Greetings,
We arrived in Damascus, Virginia yesterday late afternoon after doing the "damascathon"( it was a 26 mile day over fairly mild terrain). We have now hiked ~460 miles of the trail and passed the 20% mark yesterday. The weather yesterday was still cool, but warmer and sunny and hopefully things will keep trending upwards. Both Ben and I are pretty tired of the cold, but are just taking things one step at a time literally. Once again I am at a library and the computer will not allow pictures to be downloaded...sorry we've got some good ones too!
We are planning to head out in just a bit so I will end this post with one amazing story.
O.k. here we go....I own a pair of Crocs (you know those strange rubber clog like things), they are my "camp shoes" a welcome change to the leather boots I wear all day. ~ 7 days ago after having walked ~12 miles we took our packs off for a rest and I realized one of my Crocs had fallen off my bag. Ugghhhh what a bummer I thought, but maybe someone will pick it up and bring it to the next shelter. Later that evening one hiker came into the shelter and I asked "did you happen to see a green croc on the trail?" She replied "yes I did." "Did you pick it up?" I asked. "No, I wasn't sure how long it had been there and didn't want to carry it for too long."
"oh too bad it was mine." She felt badly, but oh well. So I continued to carry my one Croc in my bag for ~4-5 days. We then stopped in Hampton, TN and stayed at a hostel for several nights to avoid more extreme weather. Well one of the evenings Ben, I and another fellow hiker were walking from the hostel to the grocery store in the rain when I looked up to see a car pulled over on the side of the road and a hiker whom I had previously met running towards me with my Croc!! He had carried it for 5 days and somehow had learned that it was mine, but he had no idea I was in that town. It was such a crazy coincidence. Now that's some trail magic for you.
We're heading out for a 75 mile stretch to Atkins, VA where our next box of food is. Hope everyone is well.
Love to you all!
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9 comments:
I love hearing your stories about trail magic!!! I am so glad your Croc was returned. They are SOOOO comfy and I bet they DO feel great after walking in boots for so long. Glad to hear you guys are doing well!
Ben and Amanda,
I have never visited a blog site so I don't really know what I am doing or if this will even get to you. I am so excited for you both and happy to hear that your back is feeling better Amanda! I hope you are enjoying yourselves and the trail. I am so impressed with how far you have hiked in the amount of time you have been out there.
Good luck and I love reading about your travels!!
Katie McPhee
Ben and Amanda, We are so looking forward to meeting up with the two of you In Virginia. Ben, hope your shin splints are improving, been there, done that, they are painful. Please try to take it easy, rest a bit more. Great story about your Croc Amanda, doubt it would happen any where but on the AT. Stay safe, warm & happy. Love Mom & Dad
Hi there!
From the sounds of things you two are doing great! I can't believe the story about the croc. That is just incredible that you got it back. I'm sure your feet were happy! Did you do the "happy feet" dance? The weather here over the weekend has been in the 60-70's. I hope you are getting that too. It has been a long wait but hopefully the good weather will stay for awhile. I hope your back is holding up ok.
Take care and stay healthy! I'm thinking of ya!
Fle
The Iron Chefs were in Atkins VA on 04/20 and hope to be in Pearisburg by 04/24. I guess they are a few days ahead of y'all. Strider plans to push on and do big miles from Pearisburg to Harpers Ferry. Shaggy and Broadway may be slower. Miller has been suffering from neck pain similar to yours. A pack adjustment seems to have helped. They plan to be in DC about 05/17 for a few days. Maybe you can catch up with them there. I know how much they like hiking with you.
Have fun and stay safe and healthy. Miller's Mom
Hey! It's the Chefs! We are just now leaving Pearisburg. We were really hoping that you guys might catch us at some point, but it probably took some time for ya'll to pick up your doors off the side of the trail. You know, since they got blown clean off. We'll be taking a healthy break in DC though, so hopefully you'll catch us. We miss hiking with you guys! --The Iron Chefs
Hey Ben & Amanda, We made it home about 9:30 pm Sat. It was so hard to drop you off and just drive away, I seriously considered gathering the two of you up and bringing you back home to Maine with us. I am so proud of both of you on this endeavor, it was wonderful to spend time with you. We may get out of the camping business and into driving AT hikers around!!! You looked and sounded healthy, well, and determined to thru hike. Say hey to Stoneage and Clay, nice to put a face to a story. Hope to hear soon. Much love, Mom & Dad
Hey guys, Hope this message finds you well and enjoying each day. It sounds like you had an excellent visit with Paul and Marcia. I know they were very excited to head south in search of you. I trust you enjoyed Myra's brownies and that I sent the right day packs. We'll give a call to Intervale Road tonight. We chatted with Graham last night. They're gonna hang in Zion for another week and the head to Yosemite for some big wall climbing. Sue got to spend her first night on the portaledge and slept like a rock (no pun intended). They sounded great. I'm looking forward to some new pictures when you get the opportunity. It was great to talk with you both the other night. We miss you so. Enjoy the nice weather, be safe and have fun. Much love,dad
Hello:
The kids and I are following you along the AT on our map posted on the fridge...so many lessons for them to learn. Hope the weather is improving! Keep on keepin' on!
Kathy, Celia, Libby & Elias
ps...Amanda I have a job prospect for you. Send me an e-mail!
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