Date: 2015-02-08
To: Getting There!
Miles today: 0.0

I've been busy the last few weeks between getting ready and trying to get a few hikes and runs in I haven¢t had time for much else. One day, Derry and I went up to the Fulheardt shelter again. We found the shelter in good shape and just needed to pick up some trash and clean out the fire pit. Someone had eaten an orange and left the peeling right in front of the shelter. I don't understand why hikers do this. I really wish everyone would follow LNT practices. I can remember one time following eggshells for miles in VA. There are no real views on this hike so it's a better hike in the winter, but there is one spot at the beginning/end where you are in a cow pasture and have a 360-degree view of the surrounding area. It¢s an 8-mile up and back down: a good practice hike. I flew to Texas with my friend, Jan, and one son, Richard, to see my other son and his wife, Jason and Julie.   My daughter-in-law is a zoo vet and works for the Fossil Rim Preserve in Glen Rose, Texas. While there, we took a five-hour tour of the preserve and got to see and go behind the scenes in many different places. We saw cheetahs, Maine wolves, black rhinos and bird breeding area.My son, Jason is a wonderful cook and every meal delighted our taste buds. I think I put on about 5 pounds while there but I am not worrying right now about weight as I am sure I will be loosing it fairly soon! They just bought a 12-acre ranch and it was great to walk around their property and see different vegetation than I'm used to. They also have three cats and a dog, also entertaining! One day we went to the Dinosaur State Park. The five of us took about a 4-mile hike on a beautiful sunny day. Being able to wear short sleeves and jeans and be warm was delightful. We didn't really see any dinosaur fossils until we got to the end and some were on display.Another day, Derry and I did a 3-mile hike at Falls Ridge Preserve, but with a full pack. It was a cold and windy day but with the pack and the right clothes, we were perfectly warm. In fact, I had to keep unzipping my jacket and taking my arms out and then we would go around the corner and the wind would start and I'd have to put it back on. But I had my clothes on that I'm going to be hiking in and everything worked well. The last hike I did was on Thursday. Wildlife (Helene), and, Swiffer (Derry) and did the AT trail from VA 624 to the 311 parking lot (MacAfee¢s Knob). My friend, Wildlife, who has done the entire trail from Georgia to VA 624, needed that 7-mile section and we thought it would be a good practice hike. Derry is going to start with me at Springer and hike for the first week so we carried full packs to see how we felt with the weight. Wildlife is going to meet me at the 311 parking lot when I get there, and hopefully finish Virginia with me. It turned out to be a cold and windy day, with the wind chill temperature about 13 degrees: good day to test winter wear. The anticipation and excitement is building every day and until it's almost unbearable. Only 21 days before I step onto the AT. I know from each journal I read, everyone is feeling the same, so I'm not alone. It helps to know that, and I can't wait to meet my fellow 15ers!