morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-06-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hi there as you can see from  my trail name I am English ,but at the time I start on my Thru hike Iwill have been living and working in the USA for the past 25 years, I will be 70 years old at the start and have always been pretty fit and agile being a Sailboat rigger ,Mast builder and Boatbuilder all my working life starting at the young age of 15 years as an Apprentice Boatbuilder in Plymouth Devon in England.I have always liked Walking and the outdoors also fishing in the Sea ,River and Lakes this gets me out into the nature world,Iam also a keen Photographer , I intend to make a interesting Journal with lots of Photos,both good times and Bad, I will also have some fishing line and bits and pieces, as its always hard for me to pass a river lake or pond without just getting a line wet.All though I live in Bradenton Florida i can get in some good hiking tho there is a distinct shortage of those hill things I have heard on the grapevine that the AT is not short on these , I have a rock pile i climb up and over also steps  at our local Carpark, have also joined our local gym and making the most of their equipment.As always there is a black cloud in my preparation in that i have been diagnosed with Arthritis in my Big toes, as I am going to need these my doctor arranged for me to have Cortazone shots ,This was the most painful thing i have ever had to make things worst they never worked , so I am having Acupuncture on my toes and this is really helping , I am back to walking 8 miles every morning  just to get them worked up , we will be going up to North Carolina in August for a week so i can walk a bit of the AT , also my local hiking store Trailwalkers here in Bradenton are putting together a AT hike in October, so will be able to test some of my gear that I am getting together , a list will follow shortly.I look forward to getting all the equipment and am being Mentord by a friend who competed a thru hike in 2015 name of Dan Caruso  trail name " Uncle D"  and another friend David Dates  trail name " D square " David is going to do the Thru hike with me in 2018 as in 2016 he got hurt just 400 miles from Mt Katahdin, these two have been a great help to me,When I get a little help with this page I will post more on training,  getting gear , and some photos , its getting closer every day , my wife thinks I am Crazy but then she always has ,any one can live on the flat but its more exciting living  on the EdgeCrazy Brit
Date: 2017-06-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I have made my final selection for a tent, going to get the  Memo  Hornet  I love the fact that it has side doors make it so much better for getting in and out , also ordered a Big Agnes sleeping bag , its the sort that John one of the owners of Trailwalkers the out fitters I use in Bradenton  has he loves it , so will give it a try.
Date: 2017-07-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 110.0

Hi there my last entry said that I had ordered a sleeping bag ,well it came in Yesterday picked it up from Trailwalkers Outfitters Gear here in Bradenton Florida, its a big Agnes  Skeeter bag and its Awesome going in to day to pick up a Liner will help with Trail smells can wash also as a summer sleep system, my tent will be a Nemo  Hornet , love the idea of having side doors and its only 2 lbs got most of my clothing just need a puffy jacket and I am all set in that area, As stated in first entry had big toe problems but seems to be getting better with the Acupuncture ,they have No Choice.Live on the edge any one can live on the flat areas
Date: 2018-02-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Got to get back to entering my Journals,these following will be about a trip to Pennsylvania, Two trips out to Myakka State Park in Florida a trip out to Little Manatee State Park and a trip up to Torreya State Park, all part of my preparation for starting my Thru Hike on 10th March 2018.Things are going really good just a few modifications to my overall set up, had to change my tent from the Nemo Hornet 2 person for the Big Agnes Fly Creek 2 person HV, this was because of three leaks on the ridge line also the angle of the side doors the rain came in , great tent but not for me at the moment especially with all the rain on the AT, Fly creek has a stepper entry and a bit of a beak to stop ingress of rain , also a larger vestibule, which should come in handy , mind i did like 2 side doors , time will tell if I made the right choice.My cooker set up is a Jet boil this failed on mr , and the Guys at Trailwalkers gear my local out fitters and Go to guys immediately got to work and a brand new 2018 model was dispatched to me ,they said this was their first failure. !!!Janice my Wife has got me a nice present for Birthday and Christmas a Montbell Mirage Down Puffy Jacket , this one of the best out there and its price reflects that , so light and SO So warm going to love wearing this at camp, thanks to "Uncle D " for his advice.Will do a complete list later just in the fine tuning stages.Hope you like the following journals they are a bit long but I do tend to ramble on a bit
Date: 2018-02-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hi Guys more news on Testing my Thru Hiking GearI took a two day hike out to our local State Park , Myakka is a great place to train, only problem is its flat , and i mean Flat ,no Elevation what so ever, we are headed out to Bee Island ,this hike was set up by Trailwalkers Gear Outfitters my Go to guys on my quest to become a Thru AT hiker, they have been so good to me ,some times I haven't listened and it has cost me either in time or money ,I am lacking in both the former.We all met up for a good breakfast bit of a tradition I am told , we then drove the short distance to the Park, got all sorted out with the Ranger and headed to the Parking area foe Bee Island ,this done Packs on and its only a short hike out to our allotted campsite, not far but I am testing my gear I carried my full AT pack over the top for this hike but perfect for testing.We all got to Bee Island camp 1 and set up our Tents and one Guy had a Hammock, this should be interesting, It started to rain " Perfect " about five of us then decided to do a day hike out into the park ,so donning my Waterproofs off i went the rain really came down but i stayed dry except of course for my feet, had a good hike and back to camp to check on my tent ,I was a bit disappointed as the angle of the side doors let in some rain ,in a down pour this would be real bad, I have a" Nemo Hornet 2 person".We had a great campfire all the Logs were brought out by Andrew from Trailwalkers the previous day, Great company and a great dinner, Got to Test out my new sleeping bag liner this is going to be so nice on the trail, can use it as a liner in the winter then as a sleeping bag in the warmer summer months, we had no trouble with the Ferrel Hogs in the night, But those Damn Coyotes were going crazy they were out hunting, had a good sleep in my liner and Big Agnes sleeping bag, nice and cosy, good Breakfast Mountain House Biscuits and gravy my favorite, hiked a bit more it was a good shakedown  for all my gear and me, my feet are doing real good ,cooking was good , sleeping was good ,my pack a Granite Gear 2 is really comfortable to wear, only thing suspect is the Nemo Tent may be a bad decision, should have listened to Jimmy at Trailwalkers. I really need these shake downs to test me and my gear , thanks for reading Crazy Brit
Date: 2018-02-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hi there Crazy Brit Here Another shake then trip this time we're going to Little Manatee State Park this is an awesome place,I got to the ranger station in the Manatee State Park only to find that the primitive campsite was booked by a large group,¢ Damn¢ should've phoned first I suppose, what should I do next I'll call my friends in Trail walkers Gear Outfitters to see if there are any hiking trails or camping around this area.They tell me that there¢s camping at the Alifia State Park ,well drove up there and I got to the ranger station only to find that their primitive camping is for Boy Scouts only ,think I'm too old to pass as a Boy Scout, well I've come this far so may as well stay they offer me a car camping site this is all new so yes I think I will do it.I get directed to my allotted site it's a nice place just seems a bit strange setting up with all these large RVs around me, my tent looks kind of out of place set on this well manacured piece of grass, tho it is perfect for Hiking,and is cosy for one person.  I set up my tent and go for a hike around the trials this is a great place for hiking and it's a Mountain bike Paradise, its one of the best in the country I am told, had a great hike around the trials and came back and got out my cooking gear.My neighbors in an RV came over to check out my my set up, they were very interested ,I told him what it was going to do and they just walk away, one guy was pondering ¢Why¢, others just shaking their heads, got a crazy one here, all went well had my dinner a couple of beers , setteled down for a good nights sleep, what a joke !!!!!!!!!!!The peace and quiet didn't last long, I was woken up by what sounded like fireworks a hell of a lot of noise, I got up I'm dressed hell might as well watch the show, a couple of the other campers were trying to see the fireworks show, but no lights or aerial fireworks this noise kept on going for what seemed hours.When this noise went down everything was nice and quiet until I started hearing the trucks, they start from a stoplight, they erv up and go through the gears there's a long straight for about three miles ,and you can hear them for a long long long way.At this campsite I never heard or so any hogs ,I did hear some coyotes yapping but they didn't last long, I find out this morning that just across the highway was the Hillsborough tactical firearms facility, and the swat teams were out practicing ,they sure used lots of lots of flash bangs and A.R. 15rounds taxpayers money at work big sign ¢Bad guys keep away.¢Bit of a fitful sleep, I asked my neighbor in the RV did he hear the trucks driving down the highway he said his RV is soundproof so he never heard nothing, but strange he did hear the fireworks.This was another great shake down , the only thing wrong was on this one, I found three leaks in my Nemo hornet tent, down the centerline ,one drip right on my head, and this has made up my mind I will change it for a big Agnes fly Creek 2 person HV I suppose this is what shake downs are for after all, testing ,testing, testing.Thanks for reading ¢ Crazy Brit ¢ out.
Date: 2018-02-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hi there crazy Brit here again.Sorry but I have to squeeze in one last shakedown, got a call from Dan and Griff, do you all want to go to the Alifia campsite for a night, do some hiking in the park ¢Oh Yeah¢All the arrangements were made I get picked up by Griff ,he he is one of those strange people that run ultra marathons in Arizona and New Mexico, he is 74 years of age¢ Oh¢ and he's also done two of the Everglade Challenges sailing a little Hobie catamaran from Fort De Soto, St. Petersburg ,to Key Largo is a tough M.F.We drive out and pick up Dan and off we go these two will be hiking with us on the AT it will be four of us ,Me ¢Crazy Brit¢ - Dave ¢D. Square¢- Griff¢ The Old Guy¢ and Dan ¢Uncle D ¢.We are going to have some fun.After lunch at Wawa¢s, we arrive at the Alifia State Park, and book in,we get a really good campsite, I unpack my gear ,and start to put up my tent, the other to sit back and watch, I felt as though I was being critiqued, when all is done I get a¢ well-done ¢coming from those two I am pleased.OK it's time for a hike we put on our packs and start to walk around the really great trails here, we only did about 6 miles, as it was starting to get late and the guys had to put up their tents, I sit and watch and give them a clap when they finished. Time to make dinner, couple cups of coffee, and a couple of beers, we had a great fire ,good company it was awesome ,no hogs but we saw plenty of deer walking by, really good evening we have a Jack and Coke for dessert then it's time for bed only woke up once and heard the Coyote¢s yipping and yapping, apart from that slept really well.We awoke to a really great day ,sun was just coming up, we had a good breakfast and coffee ,we have time for another hike this morning this time Griff is taking us on the other part of the park where the mountain bike trails are, this was crazy big ups and downs can feel my calf muscles working, how they ride these mountain bikes here I will never know we saw some but they weren't on the really difficult section of the trail.We finish a really cool hike, back to our campsite, and pack up we're heading home on the way we again stop for another Wawa¢s lunch, great hike with great company it was a great idea.Hope you will follow my great Adventure on the Appalachian Trail.Thanks Colin  ¢Crazy Brit¢
Date: 2018-03-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.3

Crazy Brit here after spending a couple of days at Dave and Barbara¢s house we left for the start of this Great Adventure,the seven of us met at Amicalola falls state park ,we got signed in my start bomber is 811 that¢s a lot of hikers on the trail.We are not doing the approach trail as it is not a single mile on the whole adventure.So we are driving up to the start and doing the first mile up to Springer and Back, then tomorrow we start at mile marker one.We all start and soon are in our respective groups ,I am walking with Dave trail name ¢ DSquare ¢, going great toes feel fine, it is very misty, it¢s going to rain later so we are pushing to make our first nights camp at Justus creek,which is 14.3 miles in .Early afternoon it started to rain and then continued .Had a few hard climbs especially up Sassafras Mountain, rain is coming in real hard so we decided to stop at Justus camp sight instead of our original Gooch Mountain Shelter.This was my first time setting up in the rain, I did the fast pitch method putting the fly and footprint,then rig the inner in the dry, worked pretty good I just got soaking wet, got into my tent, it is freezing cold so cooked my dinner in the tent had coffee and went to bed,This is Crazy Brit any one can walk on the flatOnly got 2176.6 to go
Date: 2018-03-11
From: Justus Creek Campsite

To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.6

Starting at Justus Creek Campsite woke up to a really damp and muddy campsite. Dave is up and ready to go my first time packing up a wet tent, went pretty good bit strange doing it in the dark. All packed and we are on the way, today we are headed to Lance Creek campsite it¢s at mile mark 23.9. Good days hiking but it¢s going to be a real bad rainy stormy night to night. So we get there about 2:30 to set up camp as it¢s to much to go up and over Blood Mountain today. Camp is set up and I get into my sleeping bag for an hour and a half nap. The alarm went of at five so I made Lasange and had a pop tart and a coffee, called Janice she was at Hobie and Mary¢s,they all laughed at me in my tent then it was time for sleep. Tonight was a really bad night, it was a bad storm rain was horizontal driven by a strong wind, I eventually fell to sleep and woke up in the early morning to find that my Fly sheet had come unpegged and the tent was touching it causing the rain to come in all over my down sleeping bag, good thing I had a really good liner to keep me warm.
Date: 2018-03-12
From: Lance Creek

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a real bad start, my Tent was soaking wet and so was most of my gear. Had a coffee and a pop tart for my breakfast time 6:30 we are on the trail by 7:30- 7:45. It was going to be a hard day Blood Mountain is the highest point in Georgia.Of course on the way up it started to Snow,then the wind got up real strong it got up to 35 mph and it was blowing a blizzard,and real cold my gloves were supposed to be waterproof, I don¢t think so, my stumpy finger turned Blue and hurt like hell.At the top of Blood Mountain we went into the Stone shelter .and had something to eat, Man it was freezing ,my bandana was frozen and when I went to blow my nose it hurt like hell, if going up was bad coming down was just as bad,lots of bare limestone and real slippery.We got into Neel Gap Outfitters, for a welcome cup of coffee and sat down with Dan. I looked around the store and got a pair of rain pants better gloves and another three days of food.David had booked our cabin the day before, boy is this a great place a hot shower, laundry and a great pizza, pity no beer.It¢s going to be really cold tomorrow down in the 20 degrees and we want to do about 14 miles so early night tonight.Crazy BritAny one can walk on the flatOnly 2159 miles to go
Date: 2018-03-13
From: Neel Gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.5

Crazy BritHad a good nights sleep at the cabin good Pizza and coffee. Got woken at 5:30 to leave at 7:00.Had breakfast coffee and pop tarts then hit the trail it was still dark so hiking with headlights, this my first time hiking with a headlight kind of weird. Had a few tough climbs but all is good. We came out at Tesnatee Gap on GA 348 Russel Hwy.There was a Pair of Trail Angels set up there with Coffee, Hot Chocolate, cakes, buns and all sorts of treats. One of the guys name was King Tut he has been coming here for 14 years. Had 2 cups of coffee and some buns Awesome.The climb out of here was a killer straight up, plenty of ice on the rocks the ground was solid so that helped not a lot of mud.We stopped at Low Gap Shelter for lunch,then it was on to Popular Stamp Campground.We are at 3345 ft and it¢s 20 degrees at the moment with the sun out, so tonight it will be down in the teens with out the wind chill. It¢s going to be a cold night in Georgia, we have set up the beer lines for our food, just going to cook dinner then it¢s into bed, hope to get a good nights sleep.We have. 6:00 call from David tomorrow so this is Crazy Brit outAnyone can walk on the FlatOnly got 2146.9 miles to go
Date: 2018-03-14
From: Popular stamp campsite

To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.1

Hi there had a tough day today, big ups and downs.We got to Unicom Gap on GA 75 to find another set up with Trail Magic. They were a group from a Baptis church in SE Georgia it was awesome, hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, fruit. There was also another guy in a van with his family giving out cookies cakes and drinks, these guys are great and it was freezing cold.It was a big hike out of there then a big down, to Indian Grave Gap. Up again to where we are now at Trey Mountain Shelter it¢s cold. Oh forgot we saw a person get Medi Vagner off the Mountain by the Mountain Rescue group good day did 15.1 hard hard miles. Did 37.13 steps and equaled 311 flights of stairs. Going to get dinner and after into bed it¢s 7:00 see you tomorrow.Any one can walk on the flatOnly 2132.9 miles to go
Date: 2018-03-15
From: Trey Mountain

To: View Entry
Miles today: 11.3

Trey Mountain to Dick gap hostelHard day big ups and even worst slippery decent.Had a really Cold Freezing night on Trey Mountain had to wear all my cloths to keep warm.Woke up at 6:00 to start hiking at 7:00am had a hard day but had a great sunrise and some real spectacular views we were heading to Dicks Gap about 11-3 miles away. We all felt the pain as they were long ups and hard downs.But we got to the main road US 76 where we were again met by Trail Angels they were just leaving but gave us water, we thumbed a lift to the hostel.We got coffee and they did our laundry 7.20 gave us hospital Scrubs to wear great place had a shower then they shuttled us into town.We had Mexican meal and a large 32 oz beer, then re-supplied at Ingles supermarket for the next three days and got shuttled back, time for a coffee. Getting ready for bed after all it¢s hikers bedtime 7:20 we will have breakfast here then back on the trail.Crazy Brit outOnly 2121.9 to goRemember anyone can walk on the Flat land
Date: 2018-03-16
From: White Oak Campground

To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.2

We have got out of Georgia and are now in NC, it¢s been a very hard, hard day today with big climbs.We left the Top of Georgia Hostel at Dicks Gap had a good night except for Blue shouting out in the night and Jay Bird Snoring.Had a good breakfast, coffee and had a ride back to the trail head.And off we go big climb out off Dicks Gap then a big down and you always know if it¢s a big down it¢s followed by Big Climbs.We met a group with a Blind guy hiking with his wife AMAZING!!!!. We stopped for a good lunch and then on again to Low Gap Shelter. The whole place was full so we Hiked on to Whiteoak Stamp where we just had dinner and now going to get ready for bed.Today we have done 14.2 miles33.745 StepsClimbed 316 floorsCrazy Brit out for the nightAny one can walk on the flat landOnly got 2109.3 miles to go
Date: 2018-03-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.5

To Betty Creek Gap Crazy Brit been a day of not a lot of climbing with some great views from the summit of Standing Indian mountain 5435 feet hard on my feet a lot of down hill hiking hurt my Shins a bit. My toes are doing good give them a drink of my special cream, thank you Grant.We are now at Betty Creek Gap, pretty cool place. Had my worse dinner so far Uncle Bens Teryaki rice with beans, made me throw up.Good job I had spare food. So it¢s 7:39 and I am ready for bed.Thank you Hobie and Mary for my St Patrick¢s Day Present. 39.275 steps120 floorsCrazy Brit outAnyone can walk on the Flat
Date: 2018-03-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

We are heading for Franklin wind I ding stairs GapTo day was kind of tough for me as I have a bit of a split shin problem,Last night at Betty¢s creek campground we had the worst Thunderstorm I have ever lived thru we were high up the mountain camped all cool got into my sleeping Bag when he¢ll let loose I tried to video it but got so scared I pulled the sleeping bag over my head and prayed ,kind of Cool-so did all the other guys , hard day couple of big climbed will give you the details later .But now we are in a Awesome house with huge views of theMountains we will tackle later had a great dinner. Hot Tub And a couple of beers on the patio life is good will fill you in on the details later
Date: 2018-03-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Crazy BritAfter a great night at Jay and Vickie¢s house this house is amazing,3 floors, a fantastic home, great nights Sleep Dan and I share a King Size Bed. Oh forgot to tell you about the Hot Tub ,with a beer this is luxurious .I am having trouble with my right leg with a case of Shin Splints, very painful, I think I hurt it coming down one of the big descent¢s ,there were a lot of big steps, hurts like hell.Good job we are having a zero day,no miles walking so I-am laid up on the sofa with a ice pack on my shin.All the guys have gone into town .So I can lay here and catch up on some hard earned sleep.This is a very sad Crazy BritNo steps todayStill got lot of miles to doAnd yes anyone can walk on the flat land
Date: 2018-03-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Sad Crazy Brit hereNo miles today just sat in a Lazy Boy resting my leg. We did go into Bryson City to send back my pack that came unstitched I had called my Good Friends at Trailwalker Gear Outfitters and they called me back a new bag was on its way from Granite Gear Awesome service. Thanks to the ¢ J ¢ Team , Judy, Jimmy and John, thanks guys.So I am here sat with no internet, watching Television with my leg up coating it with Aspercreame.Oh forgot to say we did go to the hiking store with a Tap Room on the side, just for Medicinal purposes you understand, good beer Liz is a great host and knows her beers.So a really sad Colin is tied to staying indoors and if anyone know me you know how I hate that.So the Guys are making there plans to go Slack packing tomorrow morning leaving the house and driving to Burningtown Gap Hiking to US 64 where we came out to go to the Lazy Hiker in Franklin, then on to Jays house.I am going to miss a couple of days and will have to make it up later to be a true Thru HikerNo milesCrazy BritAny one can walk on the flat. ¢ except me at the moment ¢