So many great stories but so little time! Here are a few bits and pieces.
Big Bald was the perfect place to roll around in the grass. It was such a beautiful day. We spent hours sitting on top enjoying the 360 view of the mountains.
One of our closest hiking friends, "Whiz Kid", decided Big Bald needed a kite, so he built one out of a sit pad, spoon and paracord.
Regal mountain dog
A racoon the size of Zooey got scared and ran away but the baby was crawling over my shoe and trying to follow us down the trail.
Enjoying a good sit-rock at sunset. We may have enjoyed a few too many sit rocks though, considering it was 9:45pm when we got to the next shelter. Night hiking is great in theory but I hate not knowing where we are and I despise almost stepping on a GIANT rattlesnake. Rattlesnake night was a push to a water source where I was continuously convinced for hours water was "just around this corner". Eventually I threw my pack down pissed at snakes and the dark and sore feet but especially the lack of water when we heard the dogs lapping up water. They found the source just around the corner.
I can't even explain.
This is at Greasy Creek Friendly, where we did a work-for-stay planting tomatoes and playing in the dirt.
Zooey gave half of my leg a bath. Who needs to pay for a shower?
This bald is called beauty spot... Can't imagine why.
Beauty Spot only got better. After this sunset it was a clear night for stars and the sunrise wasn't shabby either.
2 states down, 11 to go!
The trail went through a big cow pasture. This is right before Zooey face-planted jumping over a fence.
"I hate it!" Amanda's well loved pack had a bent frame, the belt wouldn't tighten any more, the belt clip broke, and squirrels ate through it. She carried one kibble too many (potentially 20lbs of dog food at one point). Osprey replaced it for her no questions asked.
If only I had as much energy as Seamus I'd be in Maine by now. People think of the dogs as a bear deterrent but their snoring didn't seem to bother the bears that were sniffing around the tent all night. We couldn't wake the dogs for anything.
Made it to Virgina! 3 states down, 10 to go! VA is the biggest with almost a quarter of the trail. It poured so hard on us we practically ran to Damascus. Unspeakable chafing was the result. We decided to celebrate making it to VA by staying in a real hostel with real beds and a real hot shower. It's 1 of 2 times we've slept indoors since April 18th. I think that's kind of awesome.
Damascus brewery fun with "radio flyer" and "jet power".
At Woodchuck hostel, "bear" gave us a front porch performance singing and playing his pack guitar.
Happy Hiking!
