Day 49 (Saturday, May 31st) - VA 625 to Jenkins Shelter

Today's Miles: 14.40
Trip Miles: 575.70

I got up early and headed out, hoping that the pond up 
ahead listed in the guide was swimmable. Even if it was, it would be a cool dip, because the air was wet with a thick fog. On the long climb up, I was barely able to see. It was as thick as a Cape Cod fog.

The pond turned out to be more of a puddle, so I continued on to Chestnut Knob Shelter. It was pretty nice, with bunks inside a block building with a door. There were a couple of hikers there who weren't very talkative, so I moved on.

I got to VA 623 and saw a bunch of water bottles, but they were empty. Just missed. I decided to take lunch at Jenkins Shelter. I got there at 2pm and ate. Billygoat was there napping, and I didn't wake him. I though Y&A would get there soon, but they didn't get there until 2:45. They said M&S were right behind them. I filtered some water and waited for them. They finally got there at 4pm. I was just about to head back to see if I could find them. Natalie's calf was swollen and sore, so we decided to stay where we were. I got a fire going, we set up the tents, ate, and talked until 10. Here's hoping for a better day tomorrow.

TA.  

Foggy morning

Chestnut Knob Shelter

Another indecisive tree

Mountain Laurel highway

Just a snake passing through

Day 48 (Friday, May 30th) - Campiste 546.5 to VA 625 mile 561.3

Today's Miles: 14.80
Trip Miles: 561.30

Pretty good sleep. I was up and out at 8:10, with M&N to follow. I hiked to Crawfish Trail, where a camper told me that Andi and Yvanna were 10 minutes ahead of me. I quick hiked to catch them. It wasn't long before I caught up, and I gave Yvanna the Dove chocolate bar I had gotten for her. She had been so excited the other day when she thought there was chocolate in the trail magic box we had found (it turned out it was beef bullion cubes), so I made sure to pick up some chocolate for her in Marion.

We heard from some South Bounders that there was some trail magic at the O'Lystry Pavilon, so we hightailed it there. A local Methodist church puts out magic every year, with the help of Methodists from Arkansas. We met Herrn Northcut, Greg Floyd, Bill Cato, and Pastor Allan Ashworth, of ATOM (Appalachan Trail Outreach Ministry). There were hamburgers, hotdogs, veggies, drinks, and all kinds of goodies. Oh yeah, there were some awesome cookies and zucchini bread that one of the guys' wife had made. M&N came in after a while, N's calf is still bothering her, and we stayed there until 3pm. Thank you so much for the trail magic ATOM.

We hiked on to VA 625 when N's calf was just too bad to continue. We set up camp, and I wasn't feeling too well (to much food), so I went to bed. I could hear the kids talking and laughing, which made my day. We're really enjoying A&Y's company.

Yvanna had warned us about her smelly stockings the other day, so from the tent, I called out to Andi and asked him how to say "stink" in German, and then how to say "foot" in German. They all got it immediately and started joking about her trail name "Stinkefuss" (Stinky Feet). The strongest friendships are built on laughter.

Goodnight all.  

ATOM: Herrn Northcut, Greg Floyd, Bill Cato, and Pastor Allan Ashworth 

Apparently butterflies like sweat

Sweet sweat nectar

Oh look, she's eating again

Mike in deep thought

Day 47 (Thursday, May 29th) - Partnership Shelter to Campsite 546.5

Today's Miles: 15.40
Trip Miles: 546.50

Rolling hills

We got up and gathered our gear to hitch into Marion. Yvanna and Andi were going to hike further to
 Davis Path or Crawfish Trail, where we hoped to meet them. I got a ride in from a local construction worker, who took me directly to the laundromat. M&N hitched 2 rides to meet me. They ended up hitching in with Dandelion.

He hates this 

We did our laundry, went to RiteAid, and then got a burger at Wendy's. We were charging our phones, so I stayed with the packs while the kids went to Food City for re-supply.

We didn't start to hitch back until 1pm. Jim Sparks, whose son is in NH hiking thru (he left GA in February) picked us up. He told us about some trail magic he does at the Lindamood School, a museum along the trail. He dropped us off at the partnership Shelter. We cleaned up, and headed out after 2pm. Natalie headed out first, because she felt slow so she wanted to get a head's start.

"Stop! I'm trying to hate this!!"

By 2:30, the sunny day darkened and the thunder started. I stopped to gear up, and Mike kept going. For the next 1 and a half hours, we were in a downpour. At about 3pm, I saw Noah floating by on his Ark; he said, "No riders." The rain was really banging down.

As quickly as it started, it stopped; only the thunder in the distance to remind you of what happened. A few minutes later, I could hear the rain approaching again. I wasn't in the mood to get wet. Fortunately, it stayed just off to my right. I could watch it falling 20 feet away, but never got a drop on me.

One quarter of the way!

I caught up to the kids, and we hiked to the Lindamood School. We partook of the Magic, played at the school for a while, then headed out for The Bard, a restaurant on the AT. We got there about 7pm, saw in the register that A&Y had been there at 2pm, sat down for supper and didn't leave until after 8.

We decided to night hike to Davis Path. With headlamps on, we roller-coasted for 2 hours. When we came to a sign on the path indicating "546 miles"; the 1/4 mark. Unfortunately for us, that meant we went past Davis Path. We hiked on in the dark, looking for a campsite. About a half mile later, we found a two-tent site along the trail and set up. Quick to bed after a long day.

TTFN

The Lindamood School

Creeeepy 

Claaa-aaass!

Bad student is bad

Is.... this the lens?

Day 46 (Wednesday, May 28th) - Hurricane Mt. to Partnership Shelter

Today's Miles: 19.70
Trip Miles: 531.10

Woke up to sunshine for the first time in a long time. I was out first and we said we'd meet at Trimpi Shelter, about 10 miles out. 

Dos Lekis

I marched head down for the early part of the hike then bumped into Dos Lekis, whom we had
met a few times before. This was the first time I had a real chance to speak with him. He's a former U.S. Army soldier, originally from Great Britain (Coventry), who moved to Oklahoma when he was a boy. He worked as a stockbroker for a while, but now is in the green energy field. A very interesting and nice guy. We hiked together for about an hour then I moved on when he stopped to eat.

It was dank and dark at the shelter when I got there so I kept going. Just beyond it the forest opened up to fields and I stopped to eat. The kids and A and Y didn't get there while I was there so I moved on.
As I reentered the forest I met Feathers, a SOBO hiker, at a small tent where a church group had left trail magic. Sodas, snacks, first aid gear, water, even dog treats. Thanks guys! Little Feet and Fifal (sp) stopped in. I hadn't met them before; nice kids from GA. When they left, M&N came in with A&Y, and 3 NOBOS; two women and one man a bit older than me. One woman's trail name was Saybak ("See all you bitches at Katahden" -that's what she told her friends when she left).

The green tunnel

M&N and I hiked out pretty quickly, A&Y were a bit slower, so we said we'd meet at Partnership Shelter for pizza. You can call and have it delivered, because the shelter is near a road. We pushed pretty hard and got here by 4:15. Very busy there, lots of hikers. Mike and I hiked past the shelter to find a campsite, while Natalie called for pizza. A hiker came by and told Natalie that he thought Andi & Yvanna were going to camp before the shelter, but we found a place big enough for all of us and it was a good thing, because they came in about 5pm. They were happy we saved them a place, and were happy to help us eat the pizza.

J.D., a young man from Sweden, and Man Alive from SC came to eat with us around the fire. They had done 25 miles today, and were beat. When they left, we all sat around talking and joking until after 9, then we went to bed.

M&N and I are going to Marion to resupply, we'll find A&Y down the trail.

Bye for now.  

Up and over the barbed wire fence

An easy path

Dismal Falls

Pizza party

Day 45 (Tuesday, May 27th) - Thomas Knob to Hurricane Mt. Shelter

Today's Miles: 16.00
Trip Miles: 511.40

We woke up to heavy fog and a forecast of thunderstorms. We all hung out hoping it might clear off a bit before we moved on toward the horses. It didn't look like it was getting any better so we put on our raingear and headed out.

Salty Mike

Just past the shelter we saw the wild horses. There were about a dozen of them grazing in the mist. There were mares with foals and colts, some pregnant mares and a couple of stallions competing for their attention. M and N, and A and Y were as happy as could be to see the horses; broad smiles all around. I may have been the most excited to see their excitement. I showed them the little trick of scratching the horses at the base of their manes and it seemed to work well. The horses seemed to enjoy the attention.

I wish N would be more excited to be here

Again the horses were after anything with salt on it, nipping at Mike's pant legs and going after Natalie's backpack. We spent an hour playing with the horses and shooing them away from our gear. We wanted to make it to Hurricane Mt. Shelter 16 miles away so we had to drag ourselves away from the horses of the Highlands.

About the time we left, the rains began. It wasn't too cold and the rain was off and on until we reached Wise Shelter about 5 miles away, and just over the 500 mile mark!! Woo Hoo! 500! To celebrate our achievement the thunder started and brought a hard rain with it. We sloshed our way to The Scales livestock corral and hid out under the restroom awning. Luckily the sun broke through and we continued up Pine Mountain with no rain.

We stopped to dry out and have lunch at the summit then pushed on to Old Orchard Shelter for some water. From there it was 5 miles to Hurricane and we set out. A good climb and a nice downhill to the shelter, but no room to camp. Not too much further on we found an old campsite along the river. We made a fire, had dinner, and five tired hikers hit the hay. I texted the Administrator (can't wait to see her).

Trying for twenty tomorrow.

TTFN

Misty mare

Andi found some friends

Andi, Yvanna, and Pferdchen

Mmm, delicious 

Yvanna being taste-tested

Funny, Mike has that same effect on women

Day 44 (Monday, May 26th) - Pond campsite to Thomas Knob Shelter 495.4

Today's Miles: 16.20
Trip Miles: 495.40

There's something about bridges, 

I just really like them

I started out before M and N for Lost Mountain Shelter where we would meet. There were lots of tents along the way; some people I recognized, some I didn't. Not much conversation because most people were just getting up. Not long in to the hike I saw Yvanna and Andi. I told them that M and N weren't far behind me if they wanted to hike with them. They said they hadn't yet had breakfast, but they would soon follow.

There were some cool footbridges along the Creeper Trail (a bike trail that gets a lot of visitors, and runs beside, and sometimes on the Appalachian Trail). M and N met me at the shelter and we continued north. Our hope was to reach the wild horses of Grayson Highlands.

We stopped for lunch at Buzzard Rock and laid out in the sun. It was a nice bald area with close proximity to a road so there were lots of day hikers there. Along the sides of the well worn trail there were small gray/blue birds that flew out from the banks along the path. I noticed a tiny nest and some eggs hidden in the grass. Little ground nesters with eggs smaller than a dime. After lunch we stopped for water at a stream, and Andi and Yvanna came by. We talked for a while and decided to meet at the Highlands later in the day.

Along the Creeper trail

Further down the trail we met Quest and his dog, Vision. He's a visually impaired hiker trying to thru the AT. Different people along the trail have helped him out along the way and it's slow going, but he says he's enjoying the journey. Met section hiker Rocky at Whitetop Mountain Rd. Rte. 89. He wears a kilt (something I had thought about) and says it's really comfortable and cuts down on the chafing problems. We moved on from there through an open area and up into the Highlands.

Back into the trees for a while and we saw our first wild horses on Brier Ridge. They were kind of skittish and we didn't get very close to them. There were a lot of tracks along the trail, but no more horses.

You'd need a lot of these to make an omelette

We reached Thomas Knob Shelter and backtracked a few hundred yards to a nice campsite. We hadn't
seen Andi and Yvanna for a while and wondered if they had stopped earlier, when they came up over the ridge. We had plenty of space for them so they camped with us. They're so much fun to talk to and we always have a good time when we're together.

We all sat down to eat and some horses walked by our area, so we went out to see them. They're so tame, many let you walk right up and pet them. The fact that we're all salty from a day of hiking doesn't hurt. They love to lick the salt off of bodies and backpacks.

We went back to our fire and sat up gabbing until 10. Time for bed. Wild horses in the morning and then who knows.

Bye for now.

Buzzard Rock --wait, is Mike naked?!

Ahhh! Easy walking....

The balds are always cool

Treeless forest

Back into the woods

The best time of the day!

Day 43 (Sunday, May 25th) - Damascus to a pond at 479.2

Today's Miles: 11.60
Trip Miles: 479.20

We packed up and hitched a ride back to Damascus from Abingdon. We got a ride from a young South African named Stephen. He was heading to Backbone Rock to serve as the best man at his friends wedding. In the short ride to town he and M and N chatted about actors with mustaches. He said not many people look good with one; then looked at Mike in the rear view mirror and said, "But your's looks good." Thanks for the ride Stephen and for lying to Mike about the 'stache.

We stopped at the store for resupply and met an 89 year old woman who we spoke with for about 20 minutes. I'm sorry I don't remember her name, but she lives across from the Gazebo on the common in apartment 22. She invited us to stop by next year during Trail Days.

We went to the Blue Blaze Cafe for what we thought would be a quick bite, but turned into an hour and a half long wait for appetizers. After lunch we headed to Sundog Outfitters where we picked up a gas stove and canister, then finally hit the trail at 2:30.

There was a pretty good climb out of Damascus of course, then it evened out pretty nicely. We hit a detour because of a bridge washout, otherwise it was an unremarkable hike to a campsite by a dingy little pond at mile 479.2.

Don't know what's up for Monday, we'll see.


TTFN

Detour, bridge out

Find the ghost on Natalie's pack!

Setting up camp

A little fire, perhaps?

Day 42 (Saturday, May 24th) - Damascus, zero day

Today's Miles: 0.00

Trip Miles: 467.60

The kids did laundry while I sat around in my rain gear.

*Edit from The Administrator: He also spent HOURS typing two weeks' worth of journal entries and selecting pictures to send to me, which is especially tedious when using a smartphone with sausage fingers. Thank you, Honey!! xoxo

Day 41 (Friday, May 23rd) - Low Gap camp to Damascus

Today's Miles: 15.20
Trip Miles: 467.60

Mike was still ill from the night before, so Natalie and I packed up and tried not to aggravate the situation. We had fifteen miles to town and I just wanted to get there fast. We headed out in the fog and I tried to keep an even but quick pace. A couple of hours out, Mike needed to stop and Natalie felt she should keep going because she thought she was slowing us down (not true).

State line

Mike seemed a tad better after his break and we set off after N. For someone who was slowing us down she was moving pretty fast. We didn't catch her, she stopped to wait for us.

We got to the state line at 12:30. Three and a half miles to go until Damascus. I said, "Let's do it in an hour." I got the 'creep' look, but we headed out at a good pace. An hour later to the minute we stepped onto the streets of Damascus. The first order of business was some food. We went to the Blue Blaze Cafe. Nice place, decent food, good craft beer. Next was finding the mail drops. We knew Mike's was at Sundog Outfitters, Natalie wasn't sure where hers was. We checked the other two outfitters before going to Sundog, no luck. It wasn't at Sundog either. She called home and found out it was at the post office which was closing in fifteen minutes and was at the other side of town. Sam, who works at Sundog, asked what was up. I said N had medicine at the post office but couldn't get there in time. So Sam says, "Take my car." He gave Mike the keys and off they went.

Sam

Again the kindness of strangers out here is staggering and humbling. They made it in time and unbeknownst to Sam, the kids left him some gas money. Good kids. Thanks, Sam!

There are no motels in Damascus and we wanted our own shower so we hitched to Abingdon, eleven miles away. It took about two minutes of hitching before Terri, a great lady from the area, picked us up and took us straight to the motel. She gave us her number in case we got stuck for a ride later. Thanks so much, Terri! She said she'll be hiking as Teapot when she thrus. I hope I can help you out when you get to N.H.

We settled in, and Natalie seems to have the bug. Uh oh! I think a zero is in order for Saturday.

TTFN  

VIRGINIA!

Home state