July 12-July 17
July 12
Slept in a bit-ate cold pizza for breakfast. Said so long to Loz and headed out around 10. Made it the 11 miles to a truck stop by 3 and managed not to step on or over the biggest rattlesnake of my life (4' long, at least as thick as my arm). Found a TON of ripe blackberries in the open, sunny areas-picked a bunch, ate most, bagged some for dessert later. Got to the truck stop/restaurant and immediately got a small oreo sundae (Yum). Went outside (the A/C was too cold) and took a nap. Called home and the Meadville Tribune guy who was too busy to talk to me then. Around 5 I decided Pinkfire had no chance of getting there so I ordered dinner-chicken salad sandwich and mozerella sticks (more yum). Around 5:30 finally headed out-covered the 3 miles to the shelter in top speed (50 minutes) and met Pinkfire. We had some delectible cheese sandwiches and blackberries and peach rings, made a lovely fire and finally headed to bed. Good day, but I miss you Loz!!
July 13
We slept in a bit today (I didn't leave the shelter until 9:15). When I went out back to change my clothes, I discovered a long, thin black snake, which explains the lack of mice. Since there was no H2O at the shelter, and we had seen a sign warning hikers that the next water source was contaminated with a dead cow, we had a long debate over whether 1 liter would get us both 7 miles (uphill) or whether one of us should go back more than a mile to fill up. Probably unwisely, we decided to chance it and made it to the stream 3 1/2 miles ahead and found no dead cows. It was threatening rain all day-so we got to our lunch shelter (11 miles) and listened to the thunder roll from 3-3:30. Finally we decided to make the 9 more miles today and headed out. Ran into some Forest Service people and volunteers doing trail maintenance. The were all moving quite slow except for one guy, so I dogged him, trying to keep up. At the road, he said we had been walking over3 mph for the past 2 miles. He offered to fill up my H2O bottles if I came to their camp, boy was I glad I did! They also generously bestowed on me 4 snackies and an ICE COLD COKE. I felt bad drinking it by myself, so to their amazement, I pulled out my sleeping bag (aka refrigerator) and stuffed it inside to share with Pinkfire later on. From their camp it was 6+ miles and 2000+ feet to the next shelter. They estimated that I would make it in 2 hours (due to my 3 mph pace). 2hours and 15 minutes and very wet boots later, I made it. Sweet shelter-4 enclosed walls and a roof. What a night to get here too-it is raining in sheets, the wind is howling, thunder and lighting everywhere-so perfect! But both Pinkfire and I got here in time to cook our dinners outside before the storm hit. I cooked for the first time. Loz-you are such a great cook. I am not. Sad. I guess I'll learn as I go. And finally-I'll try to write down quotes-but I doubt they will be as good as Loz's.
Oh yeah, two other notable things..found blueberries today-ate all that I saw in honor of Loz. I just asked myself, "Self, what would Loz do?" ...Earlier today I crossed the half-way point of my trip.. 544 miles done.
July 14
Par usual, we got a LATE start out this morning (10 am) and we had in mind, oh, 24 miles. Yikes. So we booked it from 10 to a 3 pm lunch. Saw our first completely open privy there and drank a lot of H2O. After lunch about a mile, we had to decide whether to follow the signs posted for the last 40 miles about a bridge being out ahead and taking a blue blazed route, or being stubborn and possibly stupid and following the white blazes. Pinkfire let me decide...HA!...and on the white blazes we went. After 12 or more dangerous stream crossings, and tons of wet rhododendron tunnels, I understand how much of an impact slippery rocks can have on people. (Thus the town name of Slippery Rock, PA) So 5 miles later, we found the washed out bridge- I had all these images in my mind of fording Laurel creek, pack held high above my head...but, no. We could actually cross the creek with our boots on and we were fine. Well, fine minus the crazy thunder and rain storm that chased us all the way to the non-existent bridge. So now, we have roughly 9 miles to go and its raining. fun, slippery times. The trail leveled out beautifully (Pinkfire kept singing, "I love Virginia") and by 8 pm we were 2 miles from the shelter. Oh, before I forget...;by the washed out bridge-tremendous trail magic! A huge cooler full of icy apple and orange juice. So good! So at 8ish, we cross over this flat hill (flat on top) that overlooked some big interstate... and after 3 minutes of pondering, Pinkfire decided we could tent there. So neat!! Stars, cars, lightning, lightning bugs-and much later, a fire to roast our s'mores over. (See Loz, we did manage a fire). Talked to Loz and my mom on the phone and woke up only a few times throughout the night due to rain.
Saw a bear cub in a tree today. Only my 3rd bear of the trip. It quickly hurdled out of the tree and down the hill when we saw it.
July 15
Nice early start in the rain, and did 12 miles before lunch. Beautiful terrain. Loz, I tried so hard to eat all the blueberries I saw, but I failed. Alas. Saw the first buck of the trip-just a little spike, but still exciting. At lunchtime, we decided to cut our 26 mile day down to 19 and visit TRENT's grocery and campsite-showers and laundry and stay for $6. We ate cheeseburgers and drank lots of milk. So nice to be clean. We'll push those extra 7 miles or so to Monday and work up an appetite for Chinese food in Pearisburg- Good times.
July 16
Woke Pinkfire up at 7:30 this AM, planning to get some delicious hot breakfasts and hit the trail early. HA. They didn't open until 9:30, so we played with a kitty cat, read the paper and cut my hair. Yes, I finally convinced Pinkfire that I was serious. It was getting so heavy that I would get headaches during the day and the sweat and leaves and bugs and possibly ticks could happily make homes in it and I wouldn't have known. So...he cut off at least 4-5 inches, a full fistful of hair. And now my head is lighter and happier. So by the time we ordered breakfast we were quite hungry, so we each got our own 12" pizza. Yummy. We showered (again) and packed up and left shortly after noon. 15 miles later, 8:30 PM-Here I sit, sondering if city boy will make it before dark. In the meantime, a list of Pros and Cons of hiking by yourself:
PROS
You can eat all the blueberries you see
You see more wildlife (Birds and Deer)
CONS
No one sings to you
No one to appreciate you when you spot wildlife
You see more wildlife (Bears)
You get the full spider web and big fat black spider all in your face
So, to end the night, Pinkfire showed up right around dark. We chatted, and he made stuffing for dinner and before too long, all was quiet. ZZZ
July 17
Woke up to a beautiful sunshiney day-8 or so miles away from Pearisburg. Hooray!
8:56 AM We're still at the shelter, but I just saw a wolf or a relly big coyote about 20 yards away. This section of the trail (past 9 miles) has had more wildlife than even the Smoky's. Got to town, ate chinese and milkshake at DQ. Got to the post office...Thanks everyone for the letters! Hopefully going to find some type of drink before we head back to the trail today. Apparently it is 93 degrees in the shade here in town. When we woke up this morning, we were actually chilly up in the mountains. Well, we've been taking up the table in the PO for at least the past hour- I suppose I better clean up my stuff. Fun event of the day- we went to Magic Mart and Pinkfire purchased a huge rooster lawn ornament. I believe he's named it "Tyson" and I'm anxious to see how far up the trail he makes it with us. Enjoying everyday out here-hope all is well in your world, too.
Jenga
Slept in a bit-ate cold pizza for breakfast. Said so long to Loz and headed out around 10. Made it the 11 miles to a truck stop by 3 and managed not to step on or over the biggest rattlesnake of my life (4' long, at least as thick as my arm). Found a TON of ripe blackberries in the open, sunny areas-picked a bunch, ate most, bagged some for dessert later. Got to the truck stop/restaurant and immediately got a small oreo sundae (Yum). Went outside (the A/C was too cold) and took a nap. Called home and the Meadville Tribune guy who was too busy to talk to me then. Around 5 I decided Pinkfire had no chance of getting there so I ordered dinner-chicken salad sandwich and mozerella sticks (more yum). Around 5:30 finally headed out-covered the 3 miles to the shelter in top speed (50 minutes) and met Pinkfire. We had some delectible cheese sandwiches and blackberries and peach rings, made a lovely fire and finally headed to bed. Good day, but I miss you Loz!!
July 13
We slept in a bit today (I didn't leave the shelter until 9:15). When I went out back to change my clothes, I discovered a long, thin black snake, which explains the lack of mice. Since there was no H2O at the shelter, and we had seen a sign warning hikers that the next water source was contaminated with a dead cow, we had a long debate over whether 1 liter would get us both 7 miles (uphill) or whether one of us should go back more than a mile to fill up. Probably unwisely, we decided to chance it and made it to the stream 3 1/2 miles ahead and found no dead cows. It was threatening rain all day-so we got to our lunch shelter (11 miles) and listened to the thunder roll from 3-3:30. Finally we decided to make the 9 more miles today and headed out. Ran into some Forest Service people and volunteers doing trail maintenance. The were all moving quite slow except for one guy, so I dogged him, trying to keep up. At the road, he said we had been walking over3 mph for the past 2 miles. He offered to fill up my H2O bottles if I came to their camp, boy was I glad I did! They also generously bestowed on me 4 snackies and an ICE COLD COKE. I felt bad drinking it by myself, so to their amazement, I pulled out my sleeping bag (aka refrigerator) and stuffed it inside to share with Pinkfire later on. From their camp it was 6+ miles and 2000+ feet to the next shelter. They estimated that I would make it in 2 hours (due to my 3 mph pace). 2hours and 15 minutes and very wet boots later, I made it. Sweet shelter-4 enclosed walls and a roof. What a night to get here too-it is raining in sheets, the wind is howling, thunder and lighting everywhere-so perfect! But both Pinkfire and I got here in time to cook our dinners outside before the storm hit. I cooked for the first time. Loz-you are such a great cook. I am not. Sad. I guess I'll learn as I go. And finally-I'll try to write down quotes-but I doubt they will be as good as Loz's.
Oh yeah, two other notable things..found blueberries today-ate all that I saw in honor of Loz. I just asked myself, "Self, what would Loz do?" ...Earlier today I crossed the half-way point of my trip.. 544 miles done.
July 14
"I don't want you to fall, but if you do, I want to watch." Pinkfire, as we crossed the same stream 12 times
Par usual, we got a LATE start out this morning (10 am) and we had in mind, oh, 24 miles. Yikes. So we booked it from 10 to a 3 pm lunch. Saw our first completely open privy there and drank a lot of H2O. After lunch about a mile, we had to decide whether to follow the signs posted for the last 40 miles about a bridge being out ahead and taking a blue blazed route, or being stubborn and possibly stupid and following the white blazes. Pinkfire let me decide...HA!...and on the white blazes we went. After 12 or more dangerous stream crossings, and tons of wet rhododendron tunnels, I understand how much of an impact slippery rocks can have on people. (Thus the town name of Slippery Rock, PA) So 5 miles later, we found the washed out bridge- I had all these images in my mind of fording Laurel creek, pack held high above my head...but, no. We could actually cross the creek with our boots on and we were fine. Well, fine minus the crazy thunder and rain storm that chased us all the way to the non-existent bridge. So now, we have roughly 9 miles to go and its raining. fun, slippery times. The trail leveled out beautifully (Pinkfire kept singing, "I love Virginia") and by 8 pm we were 2 miles from the shelter. Oh, before I forget...;by the washed out bridge-tremendous trail magic! A huge cooler full of icy apple and orange juice. So good! So at 8ish, we cross over this flat hill (flat on top) that overlooked some big interstate... and after 3 minutes of pondering, Pinkfire decided we could tent there. So neat!! Stars, cars, lightning, lightning bugs-and much later, a fire to roast our s'mores over. (See Loz, we did manage a fire). Talked to Loz and my mom on the phone and woke up only a few times throughout the night due to rain.
Saw a bear cub in a tree today. Only my 3rd bear of the trip. It quickly hurdled out of the tree and down the hill when we saw it.
July 15
Nice early start in the rain, and did 12 miles before lunch. Beautiful terrain. Loz, I tried so hard to eat all the blueberries I saw, but I failed. Alas. Saw the first buck of the trip-just a little spike, but still exciting. At lunchtime, we decided to cut our 26 mile day down to 19 and visit TRENT's grocery and campsite-showers and laundry and stay for $6. We ate cheeseburgers and drank lots of milk. So nice to be clean. We'll push those extra 7 miles or so to Monday and work up an appetite for Chinese food in Pearisburg- Good times.
July 16
Woke Pinkfire up at 7:30 this AM, planning to get some delicious hot breakfasts and hit the trail early. HA. They didn't open until 9:30, so we played with a kitty cat, read the paper and cut my hair. Yes, I finally convinced Pinkfire that I was serious. It was getting so heavy that I would get headaches during the day and the sweat and leaves and bugs and possibly ticks could happily make homes in it and I wouldn't have known. So...he cut off at least 4-5 inches, a full fistful of hair. And now my head is lighter and happier. So by the time we ordered breakfast we were quite hungry, so we each got our own 12" pizza. Yummy. We showered (again) and packed up and left shortly after noon. 15 miles later, 8:30 PM-Here I sit, sondering if city boy will make it before dark. In the meantime, a list of Pros and Cons of hiking by yourself:
PROS
You can eat all the blueberries you see
You see more wildlife (Birds and Deer)
CONS
No one sings to you
No one to appreciate you when you spot wildlife
You see more wildlife (Bears)
You get the full spider web and big fat black spider all in your face
"I mooed at her, then she mooed at me, then I mooed at her and she mooed at me." Pinkfire, telling me about the time he talked to a "queen" cow.
"The beet is the most intense of vegetables. The radish, admittedly is more feverish, but the fire of the radish is a cold fire, the fire of discontent, not passion. Tomatoes are lusty enough, yet there runs through tomatoes an under-current of frivolity. Beets are deadly serious." A random quote I found written on a shelter wall.
So, to end the night, Pinkfire showed up right around dark. We chatted, and he made stuffing for dinner and before too long, all was quiet. ZZZ
July 17
Woke up to a beautiful sunshiney day-8 or so miles away from Pearisburg. Hooray!
8:56 AM We're still at the shelter, but I just saw a wolf or a relly big coyote about 20 yards away. This section of the trail (past 9 miles) has had more wildlife than even the Smoky's. Got to town, ate chinese and milkshake at DQ. Got to the post office...Thanks everyone for the letters! Hopefully going to find some type of drink before we head back to the trail today. Apparently it is 93 degrees in the shade here in town. When we woke up this morning, we were actually chilly up in the mountains. Well, we've been taking up the table in the PO for at least the past hour- I suppose I better clean up my stuff. Fun event of the day- we went to Magic Mart and Pinkfire purchased a huge rooster lawn ornament. I believe he's named it "Tyson" and I'm anxious to see how far up the trail he makes it with us. Enjoying everyday out here-hope all is well in your world, too.
Jenga
posted by elsiezion | 13:12
1 Comments:
Hi Guys,
Hope you all are doing well. Loz, glad to hear you will be back on the trail. Thanks so much for the article and note. Pinkfire - that sound you hear is Eileen and me cheering your new acquired love of tchotchkes.We knew you couldn't escape. Next thing you know, you will be selecting either flowered or fruited wallpaper! lol Hope you and Tyson are having fun. No fowl jokes now. Love you bunches Take care Safe traveling to all of you.
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