A few Mom Pics

Left to right:
Basher, MND, & Dragon Breath

I know I am slacking no map today, I will have to do one next week. Meme was able to forward me a few pictures of Mom with her current hiking buddies that I though you might enjoy. She has been through the Shenandoas with them and they should now be 1 day away from Harper's Ferry, WV. Can you belive it??? WV already...we will be seeing her in person before you know it.

Shenandoahs

Hi all, well today I am in Front Royal, got here about noon. Front Royal is the end of the Shenandoah National Forest. The Shenandoahs are simply beautiful. The Skyline Drive winds through a hundred miles of forest and the AT follows the Drive although far enough away so that we do not here the cars except where we need to cross the road. Road crossings here are dangerous in that there are waysides at road crossings. What is a wayside you might ask - a restaurant for one with real food, oh my! and Blackberry milkshakes, you have to try one if you ever come here. They are awesome.

I have seen about 10 black bears and 40 deer in the Shenandoahs. I love it especially the bears. They are a beautiful animal. They are very quiet and you do have to look for them but they can be found. A friend I am walking with (Basher) has a great picture of a small bear trying to steal his water bottle. He had taken a break with his headphones on and did not here the little guy walking up to him until he saw the water bottle moving. I will try to get a copy of it for everyone to see.

Well, I have to share a story as Shelly told me that if I don't share with everyone she will. We ended up camping at Big Meadow Campground one night. My first priority was a shower. To that end we had supper, got a campsite, set up tents and then I went to the shower and laundry area. I put my stuff in the shower and then had to go get quarters for the shower. I then jumped in the hot shower so happy until ---- I heard male voices! Oh my gosh, I had not once but twice walked into the men's shower room rather then the women's. Now what to do, take the longest shower ever that quarters could buy and wait them out - what else could I do? Oh well, the water was hot and I was clean by the time they got done. Alls well that ends will, right?

I do have pictures to share but not the time to upload them - sorry. I will try to next time. I plan to leave tomorrow for Harper's Ferry, WV. I expect it will take me three and a half days to get there and then onto PA and the half way mark. I simply cannot believe that I have come so far and have enjoyed every step of the journey.

Thank you to MEME and LEGG, my southern support team. I saw them for the last time in Waynesboro, VA. It was great to see them and I will miss them as I move through the next few states. I will be back to visit you both before you know it.

Nature.

Mom More Notes for You...

1/3 Done!! Go Mom!!

That's right everyone by the end of the day today mom will be a third of the way done. I spoke with her this morning as she was in Daleville, VA picking up her food drop. She (like always) sounds great. I asked her if there was anything she would like me to share...

She wanted me to let everyone know that although she has fallen behind her original crew she has found another group of wonderful people that she is hiking with and really enjoying their company. These are really good people...her words not mine. Surprisingly she bumped into a few who she figured were way ahead, at camp one night when talking with a new friend she hears "Nature is that you???" and who peers around, but Radar!! She has been spending her time climbing cliffs in the pouring rain (she loves the Tinker Cliffs), enjoying time with new friends, and hitting up random dudes for rides to the post office (they were headed that way anyway, but that is not the point). Although she was not able to send me her own photos she asked that I find a few of the places she went in the past few days that she enjoyed the most.

McAfee Knob, VA

Dragon's Tooth, VA




That is all for now. We expect to hear from her again next Wednesday when she will be in Waynesboro, VA meeting up with Meme and Mark for the last time (on this trip anyway...I have heard rumors about wanting to through-hike southbound).

1/3 done...over 700 miles...Go Mom!!

Pearisburg, VA & still trucking

I talked to Mom Sunday night and again Monday morning. She was in Pearisburg and was a day ahead of schedule. She says that was my fault as I asked her not to stay at the Wapiti shelter due to its history. So she didn't sleep there and as a result spent the night at the summit of a mountain in the worst thunderstorm she had seen so far this trip. Sorry Mom. On the up side her knee and ankle are fine. Her feet are sore everyday once she hits the 12-12.5 mile mark, but we determined that is a result of breaking in new boots not her injury. She picked up some gel insoles in town along with her food drop and was headed back out in high spirits.

She is definitely happy to be back on the trail. She has met other people out there, but has every intention of catching back up with her crew soon. Soundtrack and K-bar are each taking some time off in the next few weeks so Mom hopes to make up the time while they are off trail.

I expect to hear from her again next week, probably Wednesday, she should be in Daleville for those of you keeping track. I will keep you posted and encourage everyone to go check out the pics she took. She really is having the time of her life...