Thursday, Sept 12: Headed out around 1000, made a couple of stops on the way, and arrived at the Vining Cabin around 1430. No problems finding the cabin or driving up the access road. Mike and Bruce arrived soon after, and Pete got there about 4. Since the road was pretty rough, Pete parked outside the gate and hiked about a mile with his backpack. We had a beer or two, chatted for a while, then headed to Ciro’s in Elkton for dinner. After dinner we headed back to the cabin and played cards for a couple of hours, then turned in around 11.
Friday, Sept 13: Up early on Friday, light breakfast at the cabin, then drove two cars to the SNP South District. We dropped a car at the Blackrock parking area, and then headed to the Austin Mt Trail trailhead at the Brown’s Gap parking area. We hiked the Austin Mt – Furnace Mt loop (listed on AllTrails as 12.8 miles, but we clocked it at about 11.3 with the Austin Mt spur,..10.3 without). We got back to the trailhead around 1730, so rather than head to the cabin, we drove into Elkton for dinner (El Paso Mexican Grille). When we got our check, I realized that I didn’t have my main credit card, so after we settled up, Bruce drove me to Ciro’s (nearby) to see if I left it there on Thursday night, and that was the case. We skipped poker, chatted for about an hour and hit the hay.
Saturday, Sept 14: I skipped the Saturday hike (tuckered out after the Friday loop). Pete, Mike, and Bruce did the Jones Run – Doyle River- AT loop. I drove into Stanardsville to get some gas, and visit the Stanardsville Cemetery, where my parents, grandparents, and other relatives are buried. I had lunch back at the cabin, then spent the afternoon reading (Cormac McCarthy’s “The Passemnger”) and resting. The other guys got back around 1700. They washed up and we headed to Sal’s in Stanardsville for pizza. Back at the cabin, we played cards until almost midnight.
Sunday, Sept 15: Up relatively early on Sunday, packed up, cleaned the cabin and hit the road around 0830. We met for lunch at Rylie’s in Ruckersville, then drove home. Traffic on Sunday morning was terrible (three big events in and around D.C.). I got home about 12:30.
