AT 51 - 16th May (610.2)

600 miles done!!!! Crazy wet day. We got tents down in a dry spell but the fly sheet is soaking. We only had 16 miles to do to get to a two bed in a room hostel. It’s actually Trent’s Grocery but he does the other on the side. Washing cloths, hot shower, food (pizza or burgers) and bed. I’m sharing with Yeager (German). Morning all rain. The path was lethally slippy. Rain stoped just after lunch so took off coat. Then at 2pm the heavens opened. Thunder and the rain was like stair rods, as we used to say. But no one  knows what a stair rod is, so pretend you are driving and you have to put the wipers on two times speed and you still can’t see out. It was like that. The path was a river. Slipping every tenth step. I didn’t fall but others did and got really mucky. Really enjoyable day. Saw lots of interesting stuff. 

Got to Trent’s by 3 and had 12” pizza. 

Then burger for dinner. Got some resupply for two days to get us to Pearisburg. 

As I was slipping today it was like driving on snow with ice every so often. You’re meant to steer into the slide but when it happens your brain freezes. I remembered two other incidents where my body reacted weird. 

First was when a fighter jet flew over. I was on a very steep part of the track. My brain said “aaaahhh loud noise, what is it”. My left leg said jump this way, that was down the cliff, my right leg said fall this way into the hill. My heart skipped a few beats. Finally my brain said “don’t panic”. Luckily my right leg won. 

Second was when some thing slithered in front of me. Brain said “what’s that, I don’t recognize any thing that moves like that”, finally brain said “snake, aaaaahhhh, is it poisonous?????” Body jumped in the air, arms flew even higher, finally brain said “garden snake, don’t panic”. 

The body can sure let you down. 

Wasp nest. 

Just to mention, I’m not eating anything I find on the trail. Relax. 

AT 50 - 15th May (594)

Last nights sunset 

24.2 miles today, it was to get to shelter because it rained all afternoon, we were hoping to have a dry night in shelter. But when we got here it was full. So put the tent up. There was a dry spell so got it up dry. Raining again now. My tent smell like the boys changing room after a rugby match. All my days walking cloths soaked and smelly. I’m ready for bed and nice and dry but all the wet stuff is around me. 

Very hard day with very wet paths for up and down. You really have to concentrate on every step. Had swim #11 (in the rain). 

Another danger is the path verges. The spring growth is coming onto/over the path. That’s how I got the ticks yesterday. When it’s wet you get even wetter from the overhang. The worst is poison ivy. It also grown over the path. When you walk you can get stung or poisoned really. I haven’t yet but one guy did. The body reacts and water blisters form and sometimes pus forms. The issue is if you itch the effected area and you touch somewhere else it also reacts. The worst is if you touch your face. Oh the joys of walking in the wild. 

Looking over the cliff

Swim #11 in the pool at end of clip. 

AT 49 - 14th May (569.8)

Bridge out

Got them before the latched on

Swim #10

Swim #9

 A day of firsts. 

1. 21.3 mile day and that was with 4500+ feet gain. 
2. Two swims in one day. The reason for the second was there was a bridge out so you had to wade across, well paddle really, but there was a deep pool so in I went. My two buddies also went in. 
3. Two ticks climbing up my legs. 
4. Dr. Thunder drink as trail magic. I think it is a Dr. Pepper rip off. 

In shelter for the night. 6 of us. It has a door because it is a converted fire warden cabin. We can keep the food inside, only mice will steal it. It the bear knocks we won’t let him in. 

My body is changing. I’ve lost weight, which I needed to. My GLUTEUS MEDIUS muscle has appeared from nowhere. I never had one before. I’m controlling my uphill climbs and not hitting red zone for my heart. I slow down, half my stride, half my speed. 

Comparing January zone hours of 35 to April 106. 

Keeping out of red zone

Normal zone

AT zone

AT 48 - 13th May (548.5)

 3 of the 5 in our latest group are pulling off the trail. 2 got the chance to get a lift to a city to fly home. Boot Lips is visiting his mum for USA Mother’s Day. She 100 and going strong. As I was dropped back to the trail I felt very alone. Yeager (German) was with me but he goes uphill too quick so can’t walk with him. As I walked I started feeling very low. Dickens would say Melancholy. Boot lips might come back for a few more days but he wants to get home to see his wife. He misses her. I miss my wife but my time to see her again is not in my hands but Gods. I went down and down and shed a tear or two. As the day wore on the beauty captured me again and I picked up and hiked on. Kept meeting old and new names as we walked. Came to an 18th century school house. It’s now a museum. I loved the out houses, one boys and one girls. The trail brought us to a gas station and had a nice cool Mountain Dew. 

Camped alone tonight in the site of an old shelter. I couldn’t go the extra 4 to the next camp site. To get to the shelter I want tomorrow it is 21 but I’m not sure if I’ll make it. There’s a privy here because it used to be a shelter. I found a nest with chicks because it isn’t used as much. 

School house

Turtle skull 

Official quarter of way there. 

Alone again 

AT 47 - 12th May (534.1)

 Short hike to free shuttle into Marion VA. 

Eat eat eat, wash, shop, eat eat eat, sleep, then back on the trail. Met a lovely lady in town who did a tour and then dropped us to hotel. Room split with Boot Lips who is leaving trail tomorrow. 

We had another bear in camp and one of our 6 heard him and looked out and it was literally inches away from his face. He yelled and the bear sauntered off. All they want is food but the food is in a steel bear box.   

Mexican food tonight, because it is walking distance. 

Thought for the day. 

You meat all sorts on the trail. Some quiet who open up then you talk to them. Some loud, some shy, some weird, some maybe you’d prefer not to meet. But I’ve found never judge the book by its cover. It’s only when you get below the surface you discover who they are. I’ve cried with some, I’ve just said hello to some, some have gone a lot deeper. If you happen to meet more often or travel together you get a good chat. My latest group of 6, three are leaving tomorrow and one walked on and didn’t come to town. I’m sure lots of new faces tomorrow. I try and put the verse below into practice on the trail. Mind you most people need to forgive me (messing).

Luke 6:37

Judging Others

[37] “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

AT 46 - 11th May (524.3)

It was dead when I found it

 First 20 mile day. It was just the positions of the shelters, 10 miles or 20. Warm day but under the leaves you were somewhat protected from the sun. Not using sun cream at the moment. Back to forest type walking. Lots of up and downs. Doing 10 miles and shuttle into Marian to resupply. I still have a lot left over, but I’m learning. 

Thought for the day. 

I was reading psalm 131 and this struck me. 

Psalm 131:2a “But I have calmed and quieted my soul,”

  

Out here on the AT I have defo calmed my soul. I’m relaxed in my spirit and enjoying such amazing beauty of creation, both small and large. My feet hurt but I don’t complain. 

I then read Numbers 11 where the children of Israel complained to Moses about not having meat. Moses goes to God and He tells Moses that He will provide. 

“You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days,but a whole month. “

Moses doubts God and say there are 600 thousand to feed, how will you do it. 

Gods answer is “Is the LORD’s hand shortened?”

If a ancient man of faith doubts, it gives me hope. How many time are we unhappy with our circumstances. How many time do we complain to God. I’ve found the Lords arm is long and always supportive. Never has He let me down, even if I sometimes don’t understand.