July 8-July 12
July 8
VA is a fantastic state. We left Damascus at 11 am-after a quick lunch at Subway. Made our goal of 9 miles by 3:00 and decided to tackle the other 6 tonight-se here we lay in "Lost Mountain Shelter". We're somewhere 6 or less miles ahead of Pinkfire, but we saw him at the last shelter. We're sharing the shelter with a Canadian (Ross) and a Turk (Adam), who are working in DC right now. They randomly told us this story about Pinkfire-they had heard of him, but he's still behind them-apparently they read in the local Damascus paper an article about AT hikers and Pinkfire happened to be interviewed and have his picture taken for the article. So random and funny. We'll try to get a copy of the paper sometime. So VA is going to be flat and beautiful according to our sources. Can't wait! G'night, Jenga
July 9
Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad (and Karina's parents, too) It's official-500 miles in 35 days...and today was the first day we kind of got lost. OK-really lost. Up in the spectacular Grayson Highlands, we got turned around, still on the AT, but headed South for 30 minutes. We recognized that we were back where we had started, so we got to see the beautiful Highlands 3 times today. Turned our 18 mile day into about 20. Nice cloudy day for it, quite chilly actually. Second notable event of the day-the stove finally broke. One leg fell off, so Loz ripped the rest off. We'll fanangle it around until we get a new one. Also-at the shelter, 15 or so boys are here-from an outdoor school in Southern VA. They're lots of energy and entertainment. Oh! one last thing, I finally met someone today who had heard of GCC! He went to JMU-was a staff leader at the boys school. So cool!
July 10
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY! I LOVE YOU!!
Last night was a fun night, lots of good company to chat with. Got up around 7 this AM-out by 8:00-ish, got 10 miles in by lunch, planning at least 20 by tonight. Currently we're sitting by some beautiful cascades and Loz is taking a bath/shower. Free showers tomorrow at partnership shelter Yipee!
July 11
Made it 10 mile to Partnership Shelter by 12:40 today. Loz quickly called for a taxi to take her into Marion VA to visit a doctor to look at her foot. More news on that when she returns.
Pinkfire's fame preceeds him-someone left a copy of the newspaper article about him in the trail register here. It's a nice write-up.
Now, I know you're all in suspense about Loz-I'll try to write down all that I know: the day going into Damascus (Friday) the middle of her left foot began to bother her a little bit. It's on the top, close to the toes. After a day of rest there, she felt ok. It's been getting continually worse since then and the past two mornings (Mon and Tues) she really struggled to get going. This morning it was so bad she could barely move around camp, until she took some pain killers. We decided that if it still hurt by Partnership Shelter, she should go to town. She still managed 30+ miles in the past two days, but with all the pain, it takes away the enjoyment of the day. And you really can't do this if you don't enjoy it. So as of 4:45, I'm chilling here-hoping for an inflamed tendon and orders for a few days of rest, in which case I can meet up with her in Pearisburg on Monday-but I'll just have to wait and see. More to come.
July 12
Well, Loz came back last night, with 2 pizzas. She has a sprained foot. Her parents are on the way to Marion, VA right now and she's headed home for a little R&R and probably to watch the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Hopefully, if she stays away from walking and her foot heals quickly, she can meet up with me in Pearisburg on my birthday Monday, but if not, there's plenty of other opportunities for us to hook back up in the coming weeks. I plan to tag along with Pinkfire as much as he'll let me, but it's going to be so different without Loz around to think and say the same things as me. She's been an awesome hiker and her camp cooking is superb. Those buttery potatoes the other night-I would eat those in a restaurant it I could. But alas-I'm going to have to learn to cook for myself. I'll miss you everyday Loz-come back soon. Good weather and easy trails await you here in VA. Since it's 500+ miles through this state, I'll be here awhile. Love ya'll, Jenga
VA is a fantastic state. We left Damascus at 11 am-after a quick lunch at Subway. Made our goal of 9 miles by 3:00 and decided to tackle the other 6 tonight-se here we lay in "Lost Mountain Shelter". We're somewhere 6 or less miles ahead of Pinkfire, but we saw him at the last shelter. We're sharing the shelter with a Canadian (Ross) and a Turk (Adam), who are working in DC right now. They randomly told us this story about Pinkfire-they had heard of him, but he's still behind them-apparently they read in the local Damascus paper an article about AT hikers and Pinkfire happened to be interviewed and have his picture taken for the article. So random and funny. We'll try to get a copy of the paper sometime. So VA is going to be flat and beautiful according to our sources. Can't wait! G'night, Jenga
July 9
Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad (and Karina's parents, too) It's official-500 miles in 35 days...and today was the first day we kind of got lost. OK-really lost. Up in the spectacular Grayson Highlands, we got turned around, still on the AT, but headed South for 30 minutes. We recognized that we were back where we had started, so we got to see the beautiful Highlands 3 times today. Turned our 18 mile day into about 20. Nice cloudy day for it, quite chilly actually. Second notable event of the day-the stove finally broke. One leg fell off, so Loz ripped the rest off. We'll fanangle it around until we get a new one. Also-at the shelter, 15 or so boys are here-from an outdoor school in Southern VA. They're lots of energy and entertainment. Oh! one last thing, I finally met someone today who had heard of GCC! He went to JMU-was a staff leader at the boys school. So cool!
July 10
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY! I LOVE YOU!!
Last night was a fun night, lots of good company to chat with. Got up around 7 this AM-out by 8:00-ish, got 10 miles in by lunch, planning at least 20 by tonight. Currently we're sitting by some beautiful cascades and Loz is taking a bath/shower. Free showers tomorrow at partnership shelter Yipee!
Each of you must take reponsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. Gal 6:5 (the message)
July 11
Made it 10 mile to Partnership Shelter by 12:40 today. Loz quickly called for a taxi to take her into Marion VA to visit a doctor to look at her foot. More news on that when she returns.
Pinkfire's fame preceeds him-someone left a copy of the newspaper article about him in the trail register here. It's a nice write-up.
Now, I know you're all in suspense about Loz-I'll try to write down all that I know: the day going into Damascus (Friday) the middle of her left foot began to bother her a little bit. It's on the top, close to the toes. After a day of rest there, she felt ok. It's been getting continually worse since then and the past two mornings (Mon and Tues) she really struggled to get going. This morning it was so bad she could barely move around camp, until she took some pain killers. We decided that if it still hurt by Partnership Shelter, she should go to town. She still managed 30+ miles in the past two days, but with all the pain, it takes away the enjoyment of the day. And you really can't do this if you don't enjoy it. So as of 4:45, I'm chilling here-hoping for an inflamed tendon and orders for a few days of rest, in which case I can meet up with her in Pearisburg on Monday-but I'll just have to wait and see. More to come.
July 12
Well, Loz came back last night, with 2 pizzas. She has a sprained foot. Her parents are on the way to Marion, VA right now and she's headed home for a little R&R and probably to watch the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Hopefully, if she stays away from walking and her foot heals quickly, she can meet up with me in Pearisburg on my birthday Monday, but if not, there's plenty of other opportunities for us to hook back up in the coming weeks. I plan to tag along with Pinkfire as much as he'll let me, but it's going to be so different without Loz around to think and say the same things as me. She's been an awesome hiker and her camp cooking is superb. Those buttery potatoes the other night-I would eat those in a restaurant it I could. But alas-I'm going to have to learn to cook for myself. I'll miss you everyday Loz-come back soon. Good weather and easy trails await you here in VA. Since it's 500+ miles through this state, I'll be here awhile. Love ya'll, Jenga
posted by elsiezion | 18:28
2 Comments:
hi dear :-) you're in my prayers as always but especially now as you forge ahead on your own - hope you are having the time of your life!! happy 21!
Hey all!
I just got word on my MRI results. There is no fracture... but my 2nd metatarsal (foot bone) is swollen and the area around it is very inflamed. My doctor has informed me that I was precariously close to a stress fracture. The good news is that as soon as the pain is gone... I can meet up with Jenga again! I'm hopeful that I'll be back on the trail as soon as the end of next week!
Cheers
Loz
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