morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-14
From: zero

To: zero
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday Finnegan and I hitched a ride into Abingdon to see a movie at a movie theater with REAL popcorn. I couldn't have been more excited. It was great to be able to go see one - I was going through movie withdraw. Hitching back was a pain though - it took us two hours. But, we made it. I bought a blue tarp the other day to hang over my tent for some shade. Finn is calling it our apartment. Pretty funny. He street fiddled the other day during the first day of Trail Days - city wide yard sales, bargains on every street! He made some play money and today also got a job at Baja. I got a job tomorrow making desserts for the Old Mill. Should be pretty fun. I'm working on uploading some of the few pictures I have on my camera. Everything else I have is on my iPod and trying to find a Mac in Damascus is harder then trying to find a needle in a haystack. So... it appears I will just have to wait to add the rest - sorry folks. Other then above, there isn't anything really new. Damascus is almost in full swing for Trail Days. More people arrive everyday, soon to be 25,000! The real festivities start Wednesday I believe. There are some college students at the The Place today that are doing medical tests on hikers. I was asked to pee in a cup to see how my body has been changing because of the long distance hikes. Should be interesting. Alright, well I'm off!
Date: 2007-05-15
From: zero

To: zero
Miles today: 0.0

Today, I started my second job here in Damascus at the Old Mill Inn & Restaurant. I was told yesterday they would have work in the kitchen so I headed over there this morning. When I got there I was named the new dishwasher. I didn't mind this but the water had one temperature - hellishly hot. After I caught up with the dishes the easy going cook, Jason, taught me how to make croutons, prepare chicken wings and pull pork. Doesn't sound like too much fun - but it was nice being busy for once and I got breaks and free food - unlike my first job as a carnie. Jason made me a portabella sandwich before I left for working there today and as he put it, "I'm making it to hiker proportions." Awesome! And it was yummy. So, I'm headed back there everyday until I leave from 3:00 to close. There is going to be live music this weekend at the bar so that should be fun as well. Finn and I are moving our apartment to Sparkles house this afternoon which is near Tent City. Tomorrow the real stuff starts in Damascus with Trail Days so getting set today for tomorrow is the plan. Donny's two older sisters are arriving on Thursday and Donny and Boat Drinks should be here late Thursday night. Can't wait till the gang is back together again. P.S. Shout out to two friends that had to leave the trail, Birch and Buckles - miss you both already and I hope you heal soon!
Date: 2007-05-16
From: zero

To: zero
Miles today: 0.0

I made it through day 2 of my new job as a hydro-ceramics engineer! Yesterday I worked from three until close and it was a pretty fun. I got to learn more food preparing things like rubbing down ribs and more desserts. We had a bit of a cr me bru le catastrophe and I bought a wine glass, big surprise, but other then that the night went smooth. I got a free Ruben and beer out of it as well and apparently today I get a free Damascus Trail Days Old Mill t-shirt. I met some new people yesterday as well. A guy named Tracy who liked to tell me how much his truck is worth and a few new waitresses I hadn't seen from the day before.   Finnegan was the same at-tent-dad yesterday while I was the breadwinner because it poured rain the whole day. When I woke up in the morning he was running around the tarp with our cooking pots collecting water because we had a few leaks.   His job was to make sure nothing got wet. By the way, we moved our 'apartment' from The Place to our friend Sparklers house near Tent City. We know have the side of a shed to put our tarp up against and have declared this update as moving into a condo from our previous apartment. It's slightly on a hill too so we have a 'reclining tent' and a lawn/master bathroom. Fishin' Fred moved is tent on the hill above us and while he was setting up I yelled, "Honey we got a new neighbor!" and Finn yelled, "Well there goes the neighborhood! We should put up a fence!" All in good fun of course. Tonight Donny and Boat Drinks should arrive and we should all be able to reunite after I get off work. Last night we went to Tent City which is growing by the minute. The hot spot seems to be around Mala's Kitchen - as last night there was good music, mountain spring water, and lots of new hikers to meet. Hopefully tonight it will be hopping again. Off to work!
Date: 2007-05-17
From: zero

To: zero
Miles today: 0.0

My job as a dishwasher was short lived because the normal dishwasher showed up today and didn't seem too happy that I temporally took his job - so I moved over to dessert maker full time. The menu includes: New York Style Cheesecake with raspberry sauce, a warm brownie with chocolate sauce and ice cream, an ice cream bowl with Oreo's and your choice of sauce, peanut butter pie with chocolate sauce, blueberry cr me bru' le, and a warm apple dumpling with ice cream. I've become a master at preparing the desserts Food-Network-style. We serve everything on ice cold plates and I do it up nice with the sauce spraying it like a pro across the plate making cool little designs. Problem is no one in Damascus orders desserts so I stood in the same spot today making a dent in the floor. Jason was a little uptight because the kitchen was really busy. I'm sure tomorrow will only get busier... People of Damascus come buy desserts from the Old Mill!! Give me something to do!
Date: 2007-05-18
From: zero

To: Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0

And it starts! Today Trail Days started in full as it seems most people have arrived and tent city looks pretty filled up. The gear reps were in tent city and the vendors were in town filling happy hiker¢s needs. Finn and I are looking at buying a new tent so it was fun to walk around and see all the latest gear. I worked again today at 3:00 making desserts at the Old Mill. Not much more busier then it was yesterday but I got a free Trail Days Old Mill Damascus shirt for working there. Yuppie! After I got off I ran into Finn on his way to find me and then we went to Tent City. There was a drum circle at Miss Janet¢s were we ran into a happy Boat Drinks, Donny Keyhote and Donny's sister, Sara. They had arrived earlier while I was at work. After about an hour of hanging out we called it a night.
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Trail Days

To: Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0

This morning Boat Drinks decided to leave the trail. It was an unexpected shock for all of us but something he needed to do. I respect him entirely for his decision but already miss him. He was a great friend while I got to hike with him and I hope that he will continue to keep in touch with us as the days follow. This years theme for Trail Days is, "The people are the trail" and I see this more clearly now then ever. It's not about the mountain for me - there are millions in the world - it's about the friendships I've made and the people that have opened their hearts to me. Boat Drinks being one of those people. I wish him the best and hope to see him soon... Oh not because happiness exists,that too-hasty profit snatched from approaching loss.---But because truly being here is so much; because everything here apparently needs us, this fleeting world, which in some strange waykeeps calling to us. Us, the most fleeting of all.---...Ah, but what can we take alonginto that other realm? Not the art of looking,which is learned so slowly, and nothing that happened here. Nothing.The sufferings, then. And, above all, the heaviness, and the long experience of love, - just what is whollyunsayable. -Rainer Maria Rilke Love you Boat Drinks! - Donny Keyhote, Finnegan & Bottle Cap
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Whitetop Mountain

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: clear sky

From Momma Ash: All is well - the pack was located, Osprey had actually left it in town at an outfitters. Osprey was very good about contacting me both by phone and email - top notch response, thank you!So Bottle Cap, Finn, Donny, and his sister Sara, who has joined him for some hiking, are on their way to Mt. Rogers. They plan on seeing the ponies tomorrow in Grayson Highlands, then it's on to Troutdale. There, they'll be picked up by Donny and Sara's dad who will drive them back up to Bland. All this will makeup for trail that was skipped because of Finn's knee injury.From Danielle: Thanks to a ride from Lone Wolf, we - Finn, me, Donny & Red Princess - headed out today starting at Whitetop Mountain. We back tracked because Donny and Red Princess's dad is picking them up on Wednesday and then going to take Finn and me to Pearisburg. This works out for us because this is the section we missed because of Finn's hurt knee - which by the way is doing much better. Today was an easy 6 or so miles up to the Grayson Highlands where there are wild ponies! There were 3 at the Thomas Knob shelter, which is the shelter we stayed at. Donny and Red Princess got to feed them carrots and Red Princess even got to kiss a pony on the nose! Ponies for everyone!
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Old Orchard SHelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day to hike. It was wonderful weather and for most of the day we hiked around wild ponies. We finally found a good spot to feed them with carrots. However, once we fed one, more and more came until Finn, Red Princess, Donny and I were surrounded. We ran out of carrots several ponies got angry and one even tried to kick Donny. It was enough to make us run back to the trail but it's our own fault for feeding them. The little baby ponies were cute though and it was worth it. After that we ran into a few horseback riders one of which was riding the grandson Black Stallion from the movie. It was a gorgeous horse. We continued on to Old Orchard shelter for the night - our last night with Red Princess and Donny Keyhote. Had a relaxing evening playing cards and talking. It was a good day.
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Old Orchard SHelter

To: Dickey Gap/Pearisburg
Miles today: 10.2

What a long stressful week. Donny and Red Princess left today after their dad met us at Dickey Gap and drove us to Pearisburg. It was sad to say goodbye to Donny but knowing we'll see him again was relief enough not to get upset. He's a great guy and I wish him the best in the coming weeks. Finn and I are now relaxing at the Holiday Motor Lodge for the evening. We have to have some boxes forwarded here so we may take a much needed zero tomorrow to process and get back on track. Write ya soon!Note from Momma Ash: updates are posted from May 17 to present
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Pearisburg

To: Zero in Pearisburg
Miles today: 0.0

Because I am clumpsy and absent minded we ended up taking another zero today in Pearisburg chasing my memory card from my camera that I lost. But!... I found it! Well, actually Finn found it for me - I was not about to leave without it. So, I had time then this afternoon to add a few more pictures up from the Grayson Highlands and Trail Days on my trailjournal. Keep in mind some of the pictures don't have to do with the entries, but enojy! We also spent today planning out the rest of Virgina's hike - enough so we can make a deadline to Harper's Ferry where we will met my mom for a few days, go to Washington D.C. for a break and then head to Finn's Grandfathers 90th birthday party before returning to the trail. While planning all of this in the wonderful Virgina heat on the hotel patio, we painfully eyed the pool- which they have been filling since we got here with a hose- this process takes several days. It doesn't yet appear that we can swim in it but it looked really nice today. Haha. I found a good pair of tevas in the hiker box here which was a surprising find. I've discovered that EVERY hiker box has oatmeal and random 'surpise!' ziplock bags of food. Surprise because you don't know what it is until you eat it. Finnegan found a cup in this one too. We plan on replenishing this hiker box with beer for future hikers since we got so much out of it. Hope the people behind us like Corona!We'll we are off tomorrow to head toward Catawba - the next city 6 or so days away. It's been fun in Pearisburg but it's time to go... *Picture is of Finnegan in The Fat Man's Squeeze Tunnel in Grayson Highlands
Date: 2007-05-30
From: (ride to) Catawba

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 4.4
Weather: haze

After Finnegan and I treated Nan - the mom of the house/farm we stayed at -to lunch in Salem, VA, she dropped us of at the trailhead inCatawba. This is close to a famous part of the trail, McAfee Knob.This is a lookout that a lot of people take their picture at so ofcourse Finn and I had to do the touristy thing and take our picture onit as well. Only it wasn't as easy as we thought... We set my cameraup on one side of the knob with the timer, Finn went to the knob and Ipushed the button. This resulted in about 4 pictures of Finn standingon the knob and me in mid-run trying to reach the knob - without fallingof a cliff mind you - but always falling short before the timer wentoff. We finally moved the camera closer in order to get us both inbut had to move it so close to do it looks like we are juststanding on a rock. Ha! In any case we hiked on for a short day toCampbell Shelter for the night.
Date: 2007-05-31
From: Campbell Shelter

To: U.S. 220
Miles today: 15.4

Well, my BO must make me smell like a rotting dead animal because Ihave about 25 bug bites. I'm gettin' eaten alive! Ha! Finn foundfour ticks on his legs today leaving the shelter. I haven't found anyon me but I've been paranoid about checking because I've met a handfulof hikers that are finishing their hike this year after getting Lymedisease mid hike last year. It's funny how the symptoms for Lymedisease are "sore joints & fatigue". What hiker doesn't already havethat!? Although seriously, I'm sure I'll know if I get it. Minusthe tick scare we had a great day because we saw THREE bears on ourwalk into Daleville! They were all together and some large arsebears. I feel better about seeing bears now because they could havetotally eaten us, but the second they saw us they freaked and ran. Itwas awesome to see my first real bears from the trail. We also saw adeer and about 15 lizards. We finally got to Daleville after anadventuress 16ish mile day and hit up the Mexican restaurant below our motel for some much needed margaritas. It was fun. Tomorrow we will probably take one of our scheduled zeros and relax our sore bones at the Econo Lodge pool. We are here with Santas Helper, MA, Busdriver and tons of hikers. Off to watch a Star Wars marathon!
Date: 2007-06-01
From: U.S. 220

To: zero
Miles today: 0.0

Nothing really exciting today - just a normal zero. Lots of foodpreparing and post office trips. Santa's Helper treated Finn and me tolunch along with a bunch of other hikers which was really nice. Wealso got to swim in the pool and read.Something I forgot to mention in an earlier journal was that when westayed at Eydee and Jerry's house in Damascus during trail days wecamped near this incredibly creepy tree which we were later told wasthe tree in which the first black woman slave was hung from. Thismade sleeping there rather haunting and depressing but at the sametime it was interesting to learn and see this history. Finn and Ialso recently passed the Eastern Continental Divide where on onestreet everything flows to the Gulf and on the other everything flowsto the Atlantic. Again, getting to see America like this is a greatexperience. When walking you tend not to miss a detail and see thingsmost other people haven't. Can't wait for what¢s ahead!
Date: 2007-06-02
From: zero

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Off to a great start the morning with fresh coffee courtesy of theEconolodge and into the woods. Pretty easy morning getting up toFullhardt Knob Shelter - we passed a group of either girl scouts our somesort of high school girls camp - about 15 in all taking a break headedsouth bound. They were on a 70 mile trip and seemed in awe of thethru hikers. It was pretty cool to see some females on the trail -and so many at once. Girl power!After we got to the shelter we ate lunch with Billy the Kid and hispup Little Bear. After our bellies were full I took the lead andheaded down a double blue blaze I somehow blindly thought would leadus back to the AT. Well, before long I noticed a few white blazes andfigured we were back on it. Two miles later we found ourselves in themiddle of no where near a road. A couple with a car told uswe were in fact on an old section of the AT, way far away and up a hugemountain from the actual AT. Rather then get lost again, they droveus to the first part of the Blue Ridge Parkway the crosses the AT. There we rejoined Sunny Side and Pebbles headed to the next shelter, Bobbles Gap. Nice night, although little tenting area so we slept on a slant with Tigger and Chuck Norris. MA and Marshal also stopped by for dinner. I¢m off to try and finish my book!
Date: 2007-06-03
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Cove Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up to loud noises on our tent because it was pouringoutside. We read and filtered water until it stopped and then itstarted pouring again as soon as we hit the trail. We decided to makeit a short day and just stay at the next shelter because we weresoaked. We joined Sunny Side, Pebbles, MA, and Marshal who were already there.We all hung our clothes on a makeshift clothes line and put potsoutside to collect water. They all left but Finn and I stayed and was joinedlater by three guy hikers whom we'd never met before. Didn't stopraining until late the next morning and I only ventured out of theshelter once to the privy - however I was greeted there by the largestBrown Recluse spider I have ever seen. Nasty! Glad to be somewhatdry now and away from the scary spiders.
Date: 2007-06-04
From: Cove Mtn Shelter

To: Apple Orchard Falls Trail
Miles today: 16.0

Got a late start this morning but headed downhill to Jennings Creekand then to the "It's A Wonderful Life" campground - yes that's whatit is called - for our food package. My mums also sent my cap andgown there because I graduate in a few days! We also indulged in sodaand some ice cream while there. Instead of following the trail back,we followed a LONG road to the start of the Apple Orchard Falls Trailwere we camped for the night.
Date: 2007-06-05
From: Apple Orchard Falls Trail

To: James River/Glasgow VA
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: broken clouds

Oh yes, it feels great to leave a ring in the tub. Tonight I amstaying at the Tired Feet Restaurant & Motel and my tired feetappreciate it. Finn and I walked and hitched to get here.We left to go to Apple Orchard Falls this morning to take a few graduation pictures. We came upon a few disappointing falls that didn't match thedescription in the guide book. Took off all the gear and took somephotos only to discover 200 foot cascading falls 10 minutes on the trailafterward. Ha-ha. It was really beautiful. After that we rejoined theAT and the BRPW for most of the day. We had ten more miles to dobefore realizing we wouldn't get our package from the city of BigIsland in time so we yellow blazed to James River. So again, now I amat the Feet Motel. Ah showers - ah finally dry clothes - ah hotpockets and a friggin' microwave - Yes!
Date: 2007-06-06
From: James River/Glasgow VA

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Hitched out of Glasgow today. Had a hard time at first, and then saw a carheaded our way with the license plate "GA MA 02." We knew we had aride then. The driver¢s name was Homer and he took us, along with afew southbound section hikers, to the trailhead near the James RiverFoot Bridge. Apparently it's the longest foot bridge on the AT. Itwas really neat to walk on and check out. After that we headed up themountain too accomplish our 10 mile day. Despite the short distancebetween 501/James River to Buena Vista we have to do low miles thenext couple days to meet Finnegan's brother and sister-n-law by Fridayfor some non-trail weekend fun. Had mostly climbing to get to thePunchbowl Shelter and got to pass the grave marking of Ottie, a fouryear old that was found at the top of the mountain dead in 1891.Cause of death unknown. Finn and I find it hard to believe a fouryear old would be able/want to climb what we climbed today. Finntheorizes that the poor child may have been carried up by a large animal. The marker was a little eerie with kid¢s toys and trinkets around it. We left a few lucky pennies. As it turns out hiker AT folklore has it that Ottie haunts the Punchbowl Shelter. The only things I've found making any ruckus around here are the 5 billion frogs that live around the "punchbowl" of a lake. Should make for a fun noisy night. Thank goodness for earplugs! PS. I was charged at by a grouse today and it scared the crap out of me. I was unaware that they did this and started running backward thinking I upset a groundhog or something. I finally saw its feathers and then it backed down - but nearly gave me a heart attack in the process. Who would have thoughtgrouse would have been scarier then bears! Ha!
Date: 2007-06-07
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Buena Vista
Miles today: 11.3

Today was a rough day of what we thought would be mostly down, butturned out to be mostly up. Stupid elevation profiles. Finn and Iwere planning on staying the night at the shelter before the road whichleads into Buena Vista and hiking to it tomorrow morning. However, plans changed when we got to the shelter. Located in the trailregister with a yellow halo glow around it was a restaurant menu fromCaptain Tim's Galley - located just down the road. One look and Finnsaid, "We¢re going." So we went. We feasted on yes, frog legs, whichtaste like slimy chicken, trout and catfish. It was well worth theextra miles and hotel money we had to pay. We choose to stay tonightat the Budget Inn in Buena Vista - pronounced by the locals the wayit's spelled. Our hotel room was more expensive then the single ratebecause they were "out of rooms" and half the things in it didn't workbut there was a gas station across the street with slushy's and theseburritos Finn likes called The Bomb - gross. So it was all good at the end of the night.
Date: 2007-06-08
From: Buena Vista

To: Lexington VA - the Ujie home
Miles today: 0.0

At the Buena Vista library today Finn and I were picked up by hisbrother¢s mother-n-law, Mrs. Uije. She drove us up the road to thenext town over to their house in Lexington. I was glad not to behiking because it was SO HOT! But we braved the temp once there towalk around town exploring bookstores and the campus. In the evening Mr. Uije, who is Japanese, made us the most delicious homemade sushi and Korean dishes. It was a wonderful meal. We were joined half way through dinner by Finnegan¢s brother, Theo and his wife Alissa. It was great to meet some more of Finnegan¢s relatives. After dinner Theo and Alissa took us out to see Spiderman 3 and after that we all called it a night.
Date: 2007-06-09
From: Lexington VA - the Ujie home

To: Charlottesville VA - the Diamond home
Miles today: 0.0

We said goodbye to the Uije family today - Kenichi, Debbie, and Miyawere great hosts and wonderful people! Theo and Alissa drove us up toCharlottesville to spend a few days with them but not without stopping atthe Lexington Goodwill first. New trail shirts. Ha!In Charlottesville we got lunch at a restaurant Theo's company worked on,he's an architect which was neat. We also did laundry and I taughteveryone euchre. Finn and I also got to play with his nephew, Theoand Alissa's cat, Captain Danger. He's a funny cat with a halfmustache. Hehe.In the evening we went out for Mexican and then saw Pirates of theCaribbean 3.We avoided talking about what happens until tomorrow in terms of resupplyand planning, it was great to hang out and just relax!