Date: 2018-04-28
From: PeckÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

I was awake before the sun came up this morning. It was 5:45am. Having slept in the shelter, I used my headlamp to collect my things and go outside to start packing up. I tried not to wake others. It¢s nearly impossible. By the time I changed into my day clothes, ate breakfast, and brushed my teeth it was about 7:30am. I put my pack on and started hiking.  Pecks Corner Shelter was almost a half mile off the trail. I went down coming in so that meant I was going up to get out. By the time I actually got to the real trail the sun was in full view. I could tell I was in for a fabulous day!  Yesterday I had a near fall. I saved myself with my trekking poles and my left knee. I knew I had strained my knee then which is why I chose not to go the extra 5 miles yesterday afternoon. I rested it last night, but this morning it was even worse. So I planned to go slow.  Only 5 miles into my hike was a shelter. I decided to stop, rest my knee, and have an early lunch. It was just me and a squirrel for about 20 minutes before another hiker with the same idea stopped by. Her name is Honey Bear. She¢s a traveler cardiovascular nurse so we had plenty to talk about. I stayed there way too long!  I still had 7 miles to go when I left from lunch, but only 3 more miles up the trail was an open grassy area with the most spectacular view. I had to stop! I dropped my pack and kicked back enjoying the sun and the view. The view is today¢s picture. It¢s Saturday so there were several weekend and section hikers out. I had great conversations with all of them. Last year when I was imagining how my hike would be, a day like today is what I pictured.  The next 3 miles were...DOWN! Can you believe it?!? I enjoyed a relaxing hike almost all the way to the shelter. And there were views nearly the entire time.  I had already decided I was going to pitch my tent tonight. So there was no rush to get a shelter space. I just decided to enjoy my day. Zen is the only word I can find right now. Today marks 1 month since starting my hike. I¢m at mile marker 230.7. Supposedly I need to average 10 miles a day to make it to Katahdin by fall. I¢m almost 70 miles behind. Mostly it¢s due to the weather, so almost everybody is in the same boat. I would like to be able to increase my daily mileage in Virginia. I¢m hoping Vern, one of my readers, can give me some insight on making up the miles. He knows the trail and gives good advice. Speaking of readers. Once again I have to say thank you to everybody who leaves messages in my guestbook. I do read every single one of them. It¢s like getting a special surprise every time! Thank you thank you!  Supper was a Mountain House beef stroganoff meal. It wasn¢t my favorite, but I drank hot chocolate with it. Chocolate makes everything yummy! Well it¢s now close to 8pm. That¢s what we call hikers midnight. I wish I could say my knee is better, but it¢s not. Sadly, it¢s the one that used to be my good knee. Hoping a good nights sleep in my tent will give it what it needs to feel better.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?