+023.jpg)
Hey everyone!
We just got into Damascus, Va. today and strolled in with style with our first 26 mile day. Although the town is much smaller than we thought (Damascus is kind of "the mecca" for trail destinations behind harpers ferry of course), but it was a sight for sore eyes. Before we even got into town a man offered us a lift to wherever we needed to go, but ew already had a ride covered for once. We're now in Abbingdon, Va with Allyssa, lauren and Zhel and could not thank them enough for treating us to dinner, beds, showers, and a hot tub! I think this is one of the very few days we are actually going to sleep with full bellys (especially since we had two pizzas in town before being picked up). Our schedule is somewhat tentative right now, but we're probably going to take a "nero" nine mile day out of town to the next shelter or treat ourselves to a zero day near the border. In a couple days we should be climbing the two tallest peaks in the state and will be resupplying in Marion, Va and possibly Bland or Bastian (Bland doesn't sounds exciting).
In other news Stew got to see a Eastern Dimondback snake up close and personal when it was crossing the trail, but it didn't give us any trouble so we walked on passed it. Stew hopes to get new boots at the outfitters tommorow and hopefully this will help some of the repeated blister problems he's been having. I'm not sure what the next close thing is to looks forward to since we have not even started to look at this massive state as our next goal, but I guess Harpers Ferry will do for now. Also, for some reason the entirety of the south along the trail is not only usually dry, but lacking in Rootbeer floats. This I think is probably our newest short term goal (we've been searching since NC).
Its great to hear from so many people back at home and excellent to see our family members watching our progress and giving us so much encouragement. We can't thank everyone enough.
Lastly, to our trail friends from New jersey, you guys have an easy hike past Irwin for the most part. Pond flats is a bit long, but after that it turns to Gravy until the state line. Hope to see you all soon. I'm sure Jake is itching to up the miles anyway :)
Oh yeah, more pictures are up from the last bits of NC and TN. There should be a bunch from Stew's camera as well starting from Springer Mt.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
i'm so glad to see that you guys are doing so well! the pictures are great... it's always wonderful to get updates on yall.
ReplyDeletealso: you're such goobers!
So, I definitely missed posting an eva story on the last blog post. So here are two:
ReplyDeleteEva made this drawing of a tree that is terrific, and she gave it to me! Hooray! The best thing about Eva's art is her explanation of what is in it... In this picture, the tree trunk "is long so it reaches all the way into the soil." There are two branches--one has a bee hive, so "the honey bees can come there and make the honey for little girls." The second branch has a bird's nest and bird feeder. I asked Eva what color bird she wanted, and she said yellow. Then she asked her dad "what's the yellow bird we have outside?" So then she told me to draw that bird--a yellow finch. The birdfeeder is there so the birds "can get all the food they need." I drew some worms in the soil for the birds too, and she drew some more that look like little 3s (and said "this worm wiggles like the number three").
Eva's also taken to playing mommy animal and baby animal with me. Most often it's kittens, and we meow; sometimes it's bunnies or birds or whatever animal we're talking about. She also told me I should name the bunny in my yard "bunny bunny," and the bunny in my picture "bunny-wanna-carrot," and the bunny in her yard "bunny's-gotta-hop." Sickest names ever.
"I did not wish to take a cabin passage, but rather to go before the mast and on the deck of the world, for there I could best see the moonlight and the mountains. I do not wish to go below now." Thoreau's words, and that man was probably more of a crackpot than the world admits, but the words are right, and they put me in mind of you three. Hope you like Virginia.
ReplyDeleteStew: 3 questions: Did you get a picture of the snake? What did my sister (your mother) have to say about the snake? Do the new boots work better? We will miss you at the beach, all the best to you and your hiking mates we love following your progress and wish you all great times and good hiking.
ReplyDeleteWayne
Awesome pictures pete!
ReplyDelete-Steverourke
It has been more than a week since this post by Pete and Jeff's last call from Damascus. But from Jeff's bank account activity I (Jeff's mom) know they stopped at a KFC in Marion, VA on 6/28 or 6/29 (583.3 miles from Springer) and reached Bastian, VA on 7/1 (583 miles into AT). Maybe we will hear from them from Pearisburg, VA 24134, the next major stop with a zip code. Judging by their average speed, they should be in Pearisburg on July 4th.
ReplyDeleteYo guys. Good to hear from you. Glad to hear you are kickin ass after the early setbacks w/ Pete's leg.
ReplyDeletePete I talked to my friends Kai and Erika who you met last summer at the lake house. They live out in Charlottesville, VA area and are minutes from the AT. They said they would be more than happy to put you guys up for a night and help you wash clothes/resupply. Kai's cell# is 434-987-3445. Erika's number is 540-220-5710. You should definately use them if you need. They are good people. Keep in touch fellas and good luck.
Pete,
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping us "in the loop"! Sounds like you three are doing really well.....we are IMPRESSED! Can't say I miss seeing the snake, mice or the bear....Pictures will do! Hope your legs are holding out, Mat's feet.....and that Jeff is tolerating the two of you! We're heading to Holden Beach soon.....if you are walkig that way, come join us!!! Stay well!
Connie & Keith
Young Hikers,
ReplyDeleteWe are awash in rumors here: that a line storm plucked you off one mountaintop and set you down on another; that Virginia state troopers in bear costumes attacked your camp one night with lascivious intent; that a mushroom patch you thought you'd camp by for a rest day now has you in its power and you haven't moved for a week! Can you put up posts more frequently than you have been heretofore? Set our minds straight about where you are and what you're encountering?
Jeff's dad-
ReplyDeleteI spoke with Pete two days ago and he says they're all well (although this may not be entirely true; he refuses to tell me whether or not they have eaten jeff). He wishes he could post more often, but it's been difficult for them to get to libraries.
-Alden
Thank you Alden Jane; did not realize that posting for them was so inconvenient.
ReplyDelete