Today is a day of rest.  Here is my home for the night at Skyland in Shenandoah Nat’l Park. All my gear is washed and drying in the room. Spending the day reading, writing postcards, and blogging in the lobby.So, all the thru-hikers boast about their miles per day.  “Have you done your 20 mile day?  Have you done your night hike?”  I hear lots of that; I have done neither.  I have started keeping track of my milage covered, to go, and average.  So far, I am averaging 9 miles per day including the zero I am doing today.  I need to average 11 in order to finish in time. That’s just discouraging so far.  I am told the miles will come when I get my trail legs in another week or two.  I’ll be taking my time until I get through the Shenandoahs.  Andrew will be hiking with me in 2 days!  👍

BTW, my reading glasses broke. So I’m going to be using my ultralight backup glasses.  Styling! 😎 

Also, when you see me write NOBO and SOBO , I am referring to hiking direction – northbound and southbound.  I am SOBO.

A good story can take you on a fantastic journey. – Walt Disney

I planned to hike 15 miles today, but my legs would not take me fast enough.  The will was there, but the way only took me 10.5 miles.  I am at Skyland for the night and have a room! 

I climbed 3 mountains today: Mary’s Rock (3,347′), The Pinacle (3,601′), and Stony Man (4,011′).  Perhaps that’s what slowed me down.  Here’s the view from Stony Man.  

Going up Mary’s Rock I met a guy who recognized my sailing shirt.  Meet Matt, who works at APS (Annapolis Performance Sailing).  APS is my go-to place for sailboat hardware.  

I met several thru-hikers including Juke Box, who started NOBO on May 1st.  He’s making great time and hiking ultra-light.  

I’m planning for my first “zero” day tomorrow.  My legs need to recover.  I’ll be doing Prana’s yoga move to help.  Thanks for the tip!

Success seems to be connected to action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit. ― Conrad Hilton

Sorry no post yesterday.  To my surprise there is no cellular service in the park.  I hiked 10 miles to Gravel Springs Hut yesterday and the last few miles were in the rain.  It’s still raining now. 😂

I wanted to quit again last night, but I wasn’t warm, dry, fed, and rested; so I am still out here hiking.  I slept in the shelter last night.  I will avoid it as much as possible in the future. The hammock is much more comfortable.

My hiking partner for the last day has been Pale Horse.  He’s a 6’4″ 130lb 20 yr old from Reading, PA with a great attitude but few resources.  I’ll attach a pic when I get service.

 
1.5 miles down – 12 more to go today.

12.5 down – 1 to go.  As of today, I have hiked 80 miles.  Here are some more pics:

  
    
 

BTW.  I saw one bear yesterday, he was next to the trail and ran away into the woods.  Bear Count = 1. 🐻

Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down. – Socrates

My “Nero” day was a real morale booster.  After restocking in Front Royal, I hiked 4 miles up the mountain into the national park and then promptly out to the Terrapin Station hostel.  So it’s another night with sheets and clean laundry.  Sweet! 🍕 

There were raspberries along the trail. 

And I met some NOBO thru-hikers.

The Gentleman

Pick Me Up

And here I am “Puffin” it up the mountain.

And finally, I have yet to see a bear.  Not that I want to…

Yes, that was on the trail; it’s not a dog track. 🐻

Tomorrow I hike back into Shenandoah National Park.  I am only 10 miles behind my itinerary but should hike into Loft Mountain Campground on the 8th to meet Andrew, just as planned.

A good book has no ending. – Robert Frost

   

I spent the night in front Royal and woke up to guess what, more rain. The forecast looks like rain for the next three days so within 24 hours I should be soaking wet from head to toe again.  Here’s the view of the Shenandoah’s from outside my motel room.

 
I told myself I wouldn’t quit unless I had a good nights sleep, was rested, fed and dry.  (That’s currently all true.)  To be on honest I dread going back out on the trail today. But that’s what I do…

Here are some additional shots from yesterday’s 15 mile trek:

Trail:  
Railroad crossing at Manassas Gap:  

Stream crossing (got water here):  

One of many old stone walls along the trail from long ago: 

I’m going to try to take a nero day (near zero in thru-hikers lingo) today and only hike to the first shelter outside of Shenandoah national Park or a hostile that’s located on the north end of the park with all the rain the hostel sounds better.  Either way it should be less than 5 miles I have to hike today, day #6 on the trail.

In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on. – Robert Frost