morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-05-19
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Flint Mt Shelter
Miles today: 5.9

I woke up at 3:30 AM with a bird singing not nice at all. If I could have caught him I would have put a rubber band on his beak. I went back to sleep until 6:45 because it was rainy and foggy. I got my breakfast done then filtered water for the day and ouched about my left knee. My knee hurts from not walking right because my shoes are now too tight. When you walk so much, your feet flatten out and your shoes won't fit. I told my wife to send my other shoes to Uncle Johnny's hostel where I will be staying. I limped along all day. I had a tough rock climb today. It was ugly. I had to do the hands and knee thing to get up over the rocks. The hurting knee wasn't good at all. At noon I took a break and a nap on my raincoat because everything was wet. At the time the sun was shining. I saw four grave markers deep in the woods in a clearing. I think it must have been a homestead a long time ago. In the afternoon I heard thunder and it was heading toward me. I was within 4 minutes of the shelter but didn't know it so I put on my rain gear. It rained cats and dogs for a while so I repacked and if only I had known it, I could have made it to the shelter without my rain gear. There are 6 of us at the shelter tonight. I cooked supper and hit the sleeping bag in dry clothes. At 9:00 PM the hoot owls let loose and again at 11:00 they hooted again.Thought for the day;Birds are nice when sing nice. But if they sing with no tune, it's annoying.Like two old men walking in the woods.
Date: 2013-05-20
From: Flint Mt Shelter

To: Devil Fork Gap NC 212
Miles today: 2.8

I got up late because my knee and guts hurt so bad. There were only 6 of us at the shelter. I did hike 2.8 miles to NC 212. I layed in the parking lot until some hikers got off the trail and they took me to Erwin, TN at no charge. I ended up at Uncle Johnny's hostel and signed in and then went to sleep for 1 1/2 hours. My first bed in 9 days. I felt better and took the shuttle uptown to the KFC for supper. I will stay several days and see how I feel then. I also got my tent and backpack dried out from 2 days of rain. I will do my laundry later tonight and take a hot shower for the first time since Hot Springs. Thought for the day:Sometimes life throws us curveballs and all our planning goes out the door.
Date: 2013-05-21
From: Devil Fork Gap NC 212

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

I got up at 6:45 at the hostel and got all my stuff into my pack again to get my room cleaned up. It was 9:00 when the shuttle took us to town for breakfast. I finally had eggs, bacon and toast again. It made my belly feel good again. I really miss my good Hilltop restaurant food. I got back from breakfast and messed around the hostel, took a nap, and waited for the 3:00 shuttle to go to town. I ate at Pizza Plus and had a small pizza and the salad bar. I got some grapes and yogurt at the store for snacks. I got back to the hostel at 6:45 and wrote my journal. I should mention the hikers that brought me in yesterday. One was Torch and the other was Early Bird. This morning was the first time I saw any anger among hikers. I will call the short one Moses because his hair was about 18" long. The tall one I'll call Cigar because he smoked the long ugly smelly ones. Cigar said Moses stepped on his foot and then there was this commotion with hands flying and words were bouncing around. The hostel worker saw it happen and let things cool off then talked to each one separately. So they apologized to each other. They have both left camp. When I came back from uptown, Acorn had arrived for the night. When I was at the store sitting outside a young woman asked me if I am a hiker. I said yes, I am waiting for the shuttle for Uncle Johnny's. She said I live close by. If they don't come I will take you. Then 5 minutes later a man asked me the same thing. He said if they don't come, I will take you. It's amazing how the people want to help the hikers. It's about 7:15 PM and raining cats and dogs again. I'm inside the cabin and dry as is my tent. Hello Marvin Beachy: I'm getting a story cooked up for you. So just smile because you can't stop me yet. To the barber shop: I didn't take my snake along but I am The Leopard so I can bite a leg off!Thought for the day:There is a purpose in life for everything. It may be helping the little old lady across the street. Even if she doesn't want to go there, just don't kick her to get her there.
Date: 2013-05-22
From: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

I got up late this morning at 7:15 which is late for hikers. I have only rest to do because my knee won't let me hike. The hostel worker said if I don't use one of my trek poles to walk with he will whack me with his walking stick! We agreed if he won't whack me I won't break his leg! So it's a happy ending for now. I lazed around the hostel until 3:00 and took the shuttle to town for lunch at Pizza Plus. I asked to do work for free at the hostel but they said it's too wet to pull weeds. We had 2 1/2" of rain last night in 45 minutes. It flooded uptown Erwin for a while. It rained some today. It has now rained 5 days in a row. So it's kinda wet and the rivers are getting angry.I took a nice warm friendly shower tonight and tonight will be the third night I have slept in bed.Thought for the day:If you were a skunk, would you be nice or would you stink up places just for fun?Marvin Beachy: Warning - my thoughts are coming soon!
Date: 2013-05-23
From: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

I was up at 7:00 AM and it started to rain again. The rain lasted several hours. The breakfast shuttle was half an hour late. I had a fine 3-egg, sausage, bacon and toast breakfast. We got back to the hostel at 12:15 and the sun was finally shining again. My knee still won't let me walk right. So maybe my 309 mile trek is as far as I can go for now. I will decide by Friday night if I can go on the trail or will I go home. I have limped along for at least 100 miles and that is far too much limping for me or anyone else. So my limping made my knee go out and it doesn't pay one way or the other to keep going. One aching part affects another part. I loafed around all day until the shuttle left at 3:00 then went to KFC for the buffet. I brought back a 6" sub to devour later. It's raining again at 6:15. There is more rain than there are mosquitos, I think. Thought for the day:Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day. Little skinny Homer wants to go out and play.
Date: 2013-05-24
From: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

To my family, friends and journal followers: it is with regret that I have to inform everyone that my AT walk is finished for this year. My knee will not let me continue my walk any further. I will continue to post stories and pictures for a while and keep you informed about my knee. I was also trying to avoid a virus that was on the trail, but I got it anyway. It is called the norovirus, and it's not a fun thing. There were a couple of hikers in the last days coming off of the trail with it also. My wife is leaving Friday evening for the 600 mile trip to bring me back home. I should be home by Sunday evening and I will post more when I get home.****I woke up at 6:15 this morning at the hostel cabin and it was cold and rainy outside. I got my daily shower and cleaned up and got ready for the uptown breakfast shuttle at 9:00. The sun finally woke up around 10:00 AM but it's cool here. We have our coats on. It's around 1:00 PM and I'm doing my journal. I went uptown with the shuttle and ate at Pizza Hut. I washed my clothes when I got back and packed up for my going home trip. I met two older gentlemen at the hostel from Arkansas that do trail magic and also walk some of the trail. Their main goal is "trail magic". Their names are Greg and Herrn.Thought for the day:There are still good people on this earth that do things for other people with no payment expected.
Date: 2013-05-25
From: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel

To: Scottsburg, IN
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up at 4:00 AM and wondered where my wife was by now. She was driving somewhere. I was up for about half an hour. I woke up at 6:00 again and stayed up for the day. I called my wife at 7:00 and she was close to Knoxville, TN. At 9:30 she pulled into Uncle Johnny's Hostel. We did some photo shooting at the hostel and at the river. We said our good byes and went uptown to Erwin and got some breakfast and looked around town. We headed for Indiana around noon. We stopped at a rest stop several hours later and had a picnic lunch that my wife had prepared - meat/cheese sandwiches, vegetables, chips, and fruit. Real american food! We stopped for the night at Scottsburg, IN about 4 hours from home.Thought for the day:It's good to be with a hard working and caring wife again! smile, smile, smile
Date: 2013-05-26
From: Scottsburg, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

I got out of bed at 6:30 AM in Scottsburg, IN. My wife and I went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. We headed for home but stopped in Noblesville to visit my son and family. My grandkids got to play with me. We left for home and arrived at 5:00 PM. I was home where I belonged - but not really - I belonged on the AT. But it is good to be home again. I have real food and a real place to park myself and a wife to care for me. I hope to address my knee problem. It doesn't have a "stop" anymore. It wants to bend backwards like a duck's leg and then it makes me want to fall. OOPS.Thought for the day:When there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier. We cannot do everything at once; but we can do something at once.To Randy K Pittman: Thanks for your bird answer. I was thinking it was a scarlet tanager but wasn't sure without a bird book. I got to see two of them!
Date: 2013-05-27
From: Goshen, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

I have some advice for people who want to hike the AT. Take a weekend trial run with a backpack of at least 35 lbs. A good place to start that has a good variety of ups and downs is Unicoi Gap at the parking lot off of GA75. GPS for parking lot is: N3448.101, W8344.570. Walk north off the parking lot on the AT to Tray Mt shelter a total of 5.7 miles one way. You will start at 2949' and go up to 4430'. Going north you will have a 1.4 mile uphill climb with a lot of switchbacks and later a 3 mile uphill climb and be ready to be tired out. You should spend the night at the Tray Mt shelter but in a tent to get the feel of things. Good luck and have fun!Thought for the day:If you think you can, then you are ahead of the game. Now everything starts with you - the first step and effort.
Date: 2013-05-28
From: Goshen, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

I would like to thank the people at Uncle Johnny's for taking such good care of me for the 4 1/2 days I was at the hostel. They were always making sure I was okay and had what I needed. So you hikers please give them a chance when you pass through that way. Thank you Uncle Johnny, Bear Bait, Sarge, Phil and the young man I called Dog Man. Thanks for the uptown shuttles and in-hostel comforts and the really hot water for showers. And thank you Sarge for not hitting me with your walking stick when I refused to use a walking stick when you told me to use one!Today think of your own THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!
Date: 2013-05-29
From: Goshen, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

I went to Dr. Hendricks today about my knee and had some treatment on the knee and ankle. He measured my knee for a knee brace so you know what that means. It's something else to wear and get tired of. I get to go back on Friday for more treatment. At this point I'm going to make sure my legs are 100% ready to go. My wife and I discussed about returning to the AT. We thought that I would mend and in October when we are going to Franklin, NC I will try to get in at least 30 miles on the AT then hit the trail next spring and head for Maine again. I have incurred extra expenses with my ankle and knee acting up and I will need time to get my finances going again. It costs a lot for treatment, CAT scans, extra motel rooms, and gas. So far my wife has driven 2300 extra miles. My insurance covered most of the expenses but not all. The most important thing is to let my old body heal right this time. I'll do my best while I'm home and I do expect miracles. They happen all the time. I'll try to keep writing as long as I can.Thought for the day:Sunshine is good. Sunshine makes people happy. Sunshine makes things grow. Sunshine is the giver of life.
Date: 2013-06-01
From: Goshen, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

I am a yard worker man now instead of an AT walker. My heart is in walking, but that has to wait a bit. I have now walked around home for 2 days without a limp and very little pain in my ankle and knee. My stomach muscles still need some healing. Lifting and hoeing still bothers my stomach muscles. I am determined to be in top shape before hitting the AT again. I talked with WhiteSidewalls this morning and he is gearing up to hit the trail again. Good luck and God speed for him. I was thinking about trail life today - the good and sometimes bad days. The good things I will remember a long time. I remember all the times I was helped by some person, some motel, some hostel, and of course the friendly AT hikers. The outstanding ones were Haven's Budget Inn in Franklin, NC, the Hike Inn at Fontana Dam, NC, The Grand Prix motel in Gatlinburg, TN, the hostel at Laughing Heart Lodge in Hot Springs, NC, and Uncle Johnny's hostel in Erwin, TN. The people at these places go way beyond helping hikers and I can't say thank you enough to all of them. If you hike the AT, give these folks a try. They won't disappoint you. I think of one person that came to WhiteSidewalls and myself on our seemingly unreachable goal. We had hiked 4-5 days and were cold, hungry, tired and were in need of a ride to Gatlinburg, TN to a motel by 10:00 PM. It appeared almost impossible for us to go 15 miles to town at 6:30 PM. In our darkest and coldest moment a kind gentleman named Mark LeMarr picked us up at Newfound Gap and delivered us to our motel by 9:00 PM. The fellow accepted the Good Samaritan call without pay plus he was friendly and did his kind deed willingly. My own thought to myself would be - would I pass the Good Samaritan call if it looked me in the face? So another big thank you to Mark. If you know Mark, please shake his hand for WhiteSidewalls and for me The Leopard.Thought for the day:A good manner springs from a good heart. Fine manners are the outcome of unselfish kindness. Goodness is the only investment that never fails.
Date: 2013-06-03
From: Goshen, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

I am almost walking normal again, but I hear that normal is only on a washing machine. I should say that I walk almost without pain. It has been about 6 weeks since my mishap. I worked in my garden today. I got my work truck out of storage and brought it home so I have tools to work with around home. My heart is still on the AT but I am at home and will try to accept it that way until I return to the AT. I look back on all the ups and downs and struggles I had on the AT and can say it was all worth it. Amen, brother. I had an appointment with Dr. Hendricks today and he thinks I am getting better and need to see him only once a week for now. This is good news for me.Thought for the day:Nice sunny weather, no pain, working in my garden and flowerbeds, and being home is a joy.
Date: 2013-06-06
From: Goshen, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

Check out the new photos (listed 06/01/2013) of The Leopard - courtesy of WhiteSidewalls. Thank you WhiteSidewalls and Keely! Good luck WhiteSidewalls as you continue through the forest.Thought for the day: The greatest distance we have yet to cover still lies within us.Happy birthday to granddaughter Grace!
Date: 2013-06-07
From: Goshen, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

I want to thank everyone for following my journal. It makes my day when I see the numbers go up every day. I have over 40,800 hits already and that's amazing. I just wish I was hiking and bringing trail news. The trail news will come again be it sooner or later. This morning I went to Middlebury to meet my cousins for coffee AKA "government meeting". We picked up a masonry saw after break and then I went to fix a drain for a lavatory. We ate at Subway for lunch and discussed more things. I got home around 1:30 and worked in my yard and flowerbeds. My wife and I went to Pizza Hut for the evening meal and had our fill. I called WhiteSidewalls this evening to see how he was doing and at the moment he was not in the east coast storm. He will have news later for the journal. I wish him well as he makes decisions for the future. I will try to post things for a while. My ankle and knee are doing great and I wish my stomach muscles would do better. There is still some pain in there somewhere. As they say, skin and bones will heal. I will wait on the healing.Thought for the day:If you think you couldn't, then you probably can't. So think I can and then you will get it accomplished. Only you hold the key to unlock the goodness in your heart.
Date: 2013-06-08
From: Goshen, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up at 2:00 AM and this thought for the day came to mind.Thought for the day:If you want to soar like an eagle do not listen to "can't do" or "won't do", but rather to "can do" and "will do". Now go and exceed your wildest expectation.
Date: 2013-06-15
From: Goshen, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

I need to get my journal updated for this week. My knee and ankle are doing great. My stomach muscles are getting better by the day. I think in a week or two I can carry my backpack again. I will have to start walking with my pack and build up my walking muscles. I'm so ready to get back on the AT, but I need to be 100% fit this time before I go hiking again. I had a coffee break with my McDonald's old timers on Wednesday. On Thursday I had coffee with my cousins known as our government meeting. I also paid a visit to Mid-City Supply my wholesale supplier and had a great time. I read WhiteSidewall's story on his truck ride. Sounds like a great experience for both the driver and WhiteSidewalls.Thought for the day:For tomorrow, try an ounce of kindness and forget the pound of growl you could have given. See the smile and not the frown.
Date: 2013-07-07
From: Goshen, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

I am back to writing a bit to inform my AT followers on my progress. My ankle and knee are doing great, but have a little problem with my stomach muscles yet when I work them too hard. I will start working my walking legs and back next week in the hills of Bonneyville Park. I think I have a plan to walk this fall for a while. At this point I have a ride to the trail in September and I can walk until October 11 when my wife picks me up and then we plan to attend an open house at a gem mine in Franklin, NC October 12. I hope to be picked up in Virginia and if not then my wife will drop me off on the trail again for the remaining miles to Virginia. If my body and the weather hold out I might walk until the snow flies and then leave the trail until April of 2014. I can't wait until I can feel the trail beneath my feet again and I can experience the wonders of the AT. I talked with WhiteSidewalls several times and he is on the trail again. The last time I talked with him he was at Harpers Ferry, WV and thinking about flip-flopping to Maine and head south. I wish him the best of travels on the AT!Thought for the day:Where there is a will, there is a way to accomplish the things you want to do in life. So go for it.
Date: 2013-07-14
From: Goshen, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

Hello trail friends! Today I put on my backpack for the first time since I left the trail. I put in 35# and went to Bonneyville Park and walked 7 miles in 2 1/2 hours. I had a five minute break at one mile and all was well. It was a hot one today - 89 degrees and 51% humidity. As you can imagine, I was soaked like a dishrag from sweat. I took photos of wild mushrooms I had never seen before. This is what hiking is all about. You see things you never knew grew looking like that. My body held up real well for the first hike in over a month. I will have to keep up building my muscles for my October walk back on the trail. I'm glad I'm holding up this well. My trail building should be an easy one for an old clown like me.Thought for the day:Life is good when your body is in shape. So take care of it and it will take care of you.
Date: 2013-09-24
From: Goshen, IN

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

To my friends at home, my trail friends and my web fans. I'll be leaving for the AT on Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 4:00 AM and hopefully be on the trail on the 26th or early on Friday the 27th. My plans are to get on at Devil Fork Gap, NC 212 - mile 309 - and go to Damascus, VA - mile 466.6 and end by October 11, 2013. I will return home for the winter and resume my hike in April 2014. Thanks for following me and heaping encouragement to me. Stories and photos will follow. I hiked trails in Boise, ID and Portland, OR August 29-September 9 with my kids and grandkids. Yes, I was close to Mt. Hood. I will have stories and photos later. Thought for the day:Smile at someone today. It makes them wonder what you're up to.
Date: 2013-09-26
From: Devil Fork Gap NC 212

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hello everybody! I am back! I got up at 2:45 AM and got my stuff around to head back to the trail. After a long drive from Indiana starting at 4:00 AM with my niece Anita and her friend Rachel we stopped at Uncle Johnny's Hostel in Erwin to drop off my food package and then the girls took me to Devil Fork Gap. I started walking at 3:30 PM and headed north on the AT for Hogback Ridge Shelter which was 6 miles away. I made it to Hogback Ridge Shelter at 7:45 PM and it was almost dark. There are three people here for the night. I put my tent up in the dark and ate some snacks and talked with a local hiker named Dan. He was from Asheville and gave me an orange vest to wear because hunters are out and about. Thanks Dan for your concern. I wrote in my journal at 9:30 PM. The day was a lot of ups and downs. One up was 3 miles with an elevation gain of 1500'. It made the sweat roll and the legs quake but I made it in good time.Thought for the day:Good things come to those who try something. Even if it hurts a little bit.So give it a try. You might like it.
Date: 2013-09-27
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: clear sky

I got up at 6:15. I ate dry cereal and had a cup of coffee. The local man Dan wanted to walk with me to Sam's Gap. He gave me his spare water which lasted me all day. I walked 10 miles today and had a lot of uphill and rocky trail. I also had acorns, hickory nuts and chestnuts falling during the day. Some came within inches of hitting me. The chestnuts are big. Some hold three nuts and are about 2" in diameter. Now that would hurt a noggen pretty good. I had a five mile uphill with an elevation of 1600'. The last 3/4 mile was pretty grueling. I had a mile or so of mountaintop that had no trees, only grass. It was 5500' up. It was Big Bald Mountain and today it had an old bald man climbing up and over. Well, today was a trail of many hazards - mud, rocks, and nuts dropping. I got away with nothing but sore muscles. I pitched my tent about 5:00 PM, ate supper and filtered water. I worked on my journal and tried to rest. This morning just before daylight a hoot owl let out one blast but I didn't jump too much because I knew what it was. Tonight there are three of us at the shelter. I'm northbound and the others are southbound. I'm the only one in a tent. The others are sleeping in the shelter with the mice and bugs. Thought for the day:When you think it's going to be an easy day, then you have to use all the strength you have to get to your destination. This is called life unexpected.