Date: 2013-06-20
From: The Captains 651.3

To: as far as I can go today 656.3
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today I finally got back on the trail. I originally set out Saturday, June 15th, but just as I checked out of the hotel, loading the car so Deb could drop me off, I received a call from my nephew Todd. "Mom has been rushed to the hospital". This was about my sister Teri. She had only been home for three days since leaving our house to see my daughter Brittany's wedding. She and her husband Rick had spent two weeks with us in Maryland. Deb and I talked about what to do, but I knew I wasn't getting on the trail where I might not have phone service. We decided to head to Atlanta where my sister lives. As we got closer the news got worse, and by about an hour before we could get there my sister had passed away. I won't go over the details, but that's why I'm just now getting on the trail five days later. My heart is heavy. My sister was loved by everyone.On the way home from Atlanta we stopped near Pearisburg,VA. We got a hotel at a "hiker friendly" hotel called the Plaza Motel. We went inside and it was completely filthy where nothing had been cleaned after the last tenants. There was standing dirt in the bath sink, yet the toilet seat had a strip across it like it had been cleaned. I went to the office and told the clerk/possibly owner that I was not staying and wanted my money back. After unsuccessfully trying to convince me to try another room, he took the money off my card and we left. I plan to call the Appalachian Trail Guidebook authors and let them know because they should not give free advertising to such a rip off hotel for hikers. Down the road we saw the McArthur Hotel which was more like a B&B. The rooms were clean, the ownership was friendly, and the price lower. This was the first hotel in the US named after General McArthur. After a good nights sleep we looked for the trail near "The Captains", a hiker camp run by a trail angel that requires hikers to cross the river with a zip line. After about an hour we finally found the trail and I started walking. It was hot, so hot, and muggy. After not being on the trail for a month I was more than out of shape. With the stifling heat I was out of breath in about 15 seconds. But I continued at a slow pace and with plenty of rest stops. It was like starting over hiking the trail, except I think I was more fit when I started back in March because I was at least practicing hiking at the time. I knew in short time I would never be able to catch my friends who left The Captains before me. All I could do was get as close as I could and hope I would catch up to them in a few days. After about two hours of grueling hiking I saw two familiar faces. Nomad and Mountain Man were around the corner. I couldn't believe it. I did catch some friends after all. I hate hiking alone. Now, if I can only keep up, maybe I won't have to solo hike. Lucky for me (but not for her) Nomad was having foot problems with her new shoes blistering her.   We hiked about another three miles or so on some really rocky trail. I lucked out that I didn't have to whine like a baby because I couldn't do it. We found a semi flat place, made some rock furniture, and a fire ring for our little stealth camp, and set up our tents. It has been a long time since I did this. Now I have to go through the change of living in a tent, just as I was once again adapting to civilian life with a comfortable bed, television, and cold things, like ice...and ice cream...and daily baths...you get the picture. That's about it for my first day back... Only hiked a lowly five miles and I'm dying of exhaustion and my legs are cramping. It's going to be a long week. :-)