Well, I made it. I am now at the Super 8 in Daleville Virginia. I ended up not sleeping at all last night because it was pretty muggy. I got up at 4 AM and started hiking in the dark. So, I got my night hike done.  I stopped for breakfast along the trail as the sun rose.  After coming down off the mountain I hiked through farmland to get to Daleville.  

I swam in the pool here and am doing laundry.  I’m planning to eat at a restaurant and do some reading.  I really need to recharge my batteries.

Hike Statistics:
Day #28
Miles from Mt Katahdin, ME – 1,461.4
Miles from Harpers Ferry – 294.8
Miles to Springer Mtn, GA – 727.8
Avg daily distance – 10.5 miles

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning. ― Albert Einstein

I am currently at an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway taking a break. I’m planning on doing about 14 miles today and have five more to do.  
I had a great companion at the shelter last night. Keven a.k.a. Greyhound is an experienced long distance hiker and was great company.  He’s starting at the seminary in the end of the summer.  I also met Bob from Houston on the trail.  He is one of the few people I’ve met who is older.  He’s done many section hikes and covered most of the southern half of the A.T. 

 There have been some great views off the Blue Ridge Parkway today. I’ll be heading into Daleville tomorrow for much-needed rest.  Since leaving Waynesboro 10 days ago I’ve done over 122 miles, averaging 12.3 miles a day.  Yowzer!

And guess who just walked into camp?  Pale Horse, my young friend from Shenandoah National Park.  😏

Hike Statistics:
Day #27
Miles from Mt Katahdin, ME – 1,450.2
Miles from Harpers Ferry – 283.6
Miles to Springer Mtn, GA – 739.0
Avg daily distance – 10.5 miles

When you’re in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out.  A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, ‘Damn, that was fun’. – Groucho Marx

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