Date: 2014-06-12
From: Front Royal

To: Snicjers Gap
Miles today: 0.7

AT days 72 - 75I am happy to report that Optimist Prime is back!!! I am going to try to take back over the trail journals. I haven't been reading what Jon has posted, so I apologize if I repeat any stories. I have been hiking with the boys for four days now testing out my leg to see if I am better. So far it's going well. I have a bit if swelling around my knee (where the dr felt I tore my tendon) and muscle soreness, of course (I've been off the trail for six weeks) but overall I feel great. And I'm super happy to be back on the trail. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at my moms and slacking the boys with Susie, but my heart has remained on the trail. The first day I went back out, I did six miles in the Shenandoah National Forrest. The terrain there was very easy and a great way to get re-acclimated. It was a beautiful day and I couldn't have been happier. I actually hiked south that day to meet up with the boys and then turned around to hike back to the truck where Susie and Duke were waiting in us. It felt weird to pass other thru hikers who I didn't know and had never seen. I wanted to say, "I'm a thru hiker too!" But I didn't. They probably don't care and technically I guess I don't either. I really miss the people we had been walking with. I'm hoping at some point we can catch back up to some of them. When we got back to the truck, we drove into Front a Royal where Kent and I got some frozen custard before heading back to camp for the night. It has been super nice to come into camp and have showers, hot food, nice company and a bed to sleep in! The boys have been getting spoiled the last few weeks!The next day I had the boys scheduled for an 18 mile day. I decided to just do 12 of the miles and have Susie pick me up so as not to overdue it on my leg. The walk was easy! It was hot but the ups weren't long and the downs felt good. There was even some flat land! I was so happy that I could keep up with the boys after being off for so long. As we were walking, there was a bear on the trail just ahead! I was thrilled as I've not yet seen a bear on trail. I missed a ton of them in Virginia so I was so excited to see my first. It was peaceful as it walked into the woods to forage for food. I couldn't believe how close we could get to him. He didn't seem to notice us until Jon got a tad too close and the bear kinda fake lunges at him. Kent started knocking his trekking poles together and the bear ran off. I did get some pictures with my good camera but he had his down mostly so they aren't really special. The rest of the day flew by and we reached the road where I would get off to meet Susie. The boys went on and finished the day and I got to go back to camp for some food and a shower. I also got to visit with Jon's cousin Steadman and his girlfriend Cory who were visiting for Susie's birthday. We all went to pick the boys up and came back for burgers grilled over the fire and key lime pie! It was another great day!The following day I went back out for a 14 miler. It was another fairly easy day. We had come out of the mountains fully and it was hot but not unbearable. At one of our first road crossings we came across two coolers and some bags of fruit on a picnic table! We hadn't eaten a big breakfast and it was time for a break, so we sat down with another hiker and enjoyed the trail magic left by Cropdust and her mom. Cropdust had camped with us in the Shani's one night! She is a single girl out here hiking alone who we enjoyed getting to know. It was great to have a little snack and a cold drink before pushing on. Soon after, we got another treat! There was a copperhead sitting right in the middle of the trail! He was beautiful! I took a bunch of pics before we moved it aside so we could pass. He wasn't going to move on his own! We continued on and were flying through the miles when we came across a couple who told us of more trail magic up the way! I think I was good luck! We came across a lady doing trail magic and had another break while we visited with her. She wasn't a hiker, but liked to come out to see the hikers. It was another nice treat and we sure did appreciate it. Finally, we came to the road where Susie would pick us up. We were smelly and gross but the day was an enjoyable one. I may be biased since I am so happy to be back, but I think the boys would agree. Today we did another 14 mile day over what is called the "roller coaster". As you may imagine, it's a lot of ups and downs. But it was fun! The climbs weren't huge but they were rocky. Lots and lots of rocks littered the trail today which definitely slowed us down a bit. You have to pay close attention to where you step when it's rocky. I have to be extra careful so I don't fall and hurt myself again. That would be just my luck! I think we ascended and descended nine mountains overall. It wasn't an easy day by any means but also not terribly hard. Kent kept telling me that was probably one of the most challenging days in VA. That made me feel good I could keep up and hold my own! Our old routines have come back in full force as far as walking in order, talking or not talking, breaking after an hour and a half, planning our next sections/re supplies, ect. I'm glad to be here being part of said routines. We just finished dinner and are sitting around the campfire. Tomorrow we will pack up from our campsite in Front Royal and move to Brunswick MD. Susie will leave us after we've reached Harpers Ferry. We will all miss her terribly. But it has been a wonderful few weeks! I'm hoping that these good feelings will carry us for the next couple months!