morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-05-21
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Truckstop near Atkins 
Miles today: 11.6

Today was Sarah¢s last day on the trail ¢ something I don¢t think she was too upset about although I think she enjoyed herself and she said she did. She put in a lot of miles for her first 5 days ¢ I certainly enjoyed having her around.The walk into town went quite nicely with some nice walking through fields from which we could see the Eldorado of the interstate services we were heading for. The only down side was that we got a little wet as it rained but that was easier to take knowing that we were headed to a hotel, a shower and clean clothes. Once we were settled in it was up to the Diary Queen for ice cream in front of the TV while the throbbing in our feet dissipated.Evening saw us head to the Barn for more food (and pudding ¢ butterscotch pie) and as I sat digesting my food, unable to move, Sarah described the science of bioluminescence and the role of phytoplankton (her being a sea faring kind of lass). Anyway the upshot of all this appeared to be that is you are ever on a boat spend as much time as possible in the toilet (or the head as I now know it to be correctly called) staring down the loo with your head torch on. Apparently it¢s quite a show!
Date: 2003-05-22
From: Truckstop near Atkins 

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 22.9
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning it was ¢goodbye¢ to Sarah and back to the charms of the trail, but not before checking out the sports TV to see if Celtic had won the UEFA Cup. They showed footage of the streaker about 17 times but apparently a quick mention of the score was beyond them! Oh well, ignorance is bliss I suppose.Mike has appointed me honorary logistics officer for the trip to Pearisburg after I suggested what he described as ¢a bold plan he had neither the courage nor audacity to suggest¢ which basically means I have committed us to biggish mileage starting from today (and we didn¢t get started until 10am today).Fairly quickly and taking lots of short breaks lunch turned out to be very late and very short as we still had 9 miles to do and it was already after 4pm, but it always felt manageable.The last 4 miles began with a long haul up hill but in some respects this is easier and once it was over it was a flattish couple of miles to the shelter. The shelter was a stone affair (most are just wood) and was completely enclosed. Here tonight with Nightwalker, Backwards and Granite. Everyone¢s pretty bushed so it¢s off to bed to recover and to listen to some country music on the radio.
Date: 2003-05-23
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Second big day in a row and I haven¢t fallen apart yet.I really hate when people go on about either the terrain or the weather that lie ahead. I prefer to just wait and see and take whatever is thrown at me, but it does appear that so many people¢s assertions that Virginia would be easier (Mike laughingly christened this the ¢Shenandoah Breeze¢) are at least partly true. 20 miles still feels like 20 miles but the trail has been easier going so you find yourself ahead of the clock and it is possible to go farther (but it is still not easy).The trail was a little muddy today though and I turned round just in time to see Mike slip gracefully off a wet rock (reminded me of a ship being launched) and land on his backside. He was OK though and we (or was it ¢I¢?) laughed about it later.The middle part of today¢s walk was nice and different in that it found us criss-crossing a stream as we followed it downhill and when we came out onto the road we met Riff Raff and his girlfriend who offered us doughnuts and soda. Of course we graciously accepted (it would have been rude to refuse). It was good seeing them again (we first met at Partnership Shelter) and we accepted a second doughnut before heading our separate ways (they to town and us on to the next shelter).There are lots of people at the shelter tonight and we met Axle Rose, Dirt, Kelsey, Odyssey and Walkabout. We head to a grocery store tomorrow so tonight we had double pudding. Again! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Date: 2003-05-24
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Trent's Grocery Store, VA606
Miles today: 16.3

Today my feet started to fall apart.By the time I reached Trent¢s Grocery Store (our destination for the day) both of my ¢little piggies that ran all the way home¢ looked like they had been in hit and run accidents and one of my ¢little piggies that went to market¢ was red and bloody. Looks like the bigger miles are taking their toll, but it¢s over for the day and this looks like a good place to stop. We got here early and started off with a cheeseburger and some milk then we just lazed around the campsite in the sun highlighting the problem of walking the trail ¢ too much walking! It¢s really nice to just take a break and relax with the days miles already taken care of.Mike went off to get the beers and we drank them sitting in the sun talking with Walkabout and Winding Down before dinner of a lovely pizza at Trent¢s.Hopefully my feet will be up to a little more abuse by tomorrow.
Date: 2003-05-25
From: Trent's Grocery Store, VA606

To: Rough Camp North of Doc Knob Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today was our third 20+ mile day out of the last 4 and we passed 600 miles along the way. Not a particularly important milestone for me but it did make me think back to last year when I was following other journals on Trailjournals.   I noticed that after the initial spate of drop outs during the early days the next noticeable ¢spike¢ came between about 400 and 600 miles. At the time this confounded me as I thought once people were used to the camping, the lack of home comforts and the walking (and had coped for about 6 weeks or so) they had it beat and it was just a case of plodding on. Now I can see that I just didn¢t have a clue!If my experiences are anything to go by the first couple of weeks are great (a real holiday) then the next couple of weeks settle down into a period of, by and large, great days but with undeniable periods of drudgery where you are just plodding on making the miles you planned (where there is very little pleasure involved). After that many hikers¢ thoughts are focussed on Damascus and Traildays and that acts to drive people on, even though more days seem like hard work and the body is starting to rebel ¢ hunger, feet and knees.You reach Traildays (measured in miles or by the date) and now there are no ¢real¢ short term goals, just 1,700 more miles. Now I can see that if there were any doubts the next couple of weeks would bring them to the surface.I hope most people get through this but even if they don¢t they will have had a great experience (and better to get off if you aren¢t enjoying yourself than to glory on in misery).As for myself? No doubts so far (or no real doubts) but maybe I¢m just a little bit more aware of the difficulties that face most thru hikers than I was sitting surfing the net.
Date: 2003-05-26
From: Rough Camp North of Doc Knob Shelter

To: Rough Camp Symms Gap Meadow
Miles today: 15.1

Up early in anticipation of another town stop today. Just in and out today though with maybe 4 or 5 hours in Pearisburg if everything goes to plan.The walk into town proved muddy and slippery and Mike and I saved our trousers from being caked in mud only by ¢dabbing¢ down with our hands (not that the cleanliness of our trousers was particularly worth preserving). We got an unsolicited lift into town once we hit the road and made it to Hardees for breakfast where I indulged in my current favourite of biscuits and gravy (we don¢t get them back at home). The rest of the morning was taken up with laundry, grocery shopping (more Milky Way spread) and lunch (Chinese and ice cream). I liked Pearisburg but our future lay elsewhere and we headed out at 2.00pm.The walk out was tough ¢ uphill (as ever) and with a heavier load. About two thirds of the way up I was thinking I¢d have to stop earlier than we had planned (I was bushed) but then I met Backwards and he gave me a piece of orange. He said ¢for all the good it would do¢ but he was wrong, it did the world of good. Up to that point I had really been dragging but it took my mind off things and gave me something to be grateful for. I picked up the pace and made it to the shelter feeling good and my new found good humour was added to by seeing Lightbright at the shelter. I was starting to think we would never catch up with her but she stopped early to fly her kite!!Unfortunately we couldn¢t stay long and headed off to get a few more miles under our belts and stopped in a reasonable spot a few miles on. We have booked a hotel room at the Troutville Interchange in 4 nights time ¢ so I¢m staring down the barrel of 80 miles in 4 days and every extra mile helps.
Date: 2003-05-27
From: Rough Camp Symms Gap Meadow

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Same old same old today.10 miles to the first shelter and lunch ¢ the morning was misty and surprise, surprise we had a little rain. I don¢t think it has actually been that wet but everyone out here is moaning about how wet it is and apparently, if they can be believed, it is! (They should try Scotland!)Anyway we missed most of it while we had lunch and then left a note telling Lightbright where we would be stopping tonight and tomorrow and promising some pudding is she could make up the ground (out here a pudding represents a sizeable bribe!)It was only 4 miles to the next shelter and we didn¢t plan on stopping but it was uphill and somewhere along the trail I have turned into a big girl¢s blouse. Now a one hour climb kills me - when in Georgia I would have just got on with it without much thought. Anyway by the time I reached the shelter a rest was called for, so that¢s just what I took. When I made it to the last of today¢s shelters I set up my tent wrote some journals and chatted. Not long after Lightbright strolled in so, as promised, Mike broke out the butterscotch snack packs.
Date: 2003-05-28
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: light rain

So we¢ll meet for lunch under the high voltage electricity pylon.Not the nicest setting but not the worst either, as sometimes the clearcutting that made way for the pylons affords a view through all the trees that so often surround us. Anyway it¢s the company that makes it and I was there with Mike and Lightbright, so all was well.The walk after lunch was unusual and interesting as it made its way along a rocky ridge where the navigation wasn¢t always obvious and where I was glad of the day¢s dry weather as wet slippy rocks might just have out a few doubts in my mind.As I completed the ridge I came over a rock to find a deer grazing quietly. It didn¢t run off immediately and I sat down on my pack and we eyed each other for a few minutes before the deer backed off a little and continued it¢s lunch (in a much nicer spot than we had chosen it must be said). It seemed quite content now and moved around, coming closer, but still keeping an eye on me.After 15 minutes or so it was time for me to continue and I headed off for the shelter going slower and slower the further I went, although the final walk down to the shelter was awash with impressive displays of mountain laurel and that helped distract me until I arrived at my destination.Mike, as ever, was already there and I pestered him to teach me the fingerings for the chords of A and E on his mandolin. I have this notion to try to be able to play ¢Rex¢s Blues¢ by Townes Van Zandt by the time I reach Maine. Music lovers should turn away now.One thought plagues me, however, as I lie here in ¢bed¢ and that is that we plan around 24 miles tomorrow. Today¢s 18 took it out of me so I really don¢t know where the extra 6 miles are going to come from but as Suggs said ¢Tomorrow¢s just another day¢
Date: 2003-05-29
From: Niday Shelter

To: Catawaba Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: light rain

Today I have had a change of approach. Normally I stop for lots of breaks during the day (taking 5 or 10 minutes off every hour and a half or so) but if I am to have any chance of making today¢s miles I will need to keep plodding on regardless. So no breaks today and I am also going to listen to the radio to help pass the time.If I was glad of yesterday¢s dry weather when clambering over exposed rock then today¢s early drizzle allowed me to experience the same terrain in rather less co-operative conditions as we did some rock hopping up to and down from the ¢Dragon¢s Tooth¢. It was slippery in places but not too treacherous and after an early start the new approach seemed to be paying dividends (although my headphones packed in after a couple of hours).This walk was an example of one of those days that would have been a great day walk but so often these days they lose much of their appeal if you are thru hiking. The pain of hopping from rock to rock on a steep descent, after 40 days of hiking have taken their toll on your feet, can rule out almost any chance of a pleasant and enjoyable stroll. Oh well them¢s the vagaries!The weather had cleared up during the afternoon which was nice but just after we crossed the road that marked the final 2 miles (and where Mike sneaked into town for dinner) we were treated to a short sharp thunder storm which acted as the necessary motivation to get me to pick my heels up and reach the shelter in goodish time ¢ 24 miles in 11.5 hours.I dived for the shelter of the shelter (so to speak) where we spoke to a couple of day hikers before settling down with Mike (once he arrived), Lightbright, Nightwalker, Easyrider and Snowberry.
Date: 2003-05-30
From: Catawaba Mountain Shelter

To: Troutville Interchange US220
Miles today: 17.6

Boy am I glad this day¢s over and that tomorrow is a zero day, but then again it wasn¢t all bad.Today was 18 miles into town. Normally that means an early start and a quick tempo so as to reach town (and all it¢s pleasures) as early as possible. However, I knew that that mentality would be pointless today and would just lead me to disappointment. I knew it was going to be a full days walk no matter what I did. I¢ve been going slow, my feet are not in pristine condition and it was a long way so I didn¢t stir early and only hit the trail at 8.00am.I don¢t know why but all morning my mind was full of negative vibes and I just couldn¢t shake them. On top of that my feet were disintegrating further. When I reached the shelter for lunch I decided to try walking in my sandals (it couldn¢t be any worse). The afternoon was better and I was swinging along a bit better but my stated E.T.A of 4pm that I had told Mike was obviously way off he mark. It was already 4.40pm and I was nowhere near town, but then I had my magic moment for the day¢¦I was walking along and heard something off to my left. I saw some black fur and thought ¢What¢s a cat doing out here?¢ then it stepped out (about 8 yards in front of me) and I thought ¢What is that?¢ ¢A Tasmanian Devil or some sort of wild dog?¢ Then it clicked! It was a bear cub, about 20 inches long. It moved off and I stood wondering what to do. They say the one thing you don¢t want to do is get between a mother and her cub, but where was the mother? Then there was more noise and another cub stepped across the trail. I didn¢t hang about and moved quickly down the trail hoping I wouldn¢t bump into Mama bear.Eventually I reached town at 6pm and met Mike who was coming out to see where I had gotten to. He took me to the drinks machine for a Mountain Dew and then up to the room we were sharing with Lightbright and Nightwalker.I was shattered so soaked my feet and spent a long time in the shower before collapsing with a beer. The others went out for dinner but that seemed like too much effort so I settled down with a pizza and beer to watch the boxing on ESPN.As I said it wasn¢t all bad.
Date: 2003-05-31
From: Troutville Interchange US220

To: Troutville Interchange US220
Miles today: 0.0

My third zero day (after Knoxville and Damascus).While the first two were more preventative this one is definitely recuperative. That said, however, I just couldn¢t manage to sleep in. Up at 7am and after some breakfast of doughnuts and hot chocolate it was off to do some chores, which consisted of a visit to the post office, checking out the grocery store and checking my e-mail.Thanks to everyone who has written or has signed the guestbook. The kind words are much appreciated and often bring a smile to my face. I will be in touch with some of you when I get the chance.The internet also raised another possibility today and for the first time I am really looking far ahead (maybe too far ahead). Joe had sent me word that Kelly Joe Phelps was playing in Aberdeen, which of course was absolutely no use to me, but it did get me wondering if he was playing any US dates. As it turns out he is playing in Hanover NH on the 9th of August. Now Hanover is right on the trail and the timing is pretty good but it is another 1,000 miles and 10 weeks away. This seems an awfully long way off when I¢ve only done 700 or so to date. I think I¢ll see about ordering tickets and just take it from there.I am also doing my bit for the Scottish economy while I¢m over here as the next few days supplies include Walker¢s shortbread, Walker¢s chocolate chunk biscuits and a bottle of Laphroiag. Hopefully if I keep spending like this there will be plenty of jobs for me when I get home.The rest of the day went well and for once there was no shortage of things to keep me busy ¢ writing journals, drinking beer, shaving and watching TV. However, I still didn¢t have time for a bath ¢ oh well maybe next time.Rounded the day off with a trip to Cracker Barrel for my first steak of the trip and listened to Mike recall a van he once owned that he christened the ¢Taj-ma-Hoffer¢ (apparently it truly was the eighth wonder of the world).
Date: 2003-06-01
From: Troutville Interchange US220

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: few clouds

Once more into the breach dear friend.For the first time I could quite easily have been spoken into taking a double zero. I was kind of ready to go and then again I wasn¢t.I forced myself out of bed, had a quick shower and set about taping up as much of my right foot as I thought I could and still get my boot on. When I finally put my boot on it didn¢t feel great but fingers crossed. The sandals are in the bag if it all goes wrong.I suggested dropping the mileage a little this week and Mike thought that plan would work so as I hit the road at 8.30am Mike was still taking it easy in bed.Fortunately my first tentative steps proved reassuring and I was soon into my stride and making decent progress. Just after lunch I came out of the woods to what must truly go down as ¢5 star¢ trail magic. Scuba¢s dad was there with deckchairs, an awning, a fire and ice barbeque, burgers, bacon, sodas, beer, cakes, fruit, etc, etc¢¦..This was generosity and hospitality beyond my wildest dreams ¢ Thank you very much!One cheeseburger, two beers, two cakes and a banana later I said my farewells and headed off to put today¢s hike to bed.
Date: 2003-06-02
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: clear sky

Well June is certainly looking a little more promising as far as the weather goes. Two days in and two lovely bright warm days. I try not to put too much emphasis on the weather but there is no doubt that a nice day does have me moving along a little more freely and with a bit more of a spring in my step.Much because of the above the morning passed by quickly and I found myself at Bryant Ridge shelter for lunch. It is a big new shelter and I passed a lazy lunch there with Hepcat, Flash, Josh, Nothing Decent and Mr Magoo.Evening sees me here at Cornelius Creek shelter. I am too lazy to set up my tent so I¢m going to spend the night in the shelter again. When I started out on this I reckoned I¢d tent most of the time and only rarely sleep n the shelters. However, the shelters are easy and I¢m always pretty tired so getting to sleep has never been a problem (although you do get the odd snorer).People go on and on about mice in the shelters but I think they overdo it. There definitely are mice as I¢ve seen some in two shelters and people have had packs and clothes chewed but as of now I have never been aware of any being around as I sleep. My theory is that if I ignore them then maybe they¢ll ignore me.Rounding off today with a nip of whiskey by the fire and watching Nothing Decent boils some eggs he has carried out of town ¢ he says they are quite delicious.
Date: 2003-06-03
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Matts Creek Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: moderate rain

Oh well looks like global warming isn¢t going to be June¢s problem after all as we are back to the mist and drizzle today. I call it drizzle, everyone else calls it rain around these parts!However, today must also rate as one of the easiest walking days yet. Especially after lunch when the path was pretty flat and really easy walking. It was so easy that I couldn¢t help but put the accelerator down a bit with scant regard to what the pace, as well as the wet socks, would do to my feet. I mean what have the ever done to deserve such shabby treatment? OK so they never had me scoring the winning goal for Scotland in the Maracana ¢ let¢s be honest here they only just scraped my in at right back for the Seafield Hotel Sunday Pub League team (and even there not an automatic selection). However, surely they still deserve better than this.On top of that I even made them go an extra half mile or so this afternoon when I backtracked along some of the trail to make sure I hadn¢t gone wrong. I hadn¢t as it happens but the trail wasn¢t as clearly marked today as it has been and there were a few side trials so better to be safe than sorry.Stopped early at 3.10pm and settled into the shelter out of the rain thankful for the relatively untaxing day.
Date: 2003-06-04
From: Matts Creek Shelter

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today¢s journal entry has been guest written by Neil¢s right foot.¢Oh, here we go again, let¢s see how standing up feels today then? Oh that¢s not so bad. These shorter days of late do seem to have made a difference.Hold on a minute, what¢s that they are saying? An extra 4 miles today! No, no, no sonny Jim we had a deal, no more 20 mile days ¢til I was back to my best.What? But this way we can make Waynesboro for Saturday night ¢ not if you are hopping on one foot you won¢t mate.Oh well, at least you are looking at the plasters. Yeah it is about time you put something on that toe. It has been blistered for the last two days. Not that you seemed to notice.Oh no not wet socks again! Don¢t you know what that does to my skin and oh the smell!!!! It¢s OK for you way up there but I¢ve got to out up with it all day.Off we go then¢¦..OI! You bog clot watch what you¢re doing, that stone hurt, can¢t you be a little more careful? What¢s with this up, up, up that¢s been going on for the last hour or so? Don¢t you know that variety is the spice of life?¢17 miles later¢¦..¢Oh, we¢re having a rest are we? and what¢s this? I¢m getting a dip in the stream. Oh buy that feels soooo goooood. Cold but, how do you say?, invigorating. What¢s this place called then?Little Irish Creek ¢ oh I think I could retire here.¢However, all good things must come to an end¢¦..¢ If it¢s not rocks it¢s mud, mud, mud. Oh well at least we¢re nearly finished for the day. Right get me into those sandals mate. Come on! Chop chop! Ah that¢s better.You know what? 21.5 miles ¢ that wasn¢t so bad¢