morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-14
From: Fontana Dam

To: Standing Bear Farm & ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well Brian is in the GSMNP, somewhere, wet I would imagine...Weather says it's really raining there, God help me....This is the hard part,knowing he is out there tired, wet and missing home, and not a damn thing I can do about it. I am taking Friday off and leaving as soon as the kids are off to school to meet him, I should be there around 2pm, so we will have two whole nights together ahhh Heaven. My mother-in-law...God I love her is taking care of the kids this weekend. So I won't worry for one second about them, her and John I will worry about. Actually I won't the kids love their Grandparents, and are better for them than they are me. I got really lucky in the In-Law dept I really did, I love John and Cindy, I hear friends at work with horror stories about their in-laws..I say Not me I Love mine. I am a truly lucky woman, I wonder if I knew that before Brian left? I don't know maybe I did, maybe I didn't fully realize how lucky. Some people will never have what I have, a wonderful husband who loves me dearly, 3 wonderful, beautiful children that love me, a mother and father in law people would kill for and my mother who is far away yet very close. I have everything right there. People ask me if I am mad at Brian for leaving to do this..my answer...NOPE, I am proud of him...who reading this can say they followed their dream? I can't.. But my children can say Dad did it so can I. My dad dreamed of hiking 2,174 miles in some of the most beautiful places on earth, and that dream became a reality because he made it happen and my mom and us kids helped him do it. What can't I do? Nothing. Thats my answer PRIDE...I am proud to be his wife and partner.
Date: 2007-04-16
From: Standing Bear Farm & ME

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Ok the last few days have been really tough...I have done well though, Lipstick you would be proud.....The weather in GSMNP has been horrible, and I think that may be an understatement to say the least. Watching the weather channel is a REALLY bad idea when you have a loved one out in it, I don't recommend it I think it's best to just be ignorant to whats actually happening if it's bad. Brian did make it to Newfound Gap, he, wolf and the newly named Snowplow, they were picked up by a park ranger and taken to Cherokee, where they were then met by Snowplow's wife who greeted them with good food and a ride to her home for the night, where thankfully the 3 will stay tonight and head back to the trail in the morning. So now I wait up for the goodnight call....but sleep may be an option tonight knowing he is safe and warm and apparenly free of frostbite. Always a good sign....I tried to pull rank and make him come home if the weather doesn't get better, but he knows I don't mean it. Good thing I didn't mean it, because that dog wasn't huntin.....But anyway, my husband is safe, and those who are out there tonight, I hope are warm and dry, tomorrow looks better.....
Date: 2007-04-19
From: Newfound Gap

To: Newport, TN
Miles today: 0.0

Well this weekend was nothing short of wonderful. Brian hiked to I-40 thursday where Snow Plow's wife was waiting for them, she took them into Newport where I had already reserved a room for 3 nights, Thursday-Sunday. Brian took 2 whole zero days, it was perfect. I have to admit something I hadn't wanted to all along, Brian is where he belongs out there right now. He looks so good, healthy, happy and content. I had always kinda hoped home is where he needed to be, but it isn't not now, not at this moment in his life. When I realized this it hit me kinda hard, but now that it has, I feel so much better about all of this, I tend to see the positve more than the negative right now. I am so proud of the man he already is, I can't even fathom how proud I'll be of the man he'll be when he returns. We meet a few hikers at the hotel Thursday night as we were leaving for Dinner, Scribe and Gadget. They mentioned they were heading back to the trail Friday morning, so we offered to take them back, so they could avoid the cost of a taxi or shuttle. So I got to be a little helpful again this trip. I really enjoy being able to give a little while I'm out there, It makes me feel good, knowing that someone else somewhere has helped Brian is some way. We drove into Hot Springs and dropped off a food drop at the outfitter, so Brian could lighten his pack a bit, he only had to carry food to get there, instead of food to get to Erwin. We also wanted to go to Cades Cove which we did, via Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg....OH MY GOD......I cannot tell you how awful those places are,Traffic is at a complete stop for most of the time, and tourists are everywhere. We did finally make it to Cades Cove, one of my favorite places on earth. Brian had never been, so I was glad to show him one of my favorites. It was a great weekend, I learned a little about my self, spent 3 nights with my husband, and left him walking up the trail in good spirits....WHATA WEEKEND...
Date: 2007-04-20
From: I-40

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Brian made it to Hot Springs Monday. He is really hiking well, I guess good weather helps alot. I was surprised he made it on monday I left him at 11am Sunday, by 5:30 the next day he was rolling into town. He was a little upset by the cost of the tent site, the companion says 5$ but the actual cost is 10$, and he was up every time the train went by which was every 3 hours or so, I guess he was right near the tracks. But he is feeling good, Sunday was a bit rough, but I guess thats from being off the trail for 2 and half days (my fault) sorry honey, but not sorry enough to not do it again, because I will, if given half a chance. The kids and I are going to meet him in Damascus on Friday the 4th, we will have an extra person when we go. Tim, one of Brian's friends is following us, he intends to hike a week with Brian. I sure hope Brian isn't to rough on him. It is Virgina so at least if it's to much there are plenty of road crossings if one needs to bail. Ok more later, when I hear from Brian.
Date: 2007-04-26
From: Hot Springs

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I am not very happy with the turn this trip has taken, not that I was overly thirilled to start with, but I was adjusting. Brian is in Erwin, TN. In pain, his pack strap has broken, and he has no idea where he is gonna spend the night. Miss Janet is booked to the gills, and hotels are full. His only hope is find someone who already has a room and split the cost, or the fire station, that may well be an option. Somehow this whole family has regressed back to the crying, why isn't this over yet group we had slowing gotten away from. This is where I have a problem, he will not see that he may well be doing serious damage to his leg, but when your leg goes from hurting to entirely swelling up THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG. But hey what do I know I'm just a wife and mother. I am comforted by the knowledge that there are good people he is around at times, Catchup you are wonderful, Snow plow, and Wolf. Keep looking out for each other, and be safe.
Date: 2007-04-30
From: Erwin, TN

To: Unicoi, TN
Miles today: 0.0

Well I waited a day before I decided to post this entry. Many reasons, Brian has encountered more problems on the trip than I was ever prepared for, so when he called yesterday out of the blue because he had to hitch to town to eat, because he just couldn't seem to get enough to eat. He was weak the day before to the point he just ate a few lunches and napped because his body just said no. I was pretty upset so I figured I had better calm down before I wrote what I was really feeling, I have no doubt it would have come off as just short of the hysterical ravings of a mad woman. So I waited until today. He ate a big meal in town, and bought more food to carry, it seems when you carry enough food for 3 meals a day, and you eat 6 a day, you go through your food pretty damn quick, and the rate he was going he would have run out of food 2 days shy of his next mail drop. That would have been very bad, given the level of food his body is asking for right now. I am still very supportive of my husband, but this is a bit to much, if it isn't the knee, it's the leg, if not that it's the broken pack, or how bout a bit of hypothermia, the daily I miss Brian from the kids and the tears is that enough to test one sanity???? NO, NO wait lets throw run out of food at her, see how she handles that.
Date: 2007-05-01
From: Unicoi, TN

To: Elk Park, NC
Miles today: 0.0

SO today Brian made it to Elk Park, NC to pick up his mail drop. It seems he is doing great, that's good to know after the all the speed bumps he has encountered. He has been hiking a bit with Trevor and Kimmie, a nice couple he has been meeting up with off and on since I know at least as far back as Franklin. They were there for the coffee. So that is also comforting. Well Friday morning the kids and I leave for Damascus or last visit with Brian till the end 4 or so months down the road, I was hoping for more visits in the future, but finances won't allow for it, not if he wants a flight home anyway. So life here has been kinda predictable. Heres a rundown. Wake up at 5:40 get the twins up, get them off to the bus, shower, get ready myself, then wake tyler up at 6:50, get him off to school, bag, vacumn and seal the food I dehydtrated the night before, lock up leave for work, get to work about 15 till 8, work (ok ok read trail journals) till 5-5:30, drive home fighting tourist traffic that has now made a 15 min drive, 50 min. Get home cook, dinner for the kids and I, eat, cook another meal to dehydrate for Brian, start the food dehydrating, do laundry, that I may or may not be able to fold that night, get the kids showered, make sure all homework is done, argue with the kids about their chores, get those done, try to make Alex stop crying because she misses Brian, argue with Tyler about the year long project he hasn't bothered to work on, tell Chase I love you too 50 times, seems he can't hear it enough. Get the twins to be, around 8-8:30, read a few trail journals, get Tyler to bed. Start dish washer, maybe fold the clothes if they are dry. then about 11 I'll try to get some sleep, but yea you guessed it, can't sleep, so I read more trail journals, maybe sleep around 2 or so. Wake up and do it all over again. Except some days I have to go food shopping, gotta mail drop to get out you know. Quite a boring life I lead. It seems the few things I have tried to plan for myself to break some of the monotany, have been screwed up by one thing or another, and the one vacation I really looked forward too doesn't look possible, because the schedule with the kids that weekend allows me a grand total of about 36 hrs. So there goes that. Sound like self pity??? maybe maybe not. Just life as I know it.
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Elk Park, NC

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I realize some of my entries are depressing, I, like everyone else have bad days. But I also have days that aren't quite so bad. When the kids are all in a great mood and are being silly and getting along, and the sound of their laughter just runs through the house like wild fire, those are great days. Beautiful sunny days at the State Park with my family, those are great days. When Brian calls without   horror stories and just says I love you so much over and over, those are great days. When I forget to be sad, and feel the pride in him that I feel knowing he is living his dream and I cry tears of happiness, those are great days. So I have great days, I just wish they were more often then the bad ones.I guess maybe thats my fault. I found this quote, and thought how appropriate. I am gonna try to make my days what I want them to be, oh don't misunderstand there will be bad days and you guys are gonna hear about them. But maybe not as often. Words to life by...so I'm gonna try. "The things we touch have no permanence.There is nothing we can hold onto in this world.Only by letting go can we truly possess what is real."
Date: 2007-05-03
From: Dennis Cove

To: Watauga Dam Rd
Miles today: 0.0

Ok we have gone a bit backwards. Well in a manner of speaking, We are now meeting at the Watauga Dam. Brian hasn't made it close enough to Damascus for it to be possible. So we had a slight (huge) change of plans. I really don't care as long as these kids get to see their Dad, I havn't seen this level of excitement mixed with cooperation like this from them in awhile. We are heading out about 5am, so they can sleep on the way, this will minimize the bickering that inevetably starts long about an hour into any trip. So I have guarenteed myself at least 3 hours of peaceful, quiet driving. I HOPE! Brian took a zero today due to some pretty unhappy storms rolling through the area, and will have to hike 13 or so miles in the morning, so if all goes well we should arrive pretty close to the same time give or take a few minutes. When I return I return with more pictures I can't wait, Brian really takes beautiful pictures. Okay so off to bed 4am comes early....
Date: 2007-05-07
From: Watauga Dam Rd

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We are back....the trip to TN, was as I had planned a quite trip, leaving while the kids are still half asleep, guarentees they will go back to sleep PDQ. YAY! around 8 or so they woke up and were well behaved for the whole trip, excitment of a common goal has a way of brining togetherness not bickering for my 3 wonderful kids. We made great time, Mt Squid gave me perfect directions to the trail head at the dam. We arrived about 11 am, and I knew we had time to kill Brian had to hike 13 miles from the hostel and he left at 7am. So after looking over the trail book, I realized the dam itself was only 1.3 miles from where we were, the kids have hiked before so I asked if they wanted to hike to the damn, their answer was "see ya up there mom, the boys were gone....Alex had to change out of her sandles so she and I were a bit behind the boys. On the way up, we ran into, Beast, Little Sis, RubberDuck and 2 more hikers we didn't get their names. We got to the top and what a beautiful view of the lake. Well it was windy up on the dam and the kids wanted so badly to hike in the direction Brian would come, so, I, knowing we had no water, just a soda, and hadn't eaten lunch said, so long as it isn't a strenous hike we will go a bit further, we didnt have to go far, about 10 mins or so later towards us came, Kimmie, Trevor, Brian, and Hang Glider. And the kids were running then....The look on Brian's face is something I will never forget....Absolute happiness, and surprise, I guess he never expected to see his family hiking towards him. So after the hugging and I missed you stuff, we had quite a train going back the way we came, the four thru hikers, and the four of us. We got back to the car, and Mt Squiid was there with some of the hikers we had passed. I had food and drinks, and so did Squid, we stayed about 2 hours just enjoying the company. We went to Elizabethton, and ate at Ryans in Johnson City, Brian now eats like a man possessed. IT's crazy. We spent saturday together, and Greg Brian's friend from Raleigh came up for a few hours to see him It was a great trip, but a sad one. I know this was my last trip to see Brian. We took him back to the trail and the kids and I hiked a bit with him. We decided we had better go our seperate ways after a bit, and that was the hard part. Our hike back out was in silence, each of us crying to ourselves, trying not to make the others cry. Maybe I was the only one who knew that was a silly way to be, we were all crying and upset, It didn't help that Brian watched us go the whole time. It was sad in the worst way. But it was a great trip as always. I cut brians hair and shaved his beard he feels better, so much so, he called at 12:30 from guess where....DAMASCUS. quite the miles he made to get there. But 3 states down, so many more to go.
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Damascus

To: Troutdale
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well today is Wednesday, I don't know where Brian is, somewhere between Damascus and Troutdale. Talked to him last Monday on his way out of Damascus.Troutdale should be the next place he is able to call, I guess. He has a mail drop there, and he wasn't expecting to get there until Friday earliest. So this is new, the not hearing from him thing. Not sure I like it. I guess I have just been lucky up till now. I really thought I would go longer between calls, so I really can't complain. Well I could but who'd care right? So the kids are doing ok, ask every day is Brian calling today, "No, I don't think so honey, not today". what else can I say, I really just don't know. 3 more weeks of school, wow, this school year has flown by. maybe this summer will to, wait, what kinda sane person says they wish summer would fly by? Ok I have lost it now.
Date: 2007-05-10
From: Troutdale

To: Troutdale
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well I have officially screwed up my first mail drop. Brian made it to Troutdale today and of course he beat the mail-drop. After some reading last night I kinda thought he might get there first. He hiked to fast thats what happened, I didn't screw it up , Either way he is there and his food isn't, he is gonna try and slack pack today and hope it gets there tomorrow. Sure hope this doesn't happen again. Ok just spoke with him, he has got a ride to Sugar Grove, and will hike southbound for the rest of the day back to Dickey Gap where he got off earlier, so even though there was snafu all seems to be working out, he will not lose hiking time, he wasn't ready for a nero day and surely not ready for a zero.
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Troutdale

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 417.0
Weather: broken clouds

Ok he didn't hike that many miles today, just wanted to catch the miles up. So there ya go. 523.3 miles as of this morning. In Troutdale, 2.6 miles from Dickey Gap off the trail, Brian went to a new place called Jerry's Kitchen and Goods, Run by Jerry and Suzanna. Light resupply, good food in the restaurant, and HOMEMADE PIES, that were to dies for.....They also offer a FREE shuttle service. How great is that? Brian took advantage of this service yesterday and today. Mail drop didn't show, so he left without it. The postmaster said she would return it home when it did come. So he will have to resupply in Atkins at a truck stop of all places. This should be interesting, he only has to make it to Pearisburg where his next mail drop is hopefully waiting, God I hope it's there I mailed it today, so unless he turbo hikes 100 miles it should be there. Brian called this morning, and asked me if I thought he was being totally self-centered and selfish, I think to a degree, to hike this trail one must be a bit selfish, but in the necessary way to survive such and undertaking. So no I don't think he is being self centered, I think he is living his dream, and will be the better for it, we all will. I already am better, I know so much more about my marriage, and my future goals than I did before all of this. Life is to short, live it while you can, or regret every minute you have left wising you had. I don't want my husband to regret anything. Asking him to come home, would be selfish on my part, and would cause Brian to resent me the rest of our lives. I cannot and will not have that. SELFISH: devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned only with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.So Brian when you read this and I know you will. No you are not selfish or self center. You are living your dream, and I am proud to be a part of it. Your children are proud to be a part of it. You have always considered our feelings and made sure since you have been gone that we knew how much we meant to you and this dream. I love you and that is all.
Date: 2007-05-12
From: Atkins, VA

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 56.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Brian made it to Bland, Va today to call home for Mothers Day, despite some terrible stomach virus, that won't allow to keep anything down. He sounded awful, so I talked him into staying at the motel there, granted it wasn't hard he is exhausted and just sick. He is resting and plans to take advantage of the check out time of 11 am. So hopefully an night of rest will help.
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Bland, VA

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Well today Brian isn't feeling any better, so his mother made him stay another day and night in the motel. All this happened before I talked to him this morning, I am glad she got to him first, he listens to his mother on occasion, and I am glad of it. He really just has nothing left right now, I can hear it in his voice. It's very hard not to be able to take care of him, at home I would be. But thats not where we are now, we are separated by several hundreds of miles. Well there has been some good news, my mother, as a gift is sending me to see Brian one more time...I cannot wait. It will have to wait until the first weekend in June. But hey I have waited 3 whole weeks now, 5 total so I can handle it. THANKS MOM....I LOVE YOU......
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Bland, VA

To: VA 606
Miles today: 18.0

Well Brian left Bland yesterday hoping to make it to the Jenny Knob Shelter, and as it turned out he did. He is feeling so much better, and hiking well. He called from the store on Va 606, Wednesday morning, and was a bit worried about the storm that was rolling in. If all went as he planned, he should stroll into Pearisburg today to call home and pick up his mail drop. Now we had issues with the last mail drop that will not (hopefully) be repeated, so I have my fingers crossed that it's there waiting for him today. I still haven't gotten the from Troutdale back yet and it has the camera memory card in it. So he may well run out of memory before I can get it to him. Ughhhhhh, it is so frustrating........This week at home has been kinda tough. We have here in Myrtle Beach, an event that though it brings lot of money to the county, it just hard to deal with as a resident. The Harley Rally.....Now don't get me wrong, I love motorcycles just as much as the next person, but when it takes and hour and a half to go 10 miles, and that IS NOT an exaggeration, things are bad. I am not getting home from work until 6:30 this week, when I would normally be home by 5:30. The traffic is horrible to say the least, so once I get home I stay home, the kids haven't been able to do some of the things they usually do after school, for this very reason, and I think they are getting a bit of cabin fever. So this weekend maybe we'll go to the movies. I f we can get out of the neighborhood.
Date: 2007-05-17
From: VA 606

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: clear sky

Ok Brian made it to Pearisburg, Va. He is gonna stay in the hostel there, he has no desire to make the climb out of Pearisburg today, he would rather save that little hill for tomorrow. So I will get to talk to him tonight as well. He told me a story about Jenny Knob shelter today, kinda funny actually, knowing Brian and his macho I'm not afraid of snakes attitude. Well the privy at Jenny knob had a guard the other night, a six foot rattle snake, Brian didn't get to use the privy that night. Well, next morning he still needed to use the privy, so he sneaked up on it, to his great pleasure the guard was on break and was no where to be found. Oddly the shelter had no mice....huh wonder why .....anyway all is well, and two weeks from tomorrow I am going to see him. We have decided not to stay in a motel friday I think I am gonna hike a bit with him, so I get to drag out all my gear, and try out my new hammock.....I CANNOT WAIT..........