SURPRISE SURPRISE

Back in Daleville,Va. Took a week off the trail after being sick at Four Pines Hostel on Easter. Didn't like the way I felt and lost way to much weight(40 lbs). Decided on the spur of the moment to attend the retreat in Key West. Rented a car here and drove to Floida last Tuesday. Stopped in Cape Canaveral to surprise Mike Y. and Jimmy H. Had a wonderful two days there with them relaxing on the beach and eating at nice restaurants. Got to see Trish and Michelle and spend some quality time catching up on what's new. Left there Thursday for the retreat. Couldn't find a room in Key West so the campground at the retreat was home for the weekend. Greg offered his home, where Sue and Mike stayed but the campground worked fine. Saw Mike and Sue, Matthew and Kim walking toward the Anchors Away Meeting around 8:15. They were on the other side of Virginia St. and I heard Sue say that looks like Bob over there, even the same type hat. That's when I turned and said it is Bob. We had a good laugh. Nice retreat with good speakers, lots of Michigan support, good food and even time for rest. Drove back to Va. yesterday and will be back on trail tomorrow. More pics to come.

WOODS HOLE HOSTEL 4/14/14

After leaving Marion the weather got real warm. 70/80 during the day. Hiked long miles for three days to get to a piece of Heaven, ten miles South of Parrisburg, Va. The Heaven is referring to the Woods Hole Hostel. No matter how many adjectives are used to describe it, it wouldn't be enough. Please take a moment and look up there web site. 

First off the owners Mike and Nevell live as close to Living Off The Land as one can. There gardens are lush with the greens they use to make the salads we ate for dinner. They raise there own chickens,pigs,cattle, goats and can there own vegetables. The meals were simple but filling, with everyone pitching in to help prepare them. Also they make time for YOGA and MEDITATION everyday. The bunkhouse held about 16 people or you could choose a semi- private or private room in the main house. I chose the semi-private which allows you to use a real shower and real toilet. Like I mentioned, there are no words that can describe the wonderful,peaceful experience they afford a weary hiker.

Left there yesterday morning with regrets heading North. The weather turned bad,cold and windy with snow and sleet. Stuck here in this dormitory for hikers a hotel made in Parrisburg,Va. From Heaven to Hell in one day???

P.S. Both Nevell and Mike are certified massage therapists also. The feedback on that was great also. Another spot to come back to one day.

MARION, VA.

Have been here two days now, nice town about 70 miles North of Damascus. Left there on Friday around 1pm when the rain and thunderstorms let up. Hiked to Lost Mountain Shelter(16mi) in the rain. Got there around 9:30 using a headlight. The shelter was full and lots of thru hikers had set up tents behind the shelter. Some were still up to greet me after dark, unusual. Most nights we are tucked in by then. Squeezed into the shelter and slept fairly well. The next morning everyone was up early knowing the day involved a big climb over Mount Rodgers, the one 6,000 ft climb left to do until we hit Vermont. A long hard day it was but after the climb there is always a decent. Made it to Wise Shelter(17.3mi). That shelter is the 500 mile mark heading North. When some of the thru hikers arrived they found a group of college age hikers had already made it there home for the weekend. By the time I got there the young hikers had a lot of questions for us about our experience since Ga. We tried to answer all of them while politely moving up the trail looking for a flat, dry area to tent. About 1/2 mile past the shelter we found a field with a campfire ring and supply of firewood? To good to be true. Above us on a plateau was a troop of Boy Scouts. They came down and let us know it was there firewood but invited us to join them at the fire. Same question and answers as the college kids. Two other thru hikers stayed up at the fire. I excused myself to retire to my tent for much needed sleep. The next morning we awoke to frozen water bottles but clear sky's. This area is known as the Greyson Highlands where ponies run wild. We saw many and even had them come up to the shelters. Leaving the camping area three of us proceeded North.  At Dickeys Gap(517mi) the other two hikers decided to continue on. I choose to hitch into Troutdale where there was a Hostel run by a Baptist Minister named Ken Riggins. An older couple picked me up rather quickly and drove me right to the Hostel. When I got there no one was there but the doors were open. Shortly after Ken and Mary showed up told me to make myself at home and left. That night no one else showed. During the night around 1 or 2 the sound of torrential rain woke me. Felt sorry for the other hikers. The Hostel had heat,water and comfortable cots. The next morning I left a donation in the box, ate a hearty breakfast and hitched a ride to Marion. Stayed in the hotel yesterday and rested and tried to eat some weight back on . Went to Sonic for lunch, BBQ for dinner then AA Meeting where they just happened to have a pot luck and speaker. Met some nice people who took my email and say they will send me there story. Had to go back today and hike the 15 miles I missed hitching here to Marion. 

Back headed North in morning to Atkins, Va. Hope this finds everyone well....

DAMASCUS, Va.

Sitting here in the Hostel across the street from Mt. Rodgers Outfitters on Main St.  Got a ride into town this afternoon from a trailhead about 20 miles West of town. The Keen shoes that were purchased 18 days ago in Hot Springs had fallen apart. Tried calling the outfitter that sold them but was referred to Keen. Using someone else's phone I also called Keen. They told me when the opportunity arises file a warranty claim via computer?

Anyhow, stuck here for now waiting on a shipment from New Balance. The store in town here didn't have anything in stock in my size but was very helpful by allowing me to order from New Balance. So much for equipment problems. 

After leaving Erwin we encountered 5 days of nasty, cold, snowy weather. It seemed like it was never going to end. The hiking was touch and we managed to make progress. Leaving Erwin we hiked to Indian Gap Shelter(8.5mi), then to Clyde Smith Shelter(18 mi) then on to Over Mountain Shelter(14.7 mi ) and ended up at the US 19 Hostel. All of this in terrible weather. From the US 19 Hostel we slack packed 21.6 miles to the Black Bear Resort/ Hostel. There we started to see the effects of the 400 mile injuries. The younger people who were passing us early on now are dropping out because the body can't continue to take the long/fast pace. At the BB Resort we had two injuries, a young girl nicknamed Rocket Girl and another hiker named Animal House. Rocket Girl hurt her leg and stayed there while Animal House had fallen on the thick ice on the last big mountain we had to climb over  6,000ft.

Another hiker(Long Haul) is stuck in another hostel because he twisted his ankle real bad climbing the same mountain. Glad we are done with those until Vermont. 

Not very many good pics this time because of the weather. Thought you might like the snow spiders. They were everywhere when we would take breaks.

Hope this isn't to boring with all the rambling. Maybe this break is so the pace slows down and the weight gets back up. Lost 31 pounds already. It's the new AT diet, eat as much as you can and keep walking... Thanks again