Date: 2008-05-15
From: Pearisburg , Va.

To: Dalevill, Va.
Miles today: 93.0

Well it finally happened. God left me on the trail. You say that's not possible, listen to this. We left Pearisburg, Va. on Sunday morning, perhaps we should have listened to the weather report when it said 80 percent chance of rain and thunder storms. It soon started to rain, a very cold and hard rain. As we climbed higher it got worse. My pants were soaked and my shoes and socks were also completely soaked. It was so cold you had to keep moving just to keep from freezing. By the time we got to the top of the ridge the wind was blowing so hard it blew off about a foot of insulators off of a high tension electric tower on top of the mountain. As we crossed the ridge lightning was flashing in front of us. The wind was blowing sleet at us too. About then I heard God say, see you later, just because I make this bad weather does not mean I have to walk in it. Mt. Sailor yelled at me and wondered if we should be on this ridge. I said there is no place of shelter and make sure you are smaller then those small scrubby trees we are passing. So we looked like a Bactrian Camel passing over that ridge. I felt like I had a big target on back of my backpack for the lightning to hit. I knew God could still hear me so I asked him to miss. A little later I thought perhaps the heat would feel good. We actually hiked 19 miles that day since you had to move just to stay warm. That night we stayed at Pine Swamp Shelter. A tree had fallen on the shelter and it had no roof, however it did have a small area in the shelter where I thought I could erect my tent and stay dry. A big mistake since I could not attach the rain fly. During the night it rained some more and I woke up in the middle of the night with a wet sleeping bag. When you butcher chickens you dip the bird in scalding watee to pluck the feathers, well that is the enviornment I am sleeping in now. It was one of the most miserable days and night of my life. The next morning I stuffed my wet lumpy sleeping bag on its stuff sack and hiked into a second day of rain. Fortunately It was not as cold as the day before. That night we stayed in a shelter and started to dry out. Wednesday we woke up to sunshine. What a difference the sun makes. We came to a place where the trail went through a farmers field and a donkey was standing on the trail. Kind of a reminder to us of our brilliant idea of hiking when the forcast is so bad. We both quit our jobs to do this hike but it seems we are still very goal oriented. We were planning to be in Daleville by Thursday and there was no stopping us. I will not do that again however. While trying to dry out I would keep a pair of wet socks stuck in my chest strap. I would rotate them to try to keep my feet dry. At a field crossing there was a sign posted about 2 lost Beagle dogs. I thought I had found them only to realize I was smelling my wet socks. We had a dog named Cobie who was half Beagle and those socks smelled just like she did after a bath. We also passed a 300 year old oak tree, named the Keffer Oak. It is 18 feet around. Later that day we passed a memorial to Audie Murphy the most decorated world war two pilot. He died in a plane crash in 1971 up in the hills close to this monument. I sometimes liken my hike to the Batann death march till I remember that many of those men were barefooted without enough clothes and many died. As we are close to Memorial day I would like to thank all veterans for their bravery. I do not care about your politicial or religious views about wars, these men and women answered the call and for their bravery I tip my hat. I found out one day after the fact that I became a grandpa while on the trail My daughter Kristin with an assist by husband Trevor gave birth to Issack Trevor On May 13. Not sure about that spelling but it is from the Abraham, Issask, and Jacob ancestory. Kristin says he is very cute. I quess he looks like me. Congrats to me anyway. Yesterday we climbed up to McAfee Knob a nice rock formation. We have had some big climbs but then what else is new. To my sisters worried about losing my hiking partner, here is the deal. Mt. Sailors son is joining him in Daleville to hike with him for two weeks. That is a father son thing which is for them to enjoy. The trail does strange things so we may hike together agaon. I am in Daleville now and am dry. I should tell you that on Tuesday evening after I had finally dried my shoes I was filtering water in a stream. While standing on a rock I slipped and fell into the river. Yes I was very disgruntled. I am taking 2 days off for Trail Days. I need them since my legs are very tired. We have hiked 720 miles in 46 days and are now one third done. Still a lot of hiking to do. Talk to you from Trail Days.