Today I am paying the price for all the miles I did yesterday. I just finished climbing my second mountain for the day and I am tired, very tired.

I met one through hiker on the trail this morning

This is Deke.

I’m not sure how far I’m going to make it today but there is a swimming hole at the next road crossing and I probably will stop there.

Update:  the swimming hole was awesome, although I stayed clear of the snake in the water.  I hiked another 3.2 miles (and 1,000 ft elevation gain) to the Cove Mtn shelter – total 11.9 today.  My companion for the night is awesome as well. 

Hike Statistics:

Day #26

Miles from Mt Katahdin, ME – 1,436.4

Miles from Harpers Ferry – 269.8

Miles to Springer Mtn, GA – 752.8

Avg daily distance – 10.4 miles

Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute. – George Bernard Shaw.

It’s about 10:30 in the morning and I just finished climbing Highcock Knob. They name things funny here; it must be because they eat too many chicken fries.  I am now 2,400 ft above the river.

Yesterday I ended up hiking 4 miles after crossing the James River. I camped next to a Brook and to my dismay, it was full of frogs that croaked it up all night long.  I woke up early this morning and hit the trail before seven.

It’s been raining on and off all morning but the temperature is much cooler today and there’s some breeze.  

I’m going to try to put lots of additional miles underneath my feet today and if all goes well I’ll be ahead of schedule.  My average mileage is now about 10 miles a day.

It’s 3:30 pm and I’ve climbed another 1,000 feet and the view from Thunder Ridge is amazing. 

 

The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. – Lucille Ball

                                                                                                      

I’m restocking in Glasgow today and will be back on the trail this afternoon.

I did manage to load my last video from The Priest, so it’s there now.

I have now started south on the trail from Glasgow. I crossed the James River and I’m climbing back up into the mountains along the trail. Here are some pictures from crossing the James River.     

I also met Jazz, a dachshund who has hiked the trail from Georgia all the way into central Virginia.   
I probably won’t have a signal for the rest of the day and it will be intermittent over the next five days until I resupply in Daleville, Virginia.

Are chicken fries a southern thing?

 

The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance – and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning. ― Oprah Winfrey

 

I stayed at Three Springs Hostel last night.  What a dream!  Oma and Marsha took great care of me; laundry’s all done and I am clean and rested.  I’m hiking with only a day pack today.  My regular pack will be delivered to me in the afternoon.  That’s Slackpacking!

Here are some pics of the hostel.  

   
 
And Skitty.  
And from the trail today. 

  
 
Another milestone passed today.  It’s 800 miles to Springer Mountain, GA.  

 

Hike Statistics:
Day #23
Miles from Mt Katahdin, ME – 1,393,7
Miles from Harpers Ferry – 227.1
Miles to Springer Mtn, GA – 795.5
Avg daily distance – 9.9 miles

You’ll never find a rainbow if you’re looking down. – Charlie Chaplin

I’m still hoping for enough of a signal to post the last video from The Priest, but not yet! 😂

I’m headed to Buena Vista, VA to a hostel to clean up and rest.  Don’t fret if you see anything from me for a couple of days.  I hear there’s no internet connection there.  I’ll post the video and more pics in time. 

 

 This is “Rat Dog”.  He’s 10 and is section hiking the trail.

 By the way, in addition to being on the trail 3 weeks and hiking The a Priest yesterday, I have now hiked over 200 miles.  Yeah!

Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts. – Charles Dickens