Thru-Hiker Bliss

5/29/13


Thru-Hiker Bliss


The last three.....yes three...... times it rained we were already in our tents for the night.  When we got up in the morning,  it was not raining.  That is truly Thru-Hiker Bliss!   The first time it happened, four of us, "Moxie", "Shadow", "Airborne" and me,  had just abandoned a campfire and gone to bed. We were not in our tents for even 1 minute and it started pouring.  We all cracked up laughing.  Knock on wood.

Oh yeah.....we passed by the 1000 mile mark on the trail today.  Far out. 

Chicadas

5/27/2013


Chicadas


We got back to the trail today , after taking a day and a half off.  We hiked 14 miles,  then got a ride into town on Saturday...planning to be back on the AT on Sunday Morning.  But Airborne had a giant infected blister on his foot, (I looked at it...he had been hiking on it all week, with minimal complaint....so I had no idea that it was that nasty...Airborne is hardcore....and I strongly advised him to get to the hospital....immediately....they gave him two different antibiotics)

 and sore knees,  and I was tuckered

out,  so we took another day off.   When we got back to the trail today,  there were a bunch of holes in the ground, all along the trail.  We were mystified until we spotted cicadas......everywhere.  It is the seventeenth year and Cicadas are emerging everywhere.

Hiker Hunger

5/27/2013

Hiker Hunger

I had just finished my sixth plateful,  and was rising to find some dessert goodies and ice cream, at the Chinese Restaurant, all you can eat smorgasbord, in Waynesboro, Va.......  when it occurred to me,  that the notorious "hiker hunger",  may have finally taken hold of me.  Airborne and I had been eating for an hour and a half.... or longer......non stop....and I was going for more food.  Other hikers had spoken to me of being hungry, all the time, and of thinking about food, and what they planned to eat when they got into town.  But it did not hit me till that smorgasbord.  Then we got to Front Royal, and I ate everything, I could get my hands on, from 2 PM on Saturday,  till 7:30 AM on Monday.  I just ate and ate.....and two hours later......I would be hungry again.  I have lost quite a bit of weight and wish to stabilize..... and not get any slimmer.  So I guess I will be stuffing my face at every opportunity from now on.  Where's the cheese cake?

Rattlers

5/25/2013

Rattlers


Quite a few of the hikers have seen Timber Rattlesnakes in the park(Shenandoah National Park) and also before it.  We saw the Copperhead that I posted previously, the day before we entered the park, but no Rattlers.  I have seen pictures taken by others and saw some great video taken by "Shadow" from Minneapolis, yesterday.   I prefer the bears.....the pictures and video of those big Rattlers scare me.  Our friend "Prometheus" had a rattler blocking her way yesterday. The snake refused to move....and "Prometheus" eventually resorted to stern measures.  I would love to post some Rattler Pics....... but the truth is....... that I will get over it, if I do not see any.

Bear Encounter

5/25/2013


Bear Encounter

The close-up pictures were taken at my tent site at Gravel Springs Hut in the Shenandoah National Park on May 24th at about 5pm.  I had cooked and was finishing my dinner when I noticed this bear coming my way. I grabbed my phone and snapped these pictures and also shot some video.  I included the tent in the video on purpose so that people will believe me when I tell them that this bear came by me at 8 to 10 yards. I was sitting on a log on the opposite side of the tent from the bear. I think the bear thought that I was in the tent. Gotcha bear!

Shenandoah National Park

5/25/2013


Shenandoah National Park


We have been hiking through the park for six days, and will finish it tomorrow, and go into Front Royal to resupply. Most of us thru hikers have seen a bear in the park. Some hikers have seen cubs. Prior to my up close and personal encounter with the bear this afternoon, Airborne and I had seen one bear two days ago.  It was close to the trail before we realized it was there.  Airborne heard it moving back a bit.....probably 50-60 yards  We got pictures at that distance.  I think that bear weighed around 125-150 pounds.  The close one today that only I saw was bigger......I think 250 pounds or so...... maybe a bit

bigger .....not a big bear....but very close!  Far out!

PS.  I stepped it off....the bear was 9 yards from the log I was sitting on. 

Hawkeye and Airborne

more trail critters

saw a toad did not take it's picture

Hey! This is where I am Right now!

First Rododendrum Blooms

Land of Oz

A sea of flowers.....Trillium ....violets....

Apple Orchard Falls

A good day for critters

The bugs came out en mass last night

they.... mosquitoes, gnats. no see ums, were after me. Pulled an imbedded wood  tick off tonight. saw it yesterday......did not realize it was a tick. check out the critters. 

Views from the Ridge

First three are above Daleville last ones are north of Daleville on Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway

Reader Alert

Besides posting photos I have written two pieces recently. "Rain" and "Saying goodbye to a friend" the friend essay was   

posted as a draft initially as it was not finished...... then had no phone service. Result is that the date on it is May 2 even though it was just posted.... so it went off the recent journal page because of all the photos etc.  This is to encourage you to look back and read it. Thanks. Hawkeye.

Eastern Box Turtle hiking AT

This Eastern Box Turtle  was hiking the trail in the rain like us..... but got tired and decided to take a nap. Easy for it to get out of the rain. (near Richmond, Va) It was softball sized.....5 inches tall and about 6 inches long And wide

Audie Murphy Monument

Audie Murphy.....the most decorated soldier in World War Two crashed his private plane here. Monument erected in1974.  Another day in the rain.