Date: 2005-06-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 24.0

6/5Hi everybody and Good Sabbath to you all! Puppy Power here!Wag Daddy & I are just a few miles shy of Adkins VA! We just keep truckin' along! Bacause of our big day yesterday, we were able to mellow out a bit on the trail today, which was actually quite nice. We got an early start (after inhaling our FAVORITE cereal - Cinnamon Life!) & actually were able to log about 13 miles before lunch! (the terrain was really easy). We enjoyed our lunch at perhaps the ritziest shelter we've seen yet! Special features include actual bathroom, shower & upper loft. Could probably fit about 25-30 in a pinch! While we were there, we also met up with a great married couple from North Carolina, 'Lumbar & Trooper'!They're since retired & their newest challenge is the AT! That's right-they're thru-hiking too! Because Paul & I didn't have a lot of miles to cover today, we held back & were able to visit with them a little bit. It was kind of nice to share a conversation with a thru-hiker about something other than food & pack weight! Not too far from the shelter was a Visitor's Center, which is where I telephoned my dad, (1-800-COLLECT!). to confess my blunder, & see if he could help me out. In typical fashion, he was very understanding & reassured me that my mom and him would help us out. That right there probably made my day- no, it DEFINITELY made my day!   It just made me so happy to be a part of my family. I don't ever want to take them for granted. As imperfect as we are together, I wouldn't trade them for anyone! I love how they've all pitched in, even on this trip! My sister got us off to a great start in Detroit, my mom & dad have consistently been a source of encouragement, either in words or in the form of a gift. And I definitely wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the generosity & kindness of my loving grandparents. Truly, mine is a blessed life. I think I always knew that, I just didn't think I understood it as well as I do now. Mmmm.Alright, back to the trail. Along the way, Wag Daddy & I stopped in a cute little museum depicting the history of immigration in the area round bout the late 19th century. Being the history buff that I am, I took advantage! Turns out most of the early settlers in Virginia were of Irish/Scottish descent, who were fleeing from English oppression in the years shortly before the American Revolution. I actually found it quite interesting! A mile or two later, we found a small town to camp in, with a great place for breakfast right along the way! Lumbar & Trooper are here, too. Oooh...I forgot to mention that the museum had horseshoe pits! Paul & I enjoyed a friendly game, & in case you are interested, I DID come away with the W, 5-3! Grandpa Nash & Uncle Ron would have been proud! Mmmm....I suppose I could write more, but I've got some reading to do. Our Bible reading plan has us at the annointing of King David today & I'm barely half way through Joshua! (for those of you who are students of the Bible, you know how far behind I am!) Better get crackin' Good night everyone. Ohhh...one more thing! In case you were wondering, the weather has certainly gotten considerably warmer! A welcome change for the next part, but that also invites another aspect of the trail we really haven't had to deal with yet----bugs! Oh, & today dad mentioned I missed the first West Michigan Memorial Day where it hadn't rained or snowed in like 30 years!   Figures....