too). When I came out of the trees, I found myself standing in the most peaceful spot I've found in years. There was still some light behind the mountains to the west. All around me were beautiful wild flowers and the field I was in was itself surrounded by manicured farmland. Pretty homes and barns dotted the hills on all sides. The moon was bright in the sky, high above. There. Was. Not. One. Single. Sound. I paused for several minutes and considered never returning... Eventually, the silence was interrupted by the cicadas as they starting their evening songs. I also heard farmers corralling their cows. So I resumed my outbound leg (downhill), turning around at VA-42. As I headed back, I was surrounded by darkness for the fourth night of the last five. I didn't have to use any lights during this hike, though. I was just about to get into my car when some locals drove by to offer help, since they thought my car was broken. Guess there aren't many visitors to this area (there actually wasn't even a parking lot)... I was able to squeeze in 1.8 miles in about 45 minutes - not tiring or draining. Looking forward to visiting this part of the trail again! AT Today = 0.90 miles / G.T. AT = 763.08 miles