July 19-20 Pure Hiking

Nothing exciting since leaving Daleville. Just pure hiking. Reef has fallen behind , and I don't know of he will catch up. Pushing on to Buena Vista, for food and Batman! Terrain isn't bad, but water is still hard to find. Will continue on.

Buena Vista, The Dark Knight Rises. 21st

Hiked a 20 mile day to VA60, the road that goes to Buena Vista. Have waited all week to go to this town as I need to resupply, and there is a movie theater in town. I can finally see the new Batman movie! Hitchhiked for the first time, mixed feelings about doing so. Waited for a good hour to get a ride into town. Picked up by a fellow Texan heading to a farm to work on. Was very grateful for the ride as town was almost 10 miles away. Got my hotel room, and washed my clothes. Ate not one but TWO triple whoppers from Burger King along with fries and a large coke. I've got a big appetite these days. Got a taxi ride to see the Batman movie. Heard all about the shooting in Colorado on the way to the movie. The film was a big reward for me, haven't been this excited in a while. Got my ride back to my hotel room, and saw that Reef wasn't in town. I think I out hiked him considerably. Going to try and be in Harpers Ferry by the end of the month.

Hike to the Dutch hostel, 22nd

Woke up early to hit the trail. Did not want to leave my bed. Hard to get out of civilization when you have so many comforts. Got my food supplies at the dollar general, nothing like junk food and rice sides to resupply you. Was lucky enough to get a big breakfast at Burger King. Tater Tots, bacon egg and cheese biscuit and a bacon, sausage, cheese and egg croissant. Best breakfast thus far, was ready for anything. Got a ride in the morning back to VA60, which is where the trail continues. Left some drinks(trail magic) for Reef and other hikers. It's hot out there and water and drinks are a big deal out here. Hiked almost all day and ran into my friend Sherlock. Another hiker from Texas who has the largest beard I have ever seen. Sherlock informed me of the Dutch haus hostel down the trail. Couldn't resist a hostel as I was still tired from hiking so many miles. We got a ride to the hostel once we hit Spry rock road. One of the best hostels I've seen. Clean place, beds with sheets, cokes, and home cooked meals. Talked to the owners about slack packing the trail tomorrow, so that I can spend an extra night at the shelter. Sherlock and I had a lengthy conversation about Unimogs and FJs. Can't wait to hike the priest and three ridges tomorrow, I hear that's the last big mountains (4000ft) in Virginia.

Slack packing, 23rd

Yesterday I slacked packed from Reeds Gap to Spry Rock (20 miles). Headed south on the AT back towards the Dutch hostel. Climbed the two last big mountains in Virginia, the priest and the three ridges. My day pack only contained food, water and my rain gear. The hike wasn't so bad until I was climbing the Priest. Made it half way up and heard thunder, not good considering I still had 1.5 miles to the top. Saw a huge rattlesnake next to me while hiking. The snake was at least 4 1/2 to 5 feet long. The thunderstorm hit as I was half a mile from the top, very glad I brought my rain gear. The lightning was all around me when I was at the top of the mountain, very interesting. Sprinted to the shelter another .5 miles away. Was so glad to get out of the rain. Waited the storm out then hiked on back to the hostel. Tomorrow I get dropped off at reeds gap again, this time heading north. Food and shower at the hostel was something else.

July 18 Daleville

Woke up today, got ready to hit the trail. Shipped home my old trekking poles that broke on me. Went over to the Kroger that was next door to the UPS store. Stocked up on snacks and soda for the trail. Found Shiner bock, but didn't have time to drink some, what a shame. Got to talk to mom and dad which was nice. My buddy Reef was reluctant to leave, "almost" convinced me to pull a zero. Would have done that had I not been so determined to reach harpers ferry by the end of the month. Said goodbye to my old walking stick that helped me out for over 200 miles when my pole gave out. The heat today was something, we didn't hit the trail till 11:30 with 90 degree heat and steep climbs. We decided to only do 12 miles today, so tomorrow will be a long day.

Trying to update my blog today or tomorrow so you'll have to excuse my slow blog posts.

If you're lucky enough to be in the mountains, you're lucky enough.

Will update soon

Been busy moving.

Storms a brewing, July 5th

9 mile/ 565.2-1619
Left knot maul shelter around 7. Reef and I originally planned to hike 19 miles but that didn't happen. A thunderstorm hit us half way though our hike. By far the worst storm I've experienced out here. Had to hike in the rain for a good while. Lightning and thunder appeared just as I got to a clearing. Waited for the thunder to slow down and went over the clearing. Reef and I got to a pond when the storm hit again. Rain like you wouldn't believe. Rain gear and pack cover was useless. Rain was almost sideways, with lightning going off all around us, near a bald. We stood in the tree line for over an hour, just standing in the torrential down pour, pure misery. Hiked up to chestnut knob shelter, a fully enclosed shelter. The shelter was a great way to put an end to the thunderstorm. Was able to hang out my all my wet gear. Passing out

Dojo rest day, July 7th

Got a ride to Walmart to resupply, but first things first, Chinese buffet. Haven't eaten so much like that since the last town. Got me some much needed supplies at Walmart, while talking with Alex. Bristle VA was busy with shoppers, most people I've seen since I started the trail. Got back to the dojo and had a couple beers. Meeting some nice folks from all over the area. Took a picture of a thunderstorm off in the distance. Soooooo glad that I'm not up there on the trail. Movie tonight is last of the mohicans, a fitting movie as it was filmed near the AT. Have the soundtrack stuck in my head all the time out here. Was able to use a computer for an hour for the first time on the AT. Nothing like the Internet, and I miss reddit. Ready to be back on the trail.

The Dojo, July 6th

15 mi/ 562.2-1619
Left Chestnut Knob shelter at 7:20 to find water. Never did find good water all day long. Lots of streams and springs are dried up from the heat. Made it to Laurel Creek where I was able to call Nigel, a brit who runs a free hostel in Bastian called the Dojo. Very relieved to get a ride into town. The dojo is a karate school with a entertainment area/ lounge area and a shower. The best part about the dojo is that it's next door to pizza plus. Ate a large supreme pizza and about two liters of dr pepper. Drank a couple beers and watched the movie the terminal. Great way to end the day.

Leaving the dojo, July 8th

Woke up at 6:30am, all packed up. Tried to get a breakfast at a gas station but it was closed on Sundays. Got a ride back to Laurel Creek from Nigel. Reef and I decided to hike to Jenny Knob shelter.

Woods Hole Hostel/ July 9

22 mi/ 619.4-1564.8
Started early for a nice day of easy hiking. Mostly flat terrain at 2,500 feet, with a small climb at the end. Came across my first suspension bridge over Kimberling Creek. Reef and I decided to hike into town to grab a bite to eat. Double cheese burger with all the trimmings along with 3 soft drinks and onion rings. It was the right decision. Hiked back to the trail and passed the Wapiti Shelter, a shelter where someone was once murdered. Came to a waterfall but didn't check it out as we both wanted to reach the hostel before night. We had a good 5 mile climb to Woods Hole hostel, a hippy farm home to hikers. The hostel had pigs, chickens and goats. Reef and I ate some Amish ice cream. Set up my sleeping gear, ready for a nice easy day tomorrow. My foot is a bit sore but it's not swollen, that's good news.

Pearisburg July 10

22 miles/ 619-1565.2
Last night was interesting, slept on a church pew at the hostel. Woke up at 7:30 for some much needed coffee. You can never have enough coffee. Afterwords ate breakfast with all the hostel people. Had an easy ten mile hike into Pearisburg. Staying at a hotel tonight, always nice to have a bed. Ate some Mexican food, not quite like home but I'll take it. Reef enjoyed a margarita at my expense, I should learn to make fewer bets. Currently updating my blog. Doing well