So first off, it's been a while since my last blog. Much has transpired since Damascus including about 442 miles of ups and downs. Virginia is so amazingly beautiful, more so than I expected. We've traversed gorgeous rolling hills and farmland in between stands of lush green forest. It's also become MUCH hotter, especially when out from under the tree canopy.
So much has happened ill just stick to the highlights.
Our first town resupply stop was Atkins. We rolled in on a very hot and sunny day. We split a room five ways to shower and escape the heat. At this point it was myself, Nokey, Flash, sprinkles and Dances with flies. Dirty girl was just down the way from us.
The next big stop was Dismal Falls. We planned on lunch there and some swimming. We were joined by brownie, her dog, Wally, lantern, lipton and crispy cream (now broadsword). This turned into a big drunken party as i got a ride to the store with wally to pick up 4 more cases of beer. Lipton got his trail name that night after passing out and getting teabagged.
Next stop was Woodshole hostel. An amazing sustainable/organic farm with a very relaxed hippie vibe. The first night there some of us went into town for dinner. The owners do this once a week to give themselves a night off from cooking. During this time I checked my email and got my acceptance to the University of Colorado's Environmental science program. I was so stoked and celebrated with a few glasses of good red wine and took a zero the next day there to relax.
We did about 10 miles in the cold rain down to Pearisburg and ended staying there to get warm. The next week saw us over the dragons tooth and into the four pines hostel in Catawba, Va. The hostel was awesome and we zereod another day to avoid bad weather for pictures on McAfee knob. My FB pic is from that spot.
Next town stop was Daleville which ended up being a reunion of sorts at the Howard Johnson. I even got to hang with Birdman again as well as secrets and shenanigans.
Our group had split up by this time and I made my way out of town towards Jennings creek. Polaris and his friends had plans to meet his folks there and invited everyone. They fed all of us for two nights with hotdogs, hamburgers, beer etc...it was just amazing!!!!! They also were kind enough to facilitate a day of slack packing. It was a great two days with fantastic people.
From that point on I hiked with Dances with flies, Q-tip and his Awesome Australian shepard Charlie. We got to Waynesboro together after some fun, big days. I had some ankle issues coming out of Jennings but they seemed to resolve themselves......or so I thought.
We camped for free at the ymca field with DW. Talks of renting canoes to aqua blaze the Shenandoah split us up. Flies and Q-tip stayed an extra day to make that happen and DW and i hiked on into Shenandoah park.
After some long days over mild terrain I now sit in the park with a swollen ankle and i guess shin splints. Basically, the tendons from atop of my foot that run up into the shin are swollen and painful. It sends really nasty pains up my shin to about halfway.
The day i spent hobbling into the grounds was my lowest point yet. I was having to come to terms that finishing may now be impossible. If I had more time i could allow time off to heal, but I'm already behind schedule and UCD starts August 20th.
The plan as it stands is to rest/ice my ankle then hike/hobble/crawl till i get through WV into PA and the halfway point at 1,089 miles. Its only about 100+ more from here, totally doable. If the body cooperates ill push further, if not then ill head home.
At halfway i will have made it further than most do, and to have hiked over 1,000 miles isn't so bad. Plus, ill be able to work and put away money for CO as well as have an easier time squaring away registering for classes etc..
Its all up in the air right now and I'm very heavy hearted at the idea of not having enough time to finish. Guess we'll see what happens.
