Date: 2014-06-10
From: Turk Gap

To: US 211/Thorton Gap
Miles today: 300.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Sorry for the lag in time between updates. Y'all know by now how it can be out here on Trail and the difficulty with finding service and time to post. I'll do my best to keep this one short and brief but catch everyone up to date.Day 2 of he Shannies had us back I Trail at Turks gap where we had ended our previous day. The day had an excellent start as we were greeted at the trailhead with Trail Magic. Someone had left a cooler with drinks and fruit. We felt a tad guilty since we had just come from a hot breakfast and had full bellies. So we left this one alone and figured the other hikers could use it more. We also saw a deer right off the back. However re rest of the fah was to be mostly dull. We had plans to visit a waterfall as it was supposed to only be a few hundred yards from te Trail. The guide has a problem with these falls, the waterfall was more like 1.5 miles away. Needless to say we do not venture to this one. Extra miles at the end of a long day is never wanted. The girls had set up camp down up trail from we're then had dropped us off so we were walking into camp. We were just come ting how dull the day had been since such a great start when we saw a bear. He let us observe him closely for a few minutes till we walked on. We reached camp and met the ladies. They too wanted to see a bear so we drove around our camp and yes we saw another. The girls got out and were able to get rather close. Not to worry it was fairly small and was not interested in them. A great day!Shannies day 3 we were able to walk right out camp on the morning as the Trail was a short distance away. We played leap from with Skyline Drive. Often crossing the road. It was apparent that the road was much more picturesque as it was designed as the cornerstone of Shenandoah Nat Park. On he positive we saw another bear, several deer and snakes. At some point in the day OK stepped just wrong an tweaked his foot. His foot has been giving him fita the entire Trail. I feared that this was the last step. He limped and hobled like never before. We took a break to access the situation. He said he could continue as we only has a few miles. I saw in him the tenacity it will take to go all the way the Maine and for the first time the desire it would take to reach the end. Trying to stay positive I tried to recount our blessings. Going through our list of animal sightings I counted bear, but had to add another as we passed another as we were counting. Bears count 10! We ended the day at over 900 miles. Another step closer. While waiting on the girls we had a car stop. The driver got out and offered us sodas. We gladly accepted. Shortly later another vehicle stopped, the driver introduced himself as "Don's Brother" a thruhiker who hiked for his brother who had passed of ALS. We had a great visit. The girls picked us iPad we headed to town. OK's foot is bad. We took him to an urgent care clinic. X-rays were taken. The came back negative so the doc prescribed some drugs. The mission continues.Shannies day 4 with a green light to continue we were back out on Trail with only a day lost. The weather was crap. So even when we should have views there was none. It was sad too because the Trail was awesome. Mostly flat and great treadway. The weather must hae kept all the animals in because we saw none which is unusual for these parts. But that was ok because OK had no issues with his foot and was having a great hike. The weather turned even worse and the skies opened up. It didn't much matter because we were headed to our ladies and dry clothes. Never had we been so happy to not be camping out in the woods. I've said before and I'll say it this time, thank god for the girls. Once again we walked into camp. We dried off, took hot showers, as filled our stomachs with hot chow. This way of thruhiking is getting addictive.Shannies day 5 the weather remained muggy and cloudy all night and well into the day. The views again were obscured. Though this would not last. OK's foot has remained ok. He mentioned that the past two days have been the best. His entire outlook has been great. The clouds finally cleared and we were rewarded with some views. The day was not not spectacular by any means but was very enjoyable none the less. The miles came easy we had no significant climbs. It was just a great day with father and son. I am proud and blessed to be out here with OK. I thought we had arranged to meet the girls at 400. We made our prearranged destination and meeting area. The girls were Lahr in getting there. I therefore went to the next crossing hoping to find them. The Lord works in misterious ways because I saw a bear. Had things gone as planned I would not have seen the bear. We are now enjoying our our last night in the park. We are sitting in one of the lodges along Skyline Drive listening to a local guitar picker. It's time like this I am reminded that its about the smiles one makes not always the miles.   Life is good,   Salty