Date: 2018-08-28
From: Buchanan, VA

To: Troutville, VA
Miles today: 20.1

So yesterday I spent a lot of time thinking about how to do this hike differently to where I could actually enjoy it. And I learned a lot. I realized that I only have to hike when I feel like hiking. And I only have to go as far as I want to that day. And if I don¢t feel like hiking, well then there¢s no need to force myself to do it that day. If I wanna take one, two, or three days off in a row, I should be able to do that and not make myself feel guilty for it. Also, that being said, sometimes a day off not only allows your body to recover, but can actually make you miss hiking which is a nice boost. The second thing I realized is that this is my hike and I can really hike it however I want too. It¢s called HYOH (Hiking Your Own Hike!). For instance, I yellow-blazed 20 miles of trail today and I don¢t really give a fuck. Lol Yellow-blazing is when you skip a portion of the trail, usually by hitching between towns. I was in Buchanan this morning and didn¢t wanna hike, but there¢s absolutely nothing in Buchanan. Like nothing. So I hitched to the next town over that actually has a real grocery store, Troutville, VA (Thanks Gary with the Corvette!). And now I¢m gonna spend this 95 degree day eating fresh produce and swinging on swings in the town park. Bite me. The third thing I learned is I need to get reintegrated with people out here or I¢m gonna lose my god damn mind. And since thruhikers are hard to come by, I¢m focusing on town people now. Anyone reading this over the age of 29 is probably gonna think this is sketchy, crass, or just ¢not safe¢, but it¢s honestly a genius idea. And it¢s working. I downloaded the Tinder app, which is usually used as a dating (or ¢hook up¢) app for young people. I know, ¢millennials¢ - gross. Lol I posted a handful of pics of me on trail and a three-sentence bio explaining that I¢m hiking the whole AT, I¢m passing through Virginia for a bit, and I¢m bored AF - let¢s hang out! And lots of people my age are hitting me up offering rides, to take me out to lunch, let me do laundry, etc. lol Mostly college students from Virginia Tech. Tonight I¢m actually staying at a guy named David¢s house. He¢s 29 and a total hippie kinda dude. He¢s got long brown hair, a curly mustache, and thin-framed square glasses. He even converted his mini-van into a hippie van by pulling out all the back seats and installing a bed, some drawers, a wrap around curtain, and a tie-dye print sheet for the ceiling. Lol It was the coolest thing I¢ve ever seen! He¢s letting me shower, crash on his couch, and cooking me dinner! He was actually gonna thruhike the AT last year, but had to have surgery on his knee a month before his start date. So he still plans to do it eventually and has all the gear for it already. We talked a lot about the trail, and Virginia, and compared gear and stuff. I spent most of the evening hanging out with his pet dog and rooster. LolI know this all sounds ludicrous I¢m sure, but this is gonna make the trail a lot more interesting. So ya, judge if you will. This hike is about to get real different, but also hella FUN and I¢m excited. ALSO. The fourth thing I learned today is that Burger King has a veggie burger! SAY WHAT. And it¢s only $3 OMG. The Gods of Fast Food have provided and I¢m grateful. And now probably addicted. #cheapestveggieburgerever