Date: 2014-05-28
From: Buena Vista

To: DWG
Miles today: 0.0

Since I last updated MUCH as happened, obviously. I hope I have not lost y'all's interest with my monthly posts. It's just tough to keep up with it out here! In fact, I have many photos to share, but may be late in adding those...While in Waynesboro VA I got to visit with Kristen (my 1st grade friend and pen pal trough the years). It is so neat that we could get together after all these years! even tho it was brief. She shared some old photos from a photo album that are just too funny. On my 2nd Monthaversary on trail we (Team One Size) hiked into the Shenandoahs. They were a'ight. Not the same as the Smokies (tho I may be biased for my home state). All of the great views were crammed into the middle of the SNP (in my opinion) with a couple of days of just walking in the woods on either end. It was pretty woods walking tho. And we had some cool experiences, some planned and some happenstance.One day I noticed that the distance between two shelters was exactly the length of a marathon, so we decided to do that. 26.2 miles! And I think that's the most I've done in a day so far...http://youtu.be/zkB8pkfKMukOn one of the last days we got to an overlook just as the sun was setting and a biker pulled up to the road above us and played some music. That was pretty cool.The black raspberry ice cream was awesome!!!!On my LAST day in the Shenandoah's I saw a bear. I saw two! And I was really enjoying bragging that I had never seen one, even while working wilderness therapy. Oh well. They just looked like big dogs. And took no interest in me. I didn't get any pictures tho.I zeroed at the Terrapin Station Hostel in Front Royal and got to see Spider-Man 2 in the theater! It was great!Then we had several exciting things happen in a row. We took on "The Rollercoaster" (10 ups and downs in 13 miles). Then, right before FINALLY leaving Virginia, we hit the 1,000 mile mark. And you know that had to be a celebration!!!! We were so grateful to be introduced to Red Wing and Hopeful thru Queen Diva. Besides being so amazingly kind and hospitable, they helped us fill up 1,000 water balloons and their three adorable kids helped us smash them.http://youtu.be/x3b3Qakwm10After that glorious time we left Virginia (and there was much rejoicing... Yay!). I was number 128 at Harpers Ferry, WV! But I don't understand how important that is, since half if the people in the book were section hikers... Hm. Oh well, I'm still through backpacking the Appalachian Trail and that's good enough for me!Entering Maryland we encountered THOUSANDS of inchworms. It was war. We barely made it out. That night it POURED rain and for the entirety of Maryland we were walking through a river on the trail. We had to ford 2 actual rivers that had gotten thigh high.Crossed the Mason-Dixon Line into Pennsylvania! And stayed at the Quary Rock Shelter. Anyone who hikes through should stay at that shelter, it was awesome!Got to the actual half way point along the trail for 2014 and celebrated shortly there after with a half gallon of ice cream. Fun Size and I tag teamed it... But then we followed it up with fries and coffee, so we really coulda both done the challenge.Met Uncle Sam in Boiling Springs PA and then again in Duncannon. Enjoyed some nice chat. We were dive bombed by two peregrine falcons along the bridge on the way out if Duncannon. That was an interesting experience. They must have had a nest under the bridge because they were NOT happy with us being there.Met my friend Nell while in PA for a cherry coke and a chat. That was lovely!After much ado, I figured out how to get to a water park for a day and that was AWESOME! We enjoyed a couple of rides, but mostly hung out on the lazy river all day. Best Nero Ever!The rocks in northern PA were a challenge, but some of the scrambles were awesome! I enjoyed the change of pace. I will enjoy it changing again,One Day