May 29 Update

Sorry for the disappearance but just got in a rut nothing new, I was just making miles. Just when you start getting bore and thinking about going home look out.

Tara got in touch and wanted to bring Charlie, Anna and William to see me so we started making plans as to where we could meet. I picked a place early in the week near Atkins, VA and made plans to check with each other later. Well, I  didn't plan on no phone service and as the weekend got closer I  realized I  could not get to the spot I picked. I couldn't  get Tara so I started sweating and looked for other places or options. It was Memorial Day weekend so we had to think about other people and vacations. Tara was already ahead of me and found a nice hotel with a in door pool about 20 miles away in Wytheville. Great, now all I  had to do was get somewhere where they could pick me up. I starting asking other hikers about any new hostels or hotels and found out a new hostel (not open yet) was very near. I was only about 8 miles away and it was my last chance. I finally got Tara and told her the general area it was and took off. I got to the road and after flagging down a lady, discovered that they were working on it. She even offered to take me there and off we went. I got to the house knock on the door and someone was there. It turned out she was taken hikers even  though they were still in construction and would open in 2016. So I asked if I could just hang around until Tara came and pick me up. I would come back spend the night if things worked out and she said certainly. So I called Tara and gave her directions and found out she was running behind but at least we had a plan. I wished Vikki had come  but she had other plans (not what I hoped) but at least someone was coming. Well as it turned out Vikki was coming and boy was I  glad to see all of them. Well we had a great time, played in the indoor pool and my spirits  were sky high. They left the next day, I hit the trail full of energy and began to realize with some big days I could be home in 3 weeks.

Then everything starting going right plus Grayson Highlands was coming up where the wild ponies live. The north bound hikers really started to increase and every shelter was fulled. That didn't bother me as I usually camped out even at the shelters but it meant more noise thus harder to get to sleep. These were younger people and more groups that were staying together so more party time. That's life all I hope is that the seeds I covered them with and God's power will get through.

      Now the ponies,everyone was talking about them and how beautiful the Highlands were. I was told I was about 2 days away but I picked up my pace with some 18+ miles days and there they were. The combination of meadows mixed in with mountains and big rock formations plus ponies makes for a beautiful display of God's creation. I was able to walk among the ponies, see the colts and I don't know why but I thought about my Dad and how he would have enjoyed it. He loved anything that brought joy to kids. So I didn't let time matter, I just enjoyed every second there. If you have little kids or grandkids start making plans to go. It's one of the prettiest places I have seen so far.

Well this is a good place to stop and to update the mileage. I'm now in Damacus at mileage 1716 which means 194 more miles to go. Six more miles and I  can check Virginia off my list!!!!!!!!. I'm in my last 2 weeks give or take 1 to 2 days and then I can add that 725 more miles to my total. I feel great and can walk 8 hours with my 30+ pounds pack without much trouble. I have lost about 15 pounds from the 175 starting weigh and other than a little knee soreness have felt good.

Keep the prayers coming as God has watched out for this old boy and I can't wait to share the ups and downs of the my hike.
Meekness

May 19

I have finally made it to dirt trails, what a relief. Well for the last 2 days I have hiked through trees, ground cover and at times what looked like a hole cut through hedges. If I didn't know better, I could just be walking through woods in Gastonia. You can't see through the trees so you don't see anything that makes you think you're still in the mountains other than you keep going down hill. I mean I walk down hill for over 3 to 4 hours at a time. It's  kind of boring and my feet could take a break. I'm just making miles and I'm starting to smell the finish line. I must admit I'm getting real excited knowing the end is near. I'm trying to do at least 16 miles per day and could finish in 21 more days. I'll be glad to check off Virginia and then set my site on Tennessee. I seem to be the only person going south and pass 10 to 20 people going north. I believe there's  more women hiking the AT this year then men. I'm starting to see people that are about to give up so I'm a sharing my story and how sectional hiking allows you to keep your dream of hiking the AT alive and how fun doing it. Well I'm sorry nothing exciting is happening right now but I feel that's getting ready to change. I'll soon be back into mountains and up and down again. Well until next time, I'm gone.
Meekness

May 17 Update

Well I'm in Pearisburg, VA for r&r and resupply. This is my longest time on the trail, 7 full days and was completely out of food, fuel and needed a real bed to sleep in. The cool weather came back but that meant colder days so I can make it through the nights. I'm at SOBO mileage 1554 with 388 miles completed this hike. That leaves 167 miles in Virginia, 75 miles in Tennessee and 115 in NC and I'm home. I have been hiking for 36 total days and still hope to complete my trip the first or second week of June. I have one big mountain first thing tomorrow and then about 100 miles of fairly level trail where I hope to gain some days. I have started planning my upcoming resupply points and it looks like I will get off every 90 miles. The wave of north bound hikers has increased as the big bubble finally reached me. I had trail magic 3 days last week and one was a complete hot dog meal with all the fixings you would want. I saw a white skunk and gave him all the space he needed.
I have seen 3 bears and many deer. I actually got within 15 feet of 2  yesterday morning before they finally decided it was time to leave. I feel like I may have lost about 15 pounds and may have to buy a new belt or cut mine off. I'm still hiking mainly in rocks and will be glad to see and hike dirt. I'll post some pictures and talk again in about a week.
Meekness

May 9 Update

Well today looked like a wasted day at first but turned out to be a great day. I let my medicine run low so Vikki had to ship me some by UPS. She did a great job but I had to wait until possible 1pm to pick it up. So that meant wasting the whole morning before I could hit the trail from Daleville. So the medicine actually came in early 12 noon and I was on the trail by 12:30. The weather cleared up, humity was down and the trail from Daleville was rather easy and next thing I know, I'm on the top ridge of the mountains. I mean I'm walking the peak and can see down both sides of the mountain at the same time. It's like a little path and I do it for miles and hours at a time. You go up and  down in elevation but you stay on that little path. It was wonderful, the scenery when not blocked by trees was breath taking as you could see miles in each direction. Finally the path ended but the hike continue  through the mountains and there were no hard climbs. When you got near the top of the mountain there were no surprises, no endless climbs but just the best possible route was pick and you just glided on to the next mountains. I was able to do 10 miles on a shorten day and never really hot tired. So my total miles hiked this trip is around 310 and my health is good. I'm  still shooting  for  Hot Springs, NC and another 5-6 weeks  will  do it.

MAY 8 Update

Well I currently  sit in Daleville, VA taking a day off for resupply, rest and healing. It seems my right big toe and right next toe are a little too close and  created  a sore on the big toe. I'm  having to keep a bandage on the big toe in hopes it heals. I also went barefoot and step on a rock which cut the bottom of my left foot. The weather has turned  hot (in the 80s) so I'm trying to start earlier 7:00 and quit around 2 or 3 as the heat is too much.
I'm at mile 1464.1 which means I have hiked 297.8 more miles which totals 572.1 but leaves 447.9 to get me back to Hot Springs, NC. I'm  waiting on some prescription pills to come in  tomorrow so  I won't be able to hit the trail until after 1 to 2. The next few days are challenging but after that I hope to make up some lost time. I'm still looking at 9 to 10 weeks unless the weather helps and my hurts heal fast.  I still hoping to be home the first of June and looking b forward to  some rest at the l lake. I fell in a creek yesterday morning and other than getting soaking wet everything survived. There's report of some sickness coming north so pray I don't catch anything another reason I took a day off. Well I'll post some pictures and see you all later.
Meekness