morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-06
From: Bryant Ridge SHelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

Nice short day. That was good 'cause I felt lazy. I didn't leave camp until 12:46. Then I took my time climbing up to Thunder Hill Shelter. I got so bored after my long break I walked the BlueRidge Parkway for the last 5 miles of the day. That had a nice view at least. The trail is starting to get leaf covered. No more views through all those trees.I'm tenting tonight at Thunderhill shelter. Sounded like it was going to be a full shelter so I decided to camp. Mtn. Man is tenting close by. Flat spots were difficult to find. Although you would never think that if you saw this area. Everything just has a slight slant but enough to piss me off during the night. I would end up sliding down my mat and be at the bottom of my tent before long. I'm worse then a princess when it comes to sleeping. If there is the slightest slant I will slip and slide all night. I just have to have perfectly flat ground or there is no sleep for me.I'm worried that I wouldn't get much sleep anyway. There is a full moon tonight and I'm on the top of a Mtn. with no leaf cover. That moon is going to be like a spot light on my tent.   I'm not sure what time it rises. I hope it's not until late.Just another Virginia Day...blue skies and sun shine!
Date: 2004-05-07
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Glasgow & A Shower
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I was up at 4:00am with that full moon shining bright into my tent.   It was as if the tent itself was glowing bright.   I tried to go back to sleep but just had a REALLY werid dream, so I woke up. 4:30 in the morning and I'm awake. I used to go to bed at this hour, not wake up. Needless to say I was awake. I did my morning tea and had breakfast. I was out of camp at 6:30. That was way too early for me to only do the 12 miles into camp tonight. I thought maybe I would take my time throughout the day.I blew through the day.   I was the first out of camp that morning. I didn't see anyone else all morning.   My pace was great. I kept my mileage just about 3 pmh.   What was I going to do tonight shelter or town???   It was such a pretty walk all day.   First it was the way up to High Cock Knob. That looked like a forest with pretty pink flowers all over.   The the trees had almost full leaf cover.   The new leaves seem to glow bright green. They only have this color at the beginning of spring.   After walking that section I came out along another stretch that looked like a desert. Broken, rocky areas with very little tree cover. That is what makes Virginia so great. One minute it's as if you're in a thick forest then the next it's like you are in desert.   I made it down to Matt's Creek shelter by 10:30.   I took an hour long break before deciding to go into town for the night. I thought about the campground since it was only $9.00 per person. Nice and cheap that works for me. Everyone from camp soon arrived at the shelter.   Everyone was heading into town and that helped me make up my mind. I went into town and found myself getting a hotel room instead of the campground.   I was happy to lay around and watch tv all afternoon.   Tripod was getting into town later that night and Cupcake well, I think he was somewhere close behind.   I'm sure I'll see Cupcake first thing in the morning at the trailhead.Now time to zone out watching the boobtube and drinking Yuengling. Another great ending to another great day in VA!
Date: 2004-05-08
From: Glasgow & A Shower

To: Zero Day #30
Miles today: 0.0

Happy Birthday Mary Ann(The Yuppie Chic),Jerry and Veronica!!!!!!!!!Cupcake, Fitz, Slips, Slim & Biscuit were all waiting at the trailhead when we arrived.   The sky was rather black when we left town. I didn't want to slack today. I wanted to get home so I could surprise my mother for mother's day.   We drove the guys into town so they could resupply and get something to eat.   Cupcake took a shower while everyone ran their errands around town. I bought a 12 pack of soda to do a little trail magic on our way home. We dropped the guys back off on the trail and started up the Blueridge Parkway.   At the first trail crossing we came to, there was already someone set up doing some trail magic. Now, why do I find this kind of stuff when I'm on my way home?   Well I decided to go further down the trail to leave the sodas. The next trail crossing we found Dharma, Wildcat and his son taking a break.   Everyone got a soda and Dharma got his rope that he had left behind a few days earlier. I was happy to finally get rid of that weight.   It was a nice day to drive down Route 81. I love that road. It is such a pretty drive through Virginia.   Driving, walking, canoeing it's all great through Virginia.   We arrived home just after dark.   No one was home when I got there. I was hoping to surprise my mother tonight.   Guess not.   I called my Brother in law, Jerry, to wish him a happy birthday. My parents were over there for his party.   Cupcake's parents showed up to pick him up shortly thereafter.   I took my truck to surprise my mother over at my sister's. When I got there my parents had just left. This wasn't my night to surprise my Mother.   I gave up trying to catch them and went to visit Shitty Bartender at work. Now not only was shitty bartender there but she was surprised to see me.   She knew I was coming but didn't know when. This made her a happy bartender!   I got to say hello to a lot of people I haven't seen in a while. It was nice to be home. Although my Dad was funny when I called home to tell them I was chasing them around.   He told me he had just got off the phone with the police to report that someone stole my truck. Ha Ha not funny Daddy!   I really thought he called the police because he didn't say he was kidding.   Another great day Traveling the East!
Date: 2004-05-09
From: Zero Day #30

To: New Jersey
Miles today: 0.0

I slept late today. That felt good.   I had so much on my list to do today.   I was meeting The Yuppie Chic for lunch at the Olive Garden. I wanted to clean my mother's house and go through my stuff while home.   Yeah not much got done by sleeping late. I did meet the Yuppie Chic for her birthday lunch.   Yummmmmmmmm the Olive Garden. Hey Mar want to go back? Lunch was great! We took our time and ate lots of salad and bread sticks. Then we just sat around her backyard enjoying the rest of the day.   I was happy to see hubby Arpad before I left.   He is such a cutie! Today's saying "Tomorrow does not necessarily mean tomorrow. It just means not today!"
Date: 2004-05-10
From: New Jersey

To: Zero Day # 32
Miles today: 0.0

Today I got up early.   I cleaned my mother's house.   And spent some time with my dog Harley.   I'm slowly getting the things done that I came home to do.   I'm going to Shitty Bartender's later to change out equipment and take a look at what supplies are there.   Maybe even do dinner with her.   I'm also hoping to scan my pictures onto the website.   I used Tripod's scanner and got everything scanned in an hour.   More pictures for everyone to see.   There are some good ones. The new pictures go all the way back to my return from Puerto Rico - to when I was in the Smokey's. A lot of pictures with snow and ice.   I'm glad that's over.   The summer back weight is a lot nicer than back then.   This journal takes a lot of time to keep up. I'm sorry that I don't get a chance to update more often but it's difficult from the trail.   It seemed to take forever just to upload the pictures.   I'll do my best. I can't believe how much stuff I have at Shitty Bartender's. Well at least if I run out of money I'll have some food to last for a little while.   That's cool!   And Thanks Shitty Bartender for keeping all that stuff in your apartment for me! You are the Best! I got my Yuengling-can stove. I am hoping this burns less fuel then my current one.   Also picked up my happy face frisbee.   Resupplied for the week out of the box's.   It was Buzzy's for a big ass burger, rare not the well done stuff you get in Virginia. I think that might just be the only thing I don't like about the state. You can not get a burger under well done anywhere in Western, VA.   It's against the law or something like that. At least that is what they tell us.   Sometimes they say they'll cook it the way you want it, even rare, and then you get well done. So it's finally nice to get a rare burger!   I felt as if I got a lot of things done today. But somehow I feel as if I have a lot more to do.
Date: 2004-05-13
From: New Jersey

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Zero Day # 35John Galt and Dr. Doolittle picked us up for trail days. We hit the road around 10:00pm.   I never liked driving at night. I'm always tired the entire next day. Then we can just nap all tomorrow.   I can't believe how different John Galt looks. And Dr. Doolittle looked great! Her new haircut fits her perfectly. John Galt drove until (about) midnight when Dr. took over.   Dr. had to drive in the middle of the night with everyone in the car sleeping.   I finally took the 3:00am to 7:00am shift.   I flew!   We arrived at Damascus just after sunrise. Just in time to sleep the morning away.
Date: 2004-05-14
From: Damascus, VA

To: Zero Day # 36
Miles today: 0.0

After dropping off my poles to the Lekki tent and doing some laundry I finally got to sleep. It didn't take long before someone came by and woke me up.   I think everyone that knew I was in that tent stopped by and woke me up.   And I thought I was going to get sleep this weekend. Silly me!I ran around checking out the sites. I went to the side track to see who was in town and for lunch. I was still tired so I hitched a ride from Bramble on his bicycle. Interesting ride as a passenger on a bike. Good thing I have great balance. I was just happy I didn't have to walk back to camp outside of town. After a long nap again I ended up hanging out at the fire ring. I got to see both Crash and Burn. Always nice to see them.   I just have to remember not to get into a car with them again. And it is always nice to see Miss Janet.   It was like being back in Erwin.   I was still tired from driving all night so I called it an early night. I was looking forward to seeing who was going to show up tomorrow.   There is a few people I really hope show up.
Date: 2004-05-15
From: Damascus

To: Zero Day #37
Miles today: 0.0

It felt good to get a full nights sleep. I looked forward to the hiker parade this afternoon.   I've heard that the towns people line up along the main road armed with super soakers and water balloons. It seems that the hiker parade is just a big water fight between hikers and locals. Everyone was preparing their water balloons and buying water guns. This is one of the strangest events I've ever been a part of. More people started to show up. I saw Dream Catcher from 2001. It's about time He showed up.   I've been trying to catch up with him since November 2001.   Underpants and Tiny got in early. John Galt, Dr. Doolittle, Stumpknocker, Underpants and Tiny were all the sobo class of 2003. I got to hike with all of them last fall. It was nice to see everyone again.I saw a few other people I knew while walking down in the parade. Rain Queen from 2001 was one of them. I just never got to stop and play catch up.   I was too busy ducking water balloons.   I managed to stay dry the entire parade. Well that was until Stumpknocker dumped an entire garbage can of water on me. Soaked all the way through. I'll get him back for that.   Actually wanted to win some bunnies from one of the stands and put them in Stumpknocker's tent.   But I didn't want to spend the money. So I'll wait.It was a great day.   I ended it with hanging out with Tiny and Underpants at their camp and then up at the fire ring to end the night.
Date: 2004-05-16
From: Damascus, VA

To: Zero Day #38
Miles today: 0.0

I over slept so we never made it in time for Bob People's hard core work crew. Oh well we had other plans anyway.So How Many Rides Do You Think It Would Take To Hitch To California?Cupcake and Me made our signs for leaving trail days. Both Signs saying "West Please". A lot of people were heading to California but not that day. It took a few hours and a lot of offers for rides tomorrow but we finally got a local to drive us 60 miles on Rt 81 into Tenn and a truck stop. Our First ride -Woody at 4:20pm Sunday night. We are offOur second ride was a trucker named Jerry from Tenn. He was heading to Dallas. Our 2nd ride was half the mileage to California. We lucked out. He actually was going to switch loads and take us all the way to California by Tuesday afternoon but his brother ended up taking that load. Oh well he still was bringing us to Dallas. That was cool. Almost half way in a day.   If you ever get a chance ask me about my rides in person there is some really great stories to tell. They are just too long to write on my site. Sorry!
Date: 2004-05-17
From: Zero Day #39

To: Dallas
Miles today: 0.0

We arrived in Dallas around 2:30pm. I really didn't want to be dropped off in the heart of the city but we were.   It was going to take all afernoon to get our next ride. All the truckers we met were heading East, North or South but not West. At least not today.We finally got a ride and then a second ride to cross over to the northern section of Dallas.   It got dark when we made it to Lewisville so we got a room for the night. I never did like to hitch at night. With any luck it won't take long to get a ride tomorrow.
Date: 2004-05-18
From: Dallas

To: New Mexico
Miles today: 0.0

Zero Day # 40 Day #95It really didn't take long to get our first ride. Bones brought us to Denton to a truck stop. Then a quick ride from a milk hauler. Then another milk hauler brought us up passed Oklahoma City onto Route 40 west.   Then a flat bed brought us back into Texas almost Amarillo.   Actually all the drivers today were really nice people. The flat bed driver, Gene, was sorry to see us go. A lot of our rides told us that. I guess we turned out to be nice people they gave a ride to. It seems to work both ways with hitch hiking. You don't know who they are and they don't know you. Everyone is on guard at first. It's nice they end up liking us. I didn't think we were going to get a ride from the truck stop we were at.   It wasn't that busy and most trucks and cars were going onto Rt 40 East. It only took about 20 minutes to get picked up. Danny was from Salt Lake City, Utah. We had our ride all the way to Flagstaff, Arizona. Perfect! Now we could drive throughout the night with him and we won't have to worry about where we were going to stay. Somewhere near Rt 77 was a bad truck wreck that closed down Rt 40 Westbound. We tried to detour around it by taking Rt 77 north but we missed our turn. All 3 of us ended up sleeping on the side of the road in the desert that night. Danny and Poptart slept in the car I slept outside in my tent. The sky was amazing. I wish I could have just stayed a wake and watched the sky. But I was in need of sleep.   What a day it has been. Beautiful driving! Western Texas was so pretty. I never realized that when I lived out in Kansas ten years ago. I'm real glad I decided to take this trip. Can't wait to see the rest of New Mexico.
Date: 2004-05-19
From: New Mexico

To: Hurricane, Utah
Miles today: 0.0

Boy was it cold last night.   I never realized how cold it gets at night in the desert. Wish I had my 5*F bag last night. It didn't take me long to decide to reroute us up to the Grand Canyon. I can't be this close and not go to see it.   Besides we are out here for the adventure of it. How much of an adventure it would be if we just went straight there?   We drove with Danny up to the intersection of Route 64 and Route 89. The day was perfect for the side trip. I can't wait to check out the view.One ride that stopped at every view into the Grand Canyon. We took tons of pictures.   It was the perfect side trip.   I am so glad I decided to see it. And I was happier I didn't have to hike down to the bottom of that canyon. Damn that looked far. But one day I would like to come back and do some hiking around this area. It took 3 rides just to get out of the Grand Canyon.   Ride #1 was a young couple with 3 teenage daughters from PA.   Ride #2 was a couple from Mass.   and Ride #3 was Gailee and Craig a mom and son from New Mexico.   I have to say Craig was a very smart 11 year old. He stumped us with the question "What are the 7 wonders of the world?" He promised to let us kow what they all were on my guest book.   I think we came up with 5 or so, but none of us were 100% sure of all of them. So anyone that knows please write it in my guest book. Thank you.So we made it out to Route 89. Now we decided to go north into Utah and then down Route 15 into Las Vegas. I love all these last minute plans.   We were trying for Las Vegas for tonight.   Our next ride was a park ranger named Kia he drove us just passed Route 160. Then we got picked up by a carnival worker named Kenny Rogers, not the singer by the way.   He drove us to Hurricane, Utah. We got a room for the night. Tomorrow Las Vegas only 2 hours away. I'm real glad we decided to take our time and check out the sights.
Date: 2004-05-20
From: Hurricane, Utah

To: Las Vegas
Miles today: 0.0

Finally we got a good night's sleep. It felt good. We slept late, did our laundry and started our hitch to Las Vegas. Gary was ride #16 of our trip. He drove us down to St. Geroges, Utah. Then we got a quick ride to the next exit with a young guy from the area.Our 18th ride was a trucker from Colorado. He ended up driving us all the way into Las Vegas. His nickname was Hippie. I only found this out after I told him my trail name. Poptart keeps saying 2 Hippies don't make a right. But it sure is fun to be around them. We got to Las Vegas early afternoon. We took a bus into the downtown area.   We ended up getting a hotel room at the Stratosphere #20814. I can't believe we were in Vegas. Wow!   What an adventure this has been. I think the only reason I really wanted to see Vegas was because of my Mother. She was here last year and loved it. I now understand why she liked it. Although, I was not that impressed. It takes a lot to impress me and Vegas didn't do it. But I can understand why other people are impressed. It was a sight. We gambled about $8.00 each and didn't win anything. But it was ok we still had fun. I played the Kenny Roger's The Gambler slot machine.   I won one slot that had me played a hand of poker against the machine. I got a full house but I wasn't paying attention so I folded that hand for another. Poptart was freaking out that I folded. But he does not know about my luck. The hand I got dealt instead was a straight flush. I won anyway. He couldn't believe his eyes. Ha ha! I love my luck. I won $3.00 on that but lost it. Vegas was intersting. I'm glad I'm only spending the one night. Tomorrow- California with any luck!
Date: 2004-05-21
From: Las Vegas

To: Oceanside
Miles today: 0.0

Day # 98 Zero Day #43 Hitching Day #5I was afraid leaving Vegas would prove to be difficult.   No one ever picks up hitch hikers in cities and with so many vagrants I wasn't sure who would give us a ride.   It took 15 minutes and a business man from central California picked us up. Ride #19, John, drove us to Barstow, California. Yeah we finally made it to California on Friday about 1:30pm. What a week it has been. I can't believe we finally made it.   Not to worry T we are almost there.   It took us 2 more rides: a young guy drove us to Victorville then a woman, Cadet Kelly, in a Mercedes was our last drive into San Bernardino. Actually it was Loma Linda. At that point it was dark so we called the Displaced Hippie (Teresa) to come get us. T showed up about 2 1/2 hours later to pick us up. We were at the Olive Garden having dinner. She brought her brother in law Freddie with her. I haven't seen Fred for about 4 years. I haven't seen T in over a year. Now she was stuck with us for 2 weeks. I don't think she minds. So now we are in Oceaside, California sleeping on a small sail boat. IT's All Good!
Date: 2004-05-23
From: Oceanside

To: Zero Day 45 Day #100
Miles today: 0.0

Very interesting staying on the sail boat. I was never really good at being on a boat. I still feel the ground moving when I'm on land. But it's cool. T has the perfect set up. She lives on a sail boad and drives a volkswagon vanagon. The Vanagon is my new dream truck. I love it. Damn I might just have to get a real job next year so I can buy one. Poptart and me are still waiting to hang at the beach for the day. T's got a big list of things to do before we head back east. We'll be working on that tomorrow. Maybe Tuesday or Wednesday when T's at work we'll go to the beach. We got until next week for that. She's still not sure when we're leaving but we talking about which states we want to go through. Looks like we'll be taking the long way back east. It's ok we were never good at going from point A directly to point B.   We both live for the side trips. Poptart will learn to love it. I called my parents to let them know where I was. I don't think Mother expected to hear I was in California. She wasn't too happy. It's ok maybe one day she will undersand sometimes you just have to live a once in a lifetime adventure such as this. I'm glad I did it. Now all I have left is riding my bicycle across country. I wonder when I'll do that?   I just have too many dreams to live and not enough life! Isn't that great!
Date: 2004-05-24
From: Zero Day 45 Day #100

To: zero day 46
Miles today: 0.0

It's rather nice sleeping on the sail boat.   The smell of the salt air, the rocking of the boat... Yup, just enough to make me motion sick all the time. I don't mind I think I can live through it. Currently, I'm rocking back and forth in Chris's house. Chris is Teresa's sister. I feel as if I'm part of the family. Now all we have is Fred's brother to go and visit up at L.A. I haven't seen him in 4 years.   Poptart is down at the park with the kids. They are wearing him out. T's neice keeps beating him up. I think she promised him she would take it easy on him if he brought them to the park. Hunter, T's nephew, offered him a dollar to bring them.   I feel bad knowing those kids are going to kick his butt while down there.   One of there friends came up with a real colorful name for him.   She didn't know what exactly she was saying. Chris had to tell the kids it was a bad word and they couldn't say it.   I'll tell anyone who wants to know what the name was if you ask me in person or in an email. I have too many kids checking out my website these days for that. We're having a fun time thinking about the roads we want to think about taking on our drive home. Looks like we're heading up north to Washington State then West on our way home. I'll have to keep everyone updated on where we're heading.
Date: 2004-05-25
From: zero day 46

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I think sleeping on the boat has finally gotten to me. I can't kick the feeling I'm still on water while on land.   It is especially bad when ever I go into a bathroom. I'm not sure why that is! We are currently waiting on the Vanagon to be repaired, yet again.   The locksmith that did the work on T's van butchered it up. Good news is that she'll get a lot more work done to the van for the same $160.00 that she already paid. The Locksmith agreed to pay for all of the repairs.   Hey it's looking on the bright side. Poptart and me are still waiting to go down to the beach.   I even bought some suntan oil yesterday. I'll get rid of those hiker tanlines if it kills me.   We got up early enough today we might just get to the beach a little later.   If not we're taking a ride down the coast while T is at work tonight.   It still looks like next Monday or Tuesday is the day we leave for the east.   With any luck the van will be up and running before then. I can't wait for that leg of our journey to begin.   I want to get out on a trail somewhere nice and do some hiking. Not hiking is making me a lazy hiker. All I do is sleep since we got out here. I'm sick of sleeping I'm needing to hike.Hey Yuppie Chic I can't seem to send you any emails.   All my letters keep getting returned. What's up with that?