Here’s what I look like at home after a shower and hair trim in my civilian clothes. I’ve lost weight and it shows in my cheeks. But I’m happy to be here with my sweetheart and going to see Hamilton tonight – special treat!
Monthly Archives: May 2019
Back to civilization
Chewed up feet
Hamilton
Even before I started hiking the Appalachian Trail Kathy and I knew about Broadway Across America’s performance of Hamilton on May 31st. So as part of my hike plan I said I would return to Austin to attend this special musical.
I started the trail on April 14th and found that it was much harder than expected. On average I was doing 16 miles per day unlike my 20 mpd on the PCT. So on May 1st I had enough experience and I calculated that I need to do 16 mpd EACH AND EVERYDAY UNTIL I LEFT FOR AUSTIN! OMG! No zero days! So that’s what I did. I needed to grind out those miles.
I’m now seven days from leaving. And it looks like I’m going to make it. I’ve reserved a room at the Roanoke airport for May 29th and a flight on May 30th. Kathy is sending me travel clothes to the hotel. All is set.
Then I return on June 1st and right back into it, because I’ll be meeting Art and his family on June 21-23 at Greenbrier State Park in Maryland. Again this is going to be all I can do to get there on June 21st. But that’s what I want to do. No zeroes. I need to grind out those miles again.
In Pearisburg VA
Down, down, down I hiked into the outskirts of the town of Pearisburg VA. Then a 0.7 mile hike on Cross Avenue to the Plaza Motel where I got my laundry done and a shower. Across the street I resupplied at the Food Lion. I got 6 1/2 days of food. OMG it is so heavy. And tomorrow I have to lug it back up into the mountains.
Heading into Pearisburg VA
Almost to Pearisburg VA for my next resupply. I am camping 16 miles away to be there after finishing tomorrow’s hike. Then Lex and I will share a room, get showers, have our laundry done, do our resupply, and leave the following morning – Me to begin my staging for home in seven days, and Lex to continue hiking north solo.
600 miles
Gluttony
All I do is eat all day long. I have to feed my hiking engine. Breakfast at 6 AM, Clif bar snack at 8 AM, Granola bar snack at 10 AM, Lunch at Noon, Candy snack at 2 PM, and Dinner about 5 PM.