Date: 2003-04-29
From: Charleston

To: Charleston
Miles today: 0.0

From sour lemons to juicy sweet lemonade...that's what I've tried to create with these couple of days off. I took a lot of time from last Thursday to Sunday off my feet. I kept me legs elevated and my knee iced consistantly. By Sunday I was feeling tons better. I went to church then cruised over to Half Moon Outfitters, with my ancient boots and a pair of my hiking socks in tow. I decided a contributing factor to my injury could have been the beat down boots I'd been wearing. I had refused to buy a new pair for the trail because my old ones are so comfortable and had never given me blisters. I had some great help selecting an awesome pair of Lowa boots. I had reservations about departing from Vasque that had been so loyal. I tried on some Vasque Sundowners, but they were a runner-up pair to the softer, lighterweight Lowas. While wearing them around the store, I even forgot I had them on. That was a good enough sign for me. Now, I just hope they continue to fit well. So, that was one good thing about stopping here in Charleston. I made some other progress, too. I decided while I was here, I might as well dehydrate more vegetables which have been severely lacking in my diet. I went on a rampage and started dehydrating anything I could get my hands on - broccoli, carrots, lentils (spiced in different ways for variety), spinach and onions. Ah, the variety. It will give me some much needed new taste sensations when I get back on the trail. I also stopped by one of the local health food stores and got some TVP (textured vegetable protien). It sounds really gross which is why I had resisted getting any before I left, but it's not half bad. They only had a little. I'll get my mom to get more and send it along. Oh, other good thing I bought was dehydrated refried beans (pinto and black beans). I had longingly watched Sprout eat hers with some salsa on tortillas on several occasions. I had to have some of my own. Then today I've spent time reorganizing my maildrops. They were a hodgepodge of stuff originally because I really didn't know what I needed. To come back after having given it more thought and knowing more from experience what I need, I've done a much better job. I've also figured out that I'm not too far off schedule. I thought this time was really going to screw me up. It won't. Here's a run down of where I'll be and when. Erwin, TN - May 6Damascus, VA - 5/ 14Pearisburg - 5/27Waynesboro, VA 6/12 - hopefully friends from DC area can manage to come visit this week... From this point until I hit Front Royal, I'll be in Shennendoah Natl. Park. Front Royal - 6/19 - Tracy (if possible) or friend (if Tracy can't) to pick me up for weekend in DC areaBack on trail on 6/22Harper's Ferry - 6/26 - yep - on my birthday at Harper's Ferry. That's pretty cool. I'll probably take an overnight at least here. If folks want to come out Friday to visit. Pine Grove Furnace St. Pk - July 4 - this park is still within an hour or two of DC - if anyone wants to visit here. There's also a hostel if we don't want to camp.Port Clinton, PA - 7/11Del. Water Gap - 7/15Bear Mtn. - 7/23Tyringham, MA - 8/2Hanover, NH - 8/24Gorham, NH- 9/4Rangley, ME - 9/9Monson, ME - 9/16Baxter Park - 9/23. Oh, dinner's ready. Got to go. Thanks for all the loving and supportive messages. Looking forward to sending you tons more stories from the trail - leanna