Day 111 - Waynesboro VA (20/10/2016)

I had planned to head out at 7am again this morning but clouds rolled in and made it too dark to walk without a headlamp. I was forced to sit and have a coffee while waiting for the sun to rise a bit and brighten the day. It was a nice leisurely start, but also meant that I had to do 8 miles in 2.5 hrs to meet Karen for my ride to Waynesboro. That would usually be OK, but for some reason the last few miles of Shenandoah are quite a bit more challenging than the first 100. Still, I managed to make it and am glad to avoid hiking in the hot, humid air for today.

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I had the great fortune of riding with Karen, her husband Jack, and their two beautiful Golden Retrievers. I tried to "borrow" one until December, but Karen kept a wary eye on me. Since they were generous enough to drive me to an outfitter for a gear resupply, and then to a diner for breakfast, I didn't steal their dogs (also, Karen knew to watch me like a hawk).

After a breakfast fit for a hiker (good, but more importantly, huge) I headed to my hostel, where I found Cinderella and Waterboy as expected. Less expectedly, I also found Timber and PinkyPurple!!* C and W are ahead of me now, having arrived last night, but T and PP are sticking around so I'll get to catch up with them.

All in all, a rewarding nero.

Start: just north of Calf Mountain 

End: Waynesboro VA 

Distance: 8 miles

* I'm a bit sad that Timber and Legs are now separated. They were my favourite trail "couple" and I really thought they'd hike the whole way together.

Day 108 - Docile Deer (17/10/2016)

I woke really early this morning, and instead of forcing sleep, I started the day early. I was hiking by 6am, which was well before dawn. I hoped to catch a sunrise, but the trail stayed to the west all morning.

The plan was to hit the next Wayside and get some lunch since I'm a bit under stocked in the pantry area. On the way I picked up Cinderella and Waterboy, and we passed an owl, and two deer who did not care about us all. I was within 5 yards of one who just slowly wandered away a bit.

I've also started meeting a whole new set of hikers: flip-floppers who started going north from Harpers Ferry to Katahdin, and have now returned to go south to Mount Springer. So far there's Spidey, Nine Bears, and Add Coffee. I'm curious to see how that changes the trail experience. 

Start: around 1254.8

End: Bald Mountain

Distance: 22.4 miles

Day 107 - Misty Shenandoah (16/10/2016)

Camping may have been a bit miserable last night, but I woke up to this this morning:

Then I hit up a wayside (camp store with some food) and had a coffee and cinnamon bun to go with my oats.

Later I ran into Cinderella and Waterboy (or rather they caught up to me) and then Mr. Bisquick and Moosetracker! I hadn't seen the latter two since The Antlers in the Hundred Mile Wilderness ! They'd taken some time off trail for illness and had decided to skip forward to keep on schedule. It was good to see them and I was surprised they remembered me. They also talked about the SOBO Serial Novel! They'd met a group of girls who were reading them faithfully.

I hiked a bit with Waterboy and Cinderella, then camped down after around 19 miles. They pressed on for a bit longer. Hope I see them again tomorrow.

Start: Top of Hogsback Mountain

End: Around 1254.8

Distance: 18.8 Miles

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Day 103 - Harpers Ferry (12/10/2016)

Papa Wallaby left me in Harpers Ferry this morning and started the drive home. I'd planned for 9 miles today assuming that the big pack and big miles would make for slow going. Which they did. Eventually.

As usual when I'm in a town, I can't leave, and Harpers Ferry was no different. In fact, it was made worse because of the ATC headquarters that offer a hiker lounge and lots of interesting people. Among them, Cinderella and Waterboy.

I met Cinderella and Waterboy when I was slack packing with Pancake in New Jersey, and have since run into them every time I've been a NOBO, and each time we had a great long conversation. To the point where I started to think it was sad that we didn't get to hang out more on the trail. Turns out they'd been thinking the same thing, so we got a group photo and traded contact details so that we could keep in touch for the rest of our journeys.

I also, finally got a picture of some deer. The deer here are much less skittish, and even hung out 10 yards/metres away from my tent pad while I set up.

Tomorrow, hopefully it'll be right back to bigger miles again, though I think the days of 30+ are gone.

Start: Harpers Ferry, WV

End: David Lesser Shelter

Distance: 9.3 miles

Day 102 - Into the Virginias (11/10/2016)

This is my last day of slack packing, so I decided to go for another big day. Papa Wallaby dropped me off in Harpers Ferry, WV (yep, another state done) and I headed north. The fog on the river created a stunning view as I crossed the bridge.

Day 99 - The Wayne Gretzky of Days (8/10/2016)

Back to that NOBO life! I headed out for a 30 mile day this morning. I wore my running shoes, which was mostly fine except that my feet have clearly gotten bigger by about a half-size. I even ran for a few kilometers (in the wrong direction for part of it. sigh.). Papa Wallaby spent the day doing Papa Wallaby things (it involves a huge chocolate bar from the Hershey's factory). NOBO ing was just as much fun again - ran into BXE, Pancake, Trout, Chef, Cinderella, Waterboy, Shakespeare, and Flatland. I only just made it before dark.

Most remarkably, I hit the midpoint of the trail! The miles I have left are now smaller than the miles I've done!

Not the real midpoint anymore, but the most impressive sign.

Start: Old Forge Rd.

End: Pine Grove Furnace

Distance: 30.1 miles

Days 83 through 85 - That NOBO Life (22-24/9/2016)

For the last few days, I've been walking in the reverse direction to my usual southward wandering. On the first day, we picked up Trout (!) and he joined us slacking and relaxing at Pancake's place. Being a NOBO, I kept crossing paths with a whole bunch of SOBOs that were either a bit behind or a bit ahead of me. Every day I'd pass Ducky, Bunchy, Cinderella, & Waterboy, and now I'm hoping to hike with them all more (could be tough... most of them are faster than me).

The best part is that we were able to do 60 miles in three days, and I've got a new "biggest" day: 22 miles.

One of the more embarrassing things, though, is the amount of food we've been eating at McDonald's. My meals have been a Big Mac Meal with a 6 McNugget Happy Meal and an apple pie. On the plus side, I've now got two superheroes attached to my pack to keep me company: Wonder Girl and Super Girl!

Start: NY 17A (sort of)
End: Mohican Outdoor Centre
Distance: 68.3 miles (including about 8.4 yellow-blazed)