My long-time friend, and 1985 AT thru hiker, Patrick O'Keefe and I hiked from Salt Log Gap to US Route 60. While it was only 8.5 miles, it offered amazing views from the bald on Cole Mountain.
Unfortunately, the travel time to the start was about 2 hours from Waynesboro Virginia.
We met several thru hikers, including the lady who I met previously at Craig's Creek, Virginia. She had to get off trail because of a death in her family, but she's back and hiking over 30 miles a day!