Into New York.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Downright Extemporaneous Celebration Since I Had 3 Miles to Plan it.
Verses intentionally skipped to save time!
Into Maryland
A Not at All Impromptu Celebration Since I Had 550 Miles to Think About IT.
West Virginia Border Crossing.
Pictures, Pictures, Two for Five.
Stickshift walks through the "guillotine"
Trail angels "Peanut" and "Loveboat" who stopped on the BRP to give us brownies.
Stickshift sitting in with the Bluegrass Band from the Glasgow Riverfest
Fluffy takes a turn on the fiddle
Hook on the Rocks
Dancing Wind celebrating after we barely survived a crazy thunderstorm on Cold Mountain
The Mag 7 with a view.
Skyline drive
Shenandoah Vista
The night after Max Factor whisked us up for a Trail Miracle
One of the many bears I saw in the Shennies
Stick, Hook and DW at an overlook in the Shennies
A bit of rainwater near Skyland
DW, Indiana and Fluffy celebratin the Latvian solstice festival of Ligoa
DW and I "Oaked up"
FINALLY leaving VA
In Professor regalia at the ATC offices in Harpers Ferry
this time with the Dirty Girls!
Jefferson Rock
Harpers Ferry from Maryland border
The Washington Monument
Stickshift on High Rock
Mason Dixon Line to PA somebody stole the sign!
Thank you Rose Sniffers, Trail Angels - Amy and Wild Bill Reinke! At the town celebration for the Fouth of July!
The Reinke clan.
Slightly Inappropriate and lifeguard Alysha at the Boiling Springs Pool waterslide
Pine Grove Furnace overlook
Honeycomb gives a thumbs up on the slide
SI at the finish
I splash on the fast slide
Honeycomb and the impromptu Half Gallon Challenge, she finally got her strawberry.
Typical Pennsylvania trail
The approach to Duncannon
The climb out of Lehigh Gap
Fugeddaboudit! I'm in Joisey!
Whe last we left our intrepid wanderers they were about to stupidly attempt an all night walk across an entire state. Well it was really fun and tiring and I managed 31.3 miles before my great friends Andy and Lisa and Rick came and whisked me off the trail for a night of home stay, Tapas and relaxation. Thank you my friends you are true trail angels. Watching the sun rise from the top of the Washington Monument in MD was a real highlight of that night.
When I got back to the trail Stickshift was hanging out at a hiker feed by some of last year's thru hikers. We got rollimg in the late afternoon and after a good sunset at High Rock we rolled across the Mason-Dixon Line into Pennsylvania. The next day we ran across a note from the Rose Sniffers inviting hikers to spend a few days with them enjoying the Fourth of July. Amy and Bill Reinke and their four kids took us in for two nights, fed us, invited us to church, took us to the town fair and fireworks and set us back on the trail. It was a most extraordinary bit of Trail magic.
Southern Pennsyslvania was kind of pretty with some nice state parks along the way. At Pine Grove Furnace I engaged in the Half Gallon Challenge, Eating 1/2 Gallon of Ice cream as quickly as you can. Managed in 41:14 with Peanut Butter swirl and we spent the rest of the daylight on the very hot day swimmimg in the lake. That night began an epic 48 hour blast to Duncannon for the Billville Pig roast. We walked mostly at night and covered 45 miles in 46 hrs which included spending the entire day in the Boiling Springs community pool before walking all night across the Cumberland Gap.
Just south of Duncannon the famous Pennsylvania rocks began. I would come to curse them and all of PA violently by the end of PA. The trail is strewn with rocks from fist to bowling ball to car sized and you often have to pick your way along on featurless ridges that stretch for 40 miles. It was not much fun.
In Duncannon I was reumited with Mad Mike, Ray and Sparky who drove in for the feed. I stayed one night at the legendary Doyle hotel. Thanks to Bag of Tricks, Jester, Walking Home, Baltimore Jack, Trail Angel Mary and the rest of the Billville crew for putting on a great event.
The descents into Duncannon and Port Clinton were precipitous and hair raising. In Port Clinton, Can Do Will Do was once again on hand to help however he could, and drove us around a bit. I pretty much dashed for the Delaware Water Gap, pausing to stay with Cathy at the marvellous Fillbert B&B in Danielsville. She and her partner were very kind and went out to get me dinner. It's a beautiful old place with a General Store museum. Very Cool!
The final descent into the Delaware Water Gap was beautiful and the town on the PA side is really neat, but I didn't have much time to enjoy because I was meeting Sherry on the NJ side so I paused for my crossing celebration and hiked on to the visitors center. She has taken me into her home for a zero day and when she arrived and found out I was hiking with some folks she insisted we turn around and bring them along to her house. Thank you Sherry, you are a true Trail Angel. Stick and I have been relaxing at her house and enjoying some home cooking and peace and quiet. I have entered my home area now and am looking forward to hitting some familiar trail when I get to New England.
When I got back to the trail Stickshift was hanging out at a hiker feed by some of last year's thru hikers. We got rollimg in the late afternoon and after a good sunset at High Rock we rolled across the Mason-Dixon Line into Pennsylvania. The next day we ran across a note from the Rose Sniffers inviting hikers to spend a few days with them enjoying the Fourth of July. Amy and Bill Reinke and their four kids took us in for two nights, fed us, invited us to church, took us to the town fair and fireworks and set us back on the trail. It was a most extraordinary bit of Trail magic.
Southern Pennsyslvania was kind of pretty with some nice state parks along the way. At Pine Grove Furnace I engaged in the Half Gallon Challenge, Eating 1/2 Gallon of Ice cream as quickly as you can. Managed in 41:14 with Peanut Butter swirl and we spent the rest of the daylight on the very hot day swimmimg in the lake. That night began an epic 48 hour blast to Duncannon for the Billville Pig roast. We walked mostly at night and covered 45 miles in 46 hrs which included spending the entire day in the Boiling Springs community pool before walking all night across the Cumberland Gap.
Just south of Duncannon the famous Pennsylvania rocks began. I would come to curse them and all of PA violently by the end of PA. The trail is strewn with rocks from fist to bowling ball to car sized and you often have to pick your way along on featurless ridges that stretch for 40 miles. It was not much fun.
In Duncannon I was reumited with Mad Mike, Ray and Sparky who drove in for the feed. I stayed one night at the legendary Doyle hotel. Thanks to Bag of Tricks, Jester, Walking Home, Baltimore Jack, Trail Angel Mary and the rest of the Billville crew for putting on a great event.
The descents into Duncannon and Port Clinton were precipitous and hair raising. In Port Clinton, Can Do Will Do was once again on hand to help however he could, and drove us around a bit. I pretty much dashed for the Delaware Water Gap, pausing to stay with Cathy at the marvellous Fillbert B&B in Danielsville. She and her partner were very kind and went out to get me dinner. It's a beautiful old place with a General Store museum. Very Cool!
The final descent into the Delaware Water Gap was beautiful and the town on the PA side is really neat, but I didn't have much time to enjoy because I was meeting Sherry on the NJ side so I paused for my crossing celebration and hiked on to the visitors center. She has taken me into her home for a zero day and when she arrived and found out I was hiking with some folks she insisted we turn around and bring them along to her house. Thank you Sherry, you are a true Trail Angel. Stick and I have been relaxing at her house and enjoying some home cooking and peace and quiet. I have entered my home area now and am looking forward to hitting some familiar trail when I get to New England.
Monday, July 12, 2010
So Much Laughter
I just realized that I have posted lots of media lately, but not much in the way of updates, so here goes. After Glasgow, we ran into the northern half of the Virginia Highlands. Many big climbs stacked back to back. On one bald, Dancing Wind and I got stuck in a hellacious thunderstorm and we had to dive off the trail and cower on a woods road until it passed. The scene when it blew over was magical. We spent a nice restful day in Waynesboro before heading out for the Shennies.
The walking in Shenandoah National Park was smooth and pretty easy, but not very interesting either. There were wayside restaurants with blackberry milkshakes and a wonderful day away from the trail with my friend Max Factor, who treated my friends and I to a resort day. There was also the traditional hiker solstice celebration at 12:01 on the 21st and another Latvian celebration on the 23rd for which I wore a huge oak wreath.
After the Shennies there were a couple of great nights hosted by the PATC at Bears Den Hostel and the Blackburn Trail Center. Thanks especially to Bob the ridgerunner for all his assistance.
After a run of mounds called the Rollercoaster (we made a clicking sound as we climbed, and threw our hands in the air and screamed as we descended) , we were in Harpers Ferry, the ceremonial halfway point. It is a beautiful town on the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. We got our pictures taken at the ATC offices and spent the day with Spoonz mom. The next day all but Stickshift and I headed out. He and I found beautiful B&B on the bluff overlooking the Potomac called Laurel Lodge. Chris and Ed made us feel right at home. We had a nice restful day. The next day after running some errands we decided to try the Maryland challenge, all 41 miles in 24 hrs. I'll detail the results in my next post.
The walking in Shenandoah National Park was smooth and pretty easy, but not very interesting either. There were wayside restaurants with blackberry milkshakes and a wonderful day away from the trail with my friend Max Factor, who treated my friends and I to a resort day. There was also the traditional hiker solstice celebration at 12:01 on the 21st and another Latvian celebration on the 23rd for which I wore a huge oak wreath.
After the Shennies there were a couple of great nights hosted by the PATC at Bears Den Hostel and the Blackburn Trail Center. Thanks especially to Bob the ridgerunner for all his assistance.
After a run of mounds called the Rollercoaster (we made a clicking sound as we climbed, and threw our hands in the air and screamed as we descended) , we were in Harpers Ferry, the ceremonial halfway point. It is a beautiful town on the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. We got our pictures taken at the ATC offices and spent the day with Spoonz mom. The next day all but Stickshift and I headed out. He and I found beautiful B&B on the bluff overlooking the Potomac called Laurel Lodge. Chris and Ed made us feel right at home. We had a nice restful day. The next day after running some errands we decided to try the Maryland challenge, all 41 miles in 24 hrs. I'll detail the results in my next post.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
More Trail Moments
"Slightly Inappropriate", "Caboose", and "Stickshift" let go on McAfee Knob
The Ponies on The Grayson Highlands
The Ponies on The Grayson Highlands
Trail Days early Trail reunion, "Three Bears", "Pacemaker", Tim, "Whippersnap" and I.
"Bismark" in the water fight that was the Hiker Parade at Trail Days
"Pixie" and "Rummy" warm up in my rain jacket after Hard Core.
Otto and the Hard Core "G Posse" build a crib wall
"Deetz", "Powerpack", and "Slogo" experience a rural conundrum
"Yeti" at Dismal Falls
An abandoned homestead north of Pearisburg
"Stickshift" in a thoughtful moment on McAfee's
"Caboose" out for her birthday hike
The age of discovery continues "Slightly Inappropriate", "Caboose", and "Stickshift" on McAfee's Knob
Getting away from it all... Oh who's kidding who - when we get a phone signal we're all over it.
"Caboose" and Spencer fix breakfast
S I is the new spokes model for Wandees
"Dancing Wind" at a blue ridge swimming hole
Blue ridge Parkway sunset
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