morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-05-05
From: VA 611

To: VA 611
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I woke up once more in the apartment at Trent's Grocery and life with a bum knee was still the same! It's called hobbly de hoy wherever you go. I stayed put until about 1:30 PM then Albert Miller Jr. took Catfish and myself to Pearisburg, VA to Chiroworks to have a look at my knee. I got to fill out a bunch of questions then Kat-a lady tec-did a very good check (THANKS!) on my knee. She was very impressive as to how she worked on my knee. The diagnosis was a badly bruised meniscus. oops. I also had a knee joint out of alignment. Dr. Justin put my knee back in place and did some other treatments. I now had some relief of that hot searing pain -- finally! I had some fun with these people and they probably thought I was a kook. I can honestly say the people in this office are really good at their jobs. The secretary was friendly and she had a clear voice on the phone. Her name was Chris. They get to see me again on Tuesday. They sure are gullible....I'm one of a kind!Thought for the day:The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing of birds is come. The voice of the turtle is heard in our land. --Song of Solomon 2:12
Date: 2014-05-06
From: VA 611

To: VA 611
Miles today: 0.0

I got up early and ate breakfast at the DQ. I had to walk a 1/2 mile to the doctor's office for another knee treatment. There was no one to take me by car so I had to walk. Oh ouch. Kat at Chiroworks did her magic on my knee and I had some more relief. It will take time and rest to get back to normal. Kat advised me to go home and see an orthopedic surgeon. Oops, that's not what I like to hear. I will give my Dr. Hendricks a first go around and I think he can get me going strong again. The rest of the day was lay around the motel and rest. Catfish and I are trying to figure out a way to get home to Indiana. We may rent a car or have my wife or 2 sisters come get us. On Wednesday we will check out rentals or call the sisters and wife. The life at the motel is boring. All I can do is sleep and watch TV. Catfish can walk hither and yon.Thought for the day:If I were a trillium or a round lobed hepatica, I wouldn't need to walk. I could just grow in place and look beautiful.
Date: 2014-05-07
From: VA 611

To: VA 611
Miles today: 0.0

I had more motel rest because walking was a pain in every way. I had to keep Catfish calm because there was nothing to do but watch TV and go eat. Catfish was threatening to fill the bathtub with ice and put me in it. I told him I was supposed to keep ice only on my knee. He thought total immersion would be better! When we were out walking the town, he wanted to put me in a nursing home. I said I was not that handicapped. He said it's not right to keep hurting people on the street; therefore I need to go to a nursing home. As you can imagine, life was not dull with Catfish and The Leopard hanging out together. The Catfish doesn't remember that his mother is my sister and I can spill secrets about a Catfish. HA. So therefore Catfish, be careful with your ice and jokes. The old man can get even somehow! (smile)Thought for the day:We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world. --Helen Keller
Date: 2014-05-08
From: VA 611

To: VA 611
Miles today: 0.0

AT DOG STORYI'm noted to take my pack off every 2 hours and rest. Sometimes I lay down and sleep for 15 minutes. Well, on this one Friday there were a lot weekend hikers with dogs. I don't really care for dogs or cats or horses. I was taking a nap when I was awakened by a dog slobbering all over me. I sat up in a flash trying to avoid the big mutt. The lady owner tried to catch the mutt. If she went right, the dog went left behind me. If she went left, he went right. Well I got irked a bit and grabbed the mutt by the neck and pinned him to the ground. The owner got her mutt and apologized and took him away. I returned to my nap a little bit disturbed.
Date: 2014-05-09
From: VA 611

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

Yes, today is the day to start home. My wife and Catfish's mother came to rescue us. They arrived at our hotel at 12:45 PM. We now had to go to the four places-Four Pines Hostel/Middle Creek Campground/Blue Dog Art Cafe/Colony House Motel- to pick up the food boxes that had been dropped off for us. That took us all afternoon/evening and we ended up in Culpeper, VA for the night. Tomorrow we will drop Catfish off in Breezewood, PA where he will meet a friend and they will do several weeks of hiking.
Date: 2014-08-28
From: VA 611

To: VA 606
Miles today: 9.6

I arrived at Trent's Grocery at about 7:30 AM ready to start my fall AT hike. I got some breakfast at Trent's and Jimmy the owner took me to VA 611 to start at mile 595.9. I hit the trail about 9:00 AM and headed north for a 9.6 miler for today. This summer I got a smaller backpack and lighter sleeping bag. I also omitted a bunch of gear and now I'm 10-15# lighter in gear. The day was a warm one and the sweat rolled all day. I traveled in the 2500' elevation all day in 85 degree humid weather. I almost needed rain gutters around my head and a spout to the ground. But hot in the forest is better than hot working in an attic. The day was very quiet. No birds were singing and I met no one else walking. The mushrooms are out in droves again. They are all colors - white, red, pink, gray, tan, brown, and purple. I took some pictures of special ones. This year I'll give the mushrooms names my way to add interest to my stories. I had to rest often or overheat and we don't want heat stroke, or should I say I don't want it. So the name of the walk is slow and steady and rest often. My gatorade came in real handy. I stopped for lunch in the woods. I had tuna and mixed nuts and candy to perk me up. I arrived back at Trent's around 4:00 PM and ordered my supper. I did my shower and laundry after supper and packed for Friday's walk. See my pictures LATER on the journal and smile at the mushroom names!Thought for the day:The mountains rose and the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them. Psalms 104:8Song for the day:FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE
Date: 2014-08-29
From: VA 606

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 14.9

I left Trent's at 8:20 AM after a nice smooth breakfast. It will be a long day. I'm trying to get to Woods Hole Hostel 14.9 miles away. Oh boy. Today was another 85 degree day in the forest. The birds were quiet again. Except there was one crow that had to belt out some calls. The sweat rolled and my steps shortened up and the rest stops were numerous. I met one person today and he was wearing a hard hat - something strange to see on the trail. He was headed for Damascus and that would finish his Virginia walk. The day was good but long and I thought I would never get to Woods Hole Hostel. I had a talk with the mushrooms on my rest stops but they never answered. The sun was starting to set and I had a ways to go. The last 1.5 mile was iffy if darkness would overtake me. Then at 8:30 I hit the road that leads to Woods Hole Hostel a 1/2 mile away. When I got to the hostel all wiped out and drenched, the owner Neville asked if I want supper. I said YES and she brought me a big plate of food which I couldn't even eat all of it. The food was very good but it was too much. Thank you Neville! I showered and got somewhat calmed down and then hit the sack in the bunk house. The rest was badly needed. Everything was tired. Even my fingernails and toenails. But it was a good AT day.Thought for the day:We do not know how cheap the seeds of happiness are or we would scatter them more often.Song for the day:OFTEN WEARY AND WORN ON THE PATHWAY BELOW
Date: 2014-08-30
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: VA 634 Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 10.0

I was up at the crack of dawn and got ready for breakfast. Neville made a good healthy breakfast for the hikers. I hit the trail at 8:30 AM and was a bit sore from yesterday. I plodded along and today some birds were singing. The one bird sounded like he was saying "I see you, I see you" so I said "I see you too" and he shut up. Oops, sorry bird. Today I met a lot of day hikers and I had some nice conversations with them. I met some college students close to Angels Rest mountain lookout. The lookout was 3683' up overlooking Pearisburg, VA. The kids were surprised at what the hikers eat and that we often sleep in our tents. They are a pampered generation. I had brought some Christmas tree ornaments to put on a tree at Angels Rest but decided to save the bulky box for some other day and place. I have 12 glass ball ornaments to hang somewhere on the trail. The colors are red/gold/green - 4 of each. I lost all my steam about 3:00 PM so it was a struggle from then on. The last 1.7 mile was all downhill with a loss of 1658'. It was hard on my knees. It was about 5:00 PM when I got to Cross Ave in Pearisburg. I called my shuttle driver Don to take me back to Trent's to get my truck. I went to Pearisburg to a motel and washed myself and my clothes. I reworked the stuff in my backpack to lose weight because on Tuesday there is a 14 mile stretch with no water. That means more water in my pack and less stuff. I got to bed around 11:00 PM.Thought for the day:Do what you can and can what you do and poison the rest. Good luck.Dwell on the duty of happiness as well as the happiness of duty.
Date: 2014-08-31
From: VA 634 Pearisburg, VA

To: VA 634 Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Today I stayed in town to get things organized a bit better. I was going to carry less water because I filter water with a battery UV light which is a lot easier and quicker. In 90 seconds I have a liter of purified water. But the streams are drying up in the woods. I crossed about 8-10 foot bridges that were dry. Not good. I went to Wal-Mart for some supplies and then took photos of Angels Rest Mt from town. It looks impressive. I caught up on my journals and gave my body some rest. I met a young girl hiker on Saturday that does between 20-30 miles per day. I don't know how she does it but they say young and foolish. She said she put in one 48 mile day. Now that is frying up the miles. Wow.Thought for the day:Earth is crammed with heaven and every common bush is afire with God.
Date: 2014-09-01
From: VA 634 Pearisburg, VA

To: Campsite
Miles today: 14.1

I was ready this morning to go hiking again. My Sunday rest did wonders. Don Raines the shuttle driver came to Plaza Motel and lead me to a parking spot on VA 635 and I parked my truck. Don took me back to Pearisburg to Cross Ln so I could start my hike for the day. I met Early Bird today who is 62 years old and hikes sections of the AT. When I got to Rice Field Shelter there were some hiker students from Washington University doing some study. I sailed on after taking a short nap. I had planned on an 8 mile day then ended up with a 14.1 miler. The water is scarce in this section so I was trying to get more mileage. It was a long hot day but it was fine hiking. I saw a big puff ball mushroom in the first mile of my hike. It was at least 10" in diameter. I snapped a picture of it and walked on by. I had one spot that was rocky and I stopped to look around and something growled at me. It sounded like a bear but I couldn't see anything so I high-tailed it out of there. I found a lone campsite about 7:00 PM and set up my tent and cooked some supper. I don't have enough water for breakfast, so I'll hike to my truck in the morning. There is no water yet for about 5 miles and my truck is 5 1/2 miles away with lots of water. See you there. It's about 9:15 PM and I'm writing my journal and listening to the katydids didying and hearing the planes flying overhead. Thought for the day:If something growls at you, either join or flee. Take your pick but not your nose. That won't help at all.
Date: 2014-09-02
From: Campsite

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: light rain

I slept in this morning for some reason. My watch said 6:20 AM and it was still pretty dark in the woods. I hustled around and packed my tent and things. I didn't make breakfast because I was low in water. I walked away from the the tent site about 7:15 AM and snacked all morning. I had tough going. There were lots of rocks to cruise over. I thought maybe 13 miles today but I was wrong. I did a batch of picture taking and talking to the tall weeds hanging over the trail. They had burrs that stuck to my socks. Not a wonderful thing. I saw a small garter snake on the trail today and I encouraged it to leave using my trekking pole. I thought I should be at my truck at about 12:00 PM but no I was wrong. We had parked it 2 miles further north at a paved parking lot. Well, I'll be dogged. That stinks. I finally arrived at 1:30 PM. I made breakfast and lunch together and loaded up my water bottles from the truck water jug. The heat was bad so I decided to stop at the next shelter. It gets 85 degrees and humid and almost no air was moving. 3:00-6:00 PM is a killer the last days. From the truck I started at 2394' elevation and ended at 3531' elevation. That's a long uphill climb with an 1137' gain. The sweat rolled like rain. I had to make a lot of rest stops because of the heat. The last 1.1 mile took 2 1/4 hours to finish. I arrived at Bailey Gap Shelter at 5:15 PM. I decided to stop because thunder was rolling in the distance. It started to rain about 7:00 PM and it is still thundering off and on at 9:30 PM. My tent keeps me dry! When I arrived here at the shelter there were college kids here and they are very nice. They are from Washington University but they are not the same group I met yesterday at Pine Swamp Branch Shelter. They were cooking their supper and I found a tent site and set about resting and finally eating supper. The thunder is really rolling in the distance and I hope it goes to the south of us. We need rain but not all that banging and crashing in the woods. I'm about 1 day ahead of schedule, but if this heat keeps up, can I keep up?Thought for the day:If you think you have the day under control, you find out the day controls you on the trail. Be good. Be glad anyway.
Date: 2014-09-03
From: Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Creel Shelter
Miles today: 14.6

I got up to a cloudy/foggy/wet morning. It rained about 2 1/2 hours during the night. I had a lot of water drops hitting the tent. I was dry except for my sweaty clothes which don't dry very well in dark raining nights. I flashed awake around 6:15 and made breakfast and then somewhat got most of the leftover rain off my tent. I was walking by 8:15 and all was wet - the ground and the tall weeds hanging over the path at times. It was a curious kind of morning. I was into my walk all alone or so I thought when all of a sudden about 500' away a hound dog howled out and then another one followed. I thought for a moment Mike O. had sent the dogs after me. What say, old buddy? Well, about a mile later I came across a mountain road and was resting when two pickup trucks with dog boxes on the back and the dogs standing on top went by and waved. The dog boxes had pictures of dogs and bears on the side. I think the boys were on a training mission since it was a nice cool morning. I'm just glad I didn't smell like a bear. Instead it was more like a 3 day sweaty old man. Let's not go there. I saw another garter snake today. He took one look and headed for the underbrush. The day wasn't finished with me yet. My trekking pole went down a hole beside a rock and my hand was through the strap and I couldn't release fast enough. The pole bent 90 degrees and The Leopard tumbled down over a log beside the trail. I did rip off some dead bark from the log and some skin off my arm. Nothing bad. It was a funniest home video fall. The most hurt was my pride. The pole broke when I tried to straighten it out. I extended it all I could but it's still too short but it works. I had heard thunder in the afternoon but I didn't get rained on. About 3 miles later I came through the area where it had rained so the bushes and weeds had to get me all nice and wet again. After 14.6 miles I got to Laurel Creek Shelter sapped out. At the shelter were Bulldog and Pokey Stokey whom I had met in the spring hike. So we reminisced a while. By the way, they are brothers. I found a tent site and set up and took a nap to find some encouragement! I cooked supper at 9:00 PM. Yes, it was late and dark. About 10:30 PM I gave up for the day. I heard an owl hoot several times before I zonked out.Thought for the day:Be cheerful. Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.
Date: 2014-09-04
From: Laurel Creel Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today is get out of the woods day. It's time to shower and clean up. I had hot chocolate for breakfast and started my hike to the road. I haven't had cell phone coverage since Monday afternoon so I was hoping on the last hill out I could call Don Raines to pick me up. I had .4 to the road when I got a signal. I called my wife first and told her I'm still alive and then I called Don to take me to my truck. After I got my truck I went to Days Inn in Blacksburg. I stopped at a small grocery store and got some apples and oranges for the trail. Stopped at Subway for lunch then I finally returned to the motel and showered. I tried to use the motel washer but it wouldn't take coins so I went to a laundromat and washed my clothes. I ate my supper then went to WalMart for some supplies. I cleaned all my equipment and finished my writing and at 1:00 AM I was done for the day.Thought for the day:Clean is goodClean is wonderfulClean feels goodClean smells goodGood day!
Date: 2014-09-05
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

I got up at 6:45 AM and went to the motel breakfast. At 7:00 AM I left the motel to meet Don at the AT and VA311. We got there within five minutes of each other. He came from Pearisburg and I came from Blacksburg. That Don is a very good shuttle person. He's a walking dictionary of where to go, where to eat, and where to meet. Don has been a tremendous help. If you ever need a ride, call him. You won't be sorry. I started my walk about 8:45 AM and it was cloudy and foggy which was good because it was a bit cooler. I saw the Keifer Oak today. It's the largest oak tree on the AT in the south. The Keifer Oak is 18' around and is over 300 years old. It is big. I took some pictures to prove it. The Dover Oak along the AT is in New York. That one is a tad bigger. The trail had a lot of big rocks to climb today. It was high and rocky so sing Rocky Top. I met a mother and daughter hiking on those bad boys. We talked a while and we had a view out over a big area and they pointed out where I would be crossing. It was high and a beauty - the mountains of course. I got about a mile and a half from the shelter going through a rocky area when I saw a good sized rocked overturned but didn't know why - yet. In about 3 seconds I knew why. The yellow jackets were swarming and I was in trouble. I was lucky that it had been raining just before and I had my umbrella still out and half folded. The yellow jackets and I had a war. I think there must have been thousands trying to get me and some did. I was flaying my umbrella and my trekking poles. I fell in the rocks and they were all over me. I got up and was beat and was walking as fast as I could. I got rid of most of them and kept walking fast for 15 minutes and sat down to count and regroup. The dumb buggers were still at me trying to get in my shoes and buzzing around. I got going again and I used hand sanitizer on my legs/arms/head and reworked them. There are now some lying on the trail very calm. I got five stings on one leg, two on the other, one on each arm and couple on my head. This is a moment I didn't need because it had been going good all day. I got to Niday Shelter about 4:00 PM and set up my tent and doctored up my aches and pains. I'm all alone at the shelter tonight. I'm about 1.4 miles from VA621 so bring something for my five sting leg. It doesn't feel the greatest and I'm having a hard time falling asleep even after taking some Aleve. I don't need that again. It will heal.Thought for the day:Sometimes life sends us stings. That too shall pass. It's all in what you make of it. Go get them.
Date: 2014-09-06
From: Niday Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up around 6:30 AM and was glad my stings were about calm again. I had a rough night and my five sting leg just wouldn't stop hurting and the sleep bug couldn't keep me out long enough for me to relax. I dumped some breakfast down and stuffed everything in the backpack and was off by 7:20 AM. The day was a fairly easy one. I had some rocks but it was mostly good until the last mile and a half was a BIG up but then changed to an easy down. I was sleep deprived so I took several 15 minute naps. I found some pennyroyal tea along the path and pulled some out for tea tonight. It's one of my favorite teas, so I was blessed today. I met only three people today and the last guy I met, I was his first for the day and that was about 5:00 PM. He said his buddies got into the yellow jackets the other day and they got stung too. I say this must stop. It was mid-morning when I heard hound dogs again and about 11:00 AM I was sitting on a wooden bench on the east side of Bush Mountain when a hunter and his dog came along. He said they treed a small bear and his buddy would be coming along soon. About 20 minutes later here comes the hunter with six dogs. I snapped a picture for the record. I was about 1 1/2 miles from camp and I had to cross a road and foot bridge and a couple had taken their 5 mutts for a river swim. The dogs all came tearing at me - 3 big mutts and 2 yippee ones. The couple finally got them under control so I could cross over the bridge. Now what's the magic of 1 1/2 miles to my destination - bees or dogs? This must stop. I got hiker's revenge today. As I was walking, a single yellow jacket landed close to my hiking boot and he joined the dust of the earth. Yes!! I got to camp around 5:30 PM and the shelter was way off the trail about .03 mile but it was thundering and I wanted to stay dry. I made it in time before the rain came. I worked up supper and my favorite tea I found today. I am alone at the campsite so I acted crazy and set up the tent inside the shelter to keep it dry. Oops. I had a 10.1 miler today and tomorrow it will be 12.6 miles to get to my truck and resupply. I may go into Salem, VA to get good food and maybe a shower. Three days and sweat and no shower doesn't seem right or feel right. Yes, it did rain for about a half hour but all is dry with me. Thought for the day:Ceremonies are different in every country, but true politeness is everywhere the same.