Monday, June 2

I didn't mean to drag Andrea on a 19 mile day her first day on the AT, but that's what happened. We got about 12 miles in, stopped in a meadow where we planned to get water, and found the source was bad. It was stagnant, smelly, and full of tadpoles. There was no water for the
next seven miles so we kept going. Andrea had sore feet but otherwise was fine. I really admire her determination and heart. If her feet had cooperated I think she could have done more very easily.

Andrea outside Pearisburg


Would you drink this water?


Andrea had the foot problems because she forgot to bring her good insoles for her boots. She was pretty upset with herself, but that is par for the course for thru-hikers. There was a guy way back in Georgia who lost his tent poles. I'm not saying who it was but he went to set up his tent one night and the poles weren't in the pocket where they always were. No telling if he left them at the previous campsite or if they came out of the backpack pocket somehow. That guy was so embarrassed and angry at himself that he refused to write or talk about it for six weeks. It all turned out fine and I hear that hiker is still moving along and doing well.

Andrea "MacGyvered" a pair of insoles by splitting one of her flip-flops into two pads.

All's well.

Pine Swamp Branch Shelter, VA. Today - 19.3 miles, Total - 643.3 miles.

Tuesday, June 3

The makeshift soles worked well. Its been fun to hike with Andrea because she sees the AT with outsider's eyes. She made a good point about our sense of space and privacy. Turns out that they are gone and I didn't notice. Back in Pearisburg about six of us were sitting around a motel room drinking bear. Some were showering, changing, gathering laundry, and other off-trail activities. Andrea was the only one who was uncomfortable. The rest of us were surprised when she suggested we should leave to allow privacy.

Baby Birds


Azaleas????


We had a nasty rainstorm this afternoon but it stooped right after I cooked in the rain and pitched the tent in the rain. I tricked the rain, though, I waited to filter water until it stopped.

All's well.

War Spur Shelter, VA. Today - 12.7 miles, Total - 656.0 miles.

Wednesday, June 4

Andrea and I hiked off trail today to get her back to her rental car. We were at a B&B a half-mile off trail trying to arrange a shuttle into Pearisburg but it turned out we didn't have to. The Huffman House B&B is owned by '99 thru-hiker Leafhopper. He kindly drove us 15 miles to the main road where we got a ride into town easily. Getting rides is so simple when you have a pretty woman with you!

Andrea on an AT foot bridge


Once we had Andrea's car, we took advantage of the sudden mobility to drive to Blackburg for dinner and a movie. Red Robin's bottomless steak fries were heavenly. The new Indian Jones flick is OK. The company was excellent.

Rainbow was sitting around the pool when we pulled in. She got her cast off and is moving well.

All's well.

Pearisburg, VA (again). Today - 8.2 miles, Total - 664.2 miles.