morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-07
From: Clyde Smith shelter

To: Bradley Gap
Miles today: 15.1

The girls had been moaning that i was being to mean to them so i decided to declare today as international chivarly day. I went over to their site and said 'morning my darlings, can i fill up anyones water bottles?'. When they came into the shelter to cook I would get the broom and brush the floor in front of them as they walked. Hannah was struggling to cope with this new behaviour. Mel as usual was mean to me but i kept my tongue calm. Mels always growling,looking for a verbal scrap, its a charming quality of hers because she's only kidding. I set and helped the girls step over logs and things, not that they really need help but it is international chivarly day. Depite this was all in aid of a joke, i was enjoying being helpful. Early on in the day i went through a dense wood, it was like a enchanted forest, not that I've ever been to an enchanted forest. Today was full of trail magic. I had a break at the top of high bluff, the spot was irresitable. It was a hard climb up. There use to be a hotel up here and the state NC/TE borderline went through it. this meant that on one side of the hotel it was illegal to drink and legal on the other. Legend has it that the NC sheriff would hang around the hotel waiting to arrest anyone who wondered over the state line into north carolina. There was trail magic at Carvers Gap. burgers and hotdogs. After we climbed some treeless mountains. I thought it was awesome and loved every minute of it. As we descended down into the shelter the register confirmed a trail rumour that there was more magic at Overmountain shelter...Beer and food. Me and Tal pushed hard to get there, singing Euro trash songs by aqua and venga boys. Israel is influenced equally by american and european media and culture. The barn shelter was cool and i had a few beers and burgers. I was talking to some college students, they were really friendly and if these were the sort of people at university then i see why people go! we got onto politics but then me,tal and dylan wanted to move on a little. We hiked the first hump mountain as the sun was setting which was so refreshing. We came down into Bradley gap and saw a fire. The guy by it said to us 'theres water and campsite over there'. We were joking about him because he was kind of rude to us. He later came over and gave us popcorn to cook over the fire and was a completely different person. I think he realised he had been a little rude to us and wanted to make it up. Around 1.30am it me and tal felt rain and decided to throw the tents up. Thsi is the main problem with cowboy camping. Dylan shouted 'im lazy, im gonna just stay here'. Typical of dylan. dandylion
Date: 2005-05-08
From: Bradley Gap

To: Near Elk River
Miles today: 11.5

We went up the next hump mountain first thing this morning, it was crazy up there with a furious wind making it hard to walk straight. These Hump mountains have been a real highlight for me, unique. As we started coming off we met Bramble and his dog chase. He looked like he was chipped out of stone and he had a crushing handshake. He was wearing a kilt so i knew he would be a characther. He's walking for cancer for 5 years all over the U.S. He also said he had an interview for survivor next month. We got to the road and Tal left a message for the girls. It was funny, the first line read 'Hey girls and mel'. We decided to hike the mile to bucks place for a meal, it was a long mile. I hate it when they dont state a specific distance. The service was slow but the meal was good. We wanted to resupply in Roan Mountain. We got a hitch into town just as we gave up hope. Roan mountain is a real small town america. Everyone gathered at the grocery store. There was this guy on a scooter who just went up and down the street all the time we were there. Only problem with the store was there were no liptons but i met a guy who i knew from the trail and he gave me his. A good score. Dylan got talking to the locals and they gave him socks that he really didnt want but put on just to be polite.They found out Tal was from Israel and Tal didnt want them to know incase they pulled out the white sheet and shotgun. The trail out was like a junkyard. I found the girls camped by a river. We had marshmallows, now a ritual, which Tal carried out. Once again i forgot to buy any. Dylan had hotdogs and i donated my pepperoni to the feast. There was a stray dog around which Hannah fed against my protest, giving food to the dog when there are hungry hikers around. dandylion
Date: 2005-05-09
From: Near Elk River

To: Dennis Cove
Miles today: 17.6

Everything was really wet this morning due to condensation. I overheated and woke up in a sweat last night.There was a stream every 5 minutes today which was coolsince it was a super hot day. I was hiking without much waterand got really hydrated. I was ready to drop dead so i stopped and treated some water. I really learnt that you got to drink more in this heat. Came down into Dennis Cove and me and Tal wnet to check the hostel. Kincora hostel is run by bob peoples who is a trail maintainer. Everything for $4, thats laudry,shower and roof. Dylan fell behind again. The girls came over later on and got loads of freebies. I think they should be a registered charity. Someone even donated $20 to help their budget. Phoenix let them pick out some food from her stash. Moneys tight for them and its great everyone is helping them out. I thought it was really great of Tal to tip phoenix that the girls needed some help with a resupply. We and Tal ordered pizza, then had some ice cream. We were stuffed but then someone came out with warm apple pie and i was like 'dude,we got to eat it, it looks so good'. We managed to hold it all down. Dandy andy is here! his shin splints are really bad and it makes me sad to see injury spoiling his hike. dandylion
Date: 2005-05-10
From: Dennis Cove

To: Vanderventer shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: moderate rain

Tal was feeling ill this morning and stuck his finger down his throat to get it over and done with, like my grandad use to. I got off slowly down the falls. You drop into this river cut gorge, beautiful vertical exposed rock walls. The falls were great, water cascading down only spoiled by the sight of fester undressing to go for a swim. It was far to called even for Fester and he retreated like a defeated coward! I really love dramatic rock features, i loved this place. I was intrigued to reach the top of pond flats as the profile map i saw looked super steep. As i went up i ran into Bob and his crew doing some work on the trail. They were pulling out a boulder from the roots of a fallen tree and as they rolled it onto the trail it bounced backwards and down the hill. The noise just made me cringe as it rolled down crossing the trail. I was shocked, it really could of killed someone if they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They all just carried on with the next task. I caught the girls at the top and I decided to go into the woods to do my business. I decided to try a new method. Using vaseline to speed up things and hopefully this would result in using less toilet paper. Not sure it worked but it felt good! The girls were shocked at the idea but they know me well enough to know i do what i say. A storm rolled in and down the rain came. We got given soda's at the next road crossingbut it really wasnt what i wanted in the cold rain. The walk along the lake was not as flat as I was expecting, I am still waiting for this 'flat' walk into Damascus everyone keeps telling me about. i stopped at the watuaga shelter to let the rain pass and cook some oatmeal. The girls who i will now call The Barefoot Bunch or TBFB for short carried on as they were soaked to the bone. They dont handle rain well in terms of keeping dry.There was a steep climb out of iron gap.I was a bit tired by this push for damascus and trail days but its kind of fun to be trying to get there in time. We all met later at Vanderventer. Bramble was there in his tartan. This guy even has his own t-shirt and he asks everyone 'whats your dream'. me,han and mel slept in the shelter. i had to twist their arms a little as i wanted allies in the shelter. We talked quietly but this SOBO kept saying random things to us like 'is it warmer since more light came in'. It was night and none of us had a clue what he meant. Maybe he was trying to mess with our minds. The girls must feel comfortable around me now because they keep hitting me everytime i outwit them, which is very often indeed. I guess you could look at it as a negative thing. Dandylion
Date: 2005-05-11
From: Vanderventer shelter

To: Double Spring Gap
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: few clouds

Really wasnt in mood for a big day but i knew damascus awaited. I was last away from camp but caught TBFB pumping water, they did me some and i moved on. I hiked solo most the day, im sure the girls appreciated some time away from my godly status! After i crossed TN91, the trail went across green pastures and by some old out buildings. I wondered if this land was in use anymore. It was typical of yorkshire dales or derbyshire. Just rolling green hills. I took a break at the field boundary so i could watch the hikers cross the fields towards me. The girls came along very excited. They loved this section and i think Sarah and mel were seriously considering coming over to England to stay with me. that would be so cool to have them over. They were saying they didnt want to leave the trail. I think that by getting grouped with me, tal and barrel slug (dylan) they got caught up in this thru hiker mentality. I know i would not want to leave, i dont want them to either. Near the end of the day my legs became jelly like and i couldnt wait to get to camp.I ate everything i had and Han fed me stuff too. I felt weak. Me and Sarah shared a plate of chocolate pudding which drastically turned into a battle of forks. Sarah forged a line down the middle of the pudding and said 'your side, my side'. It was clear to any albino that i was getting an unfair deal so i pulled over some of her pudding to my side and thus conflict began.The woods does this to you man. Food is one thing you dont joke about. We got a great fire going and as a going away presents i handed out a few back massages.Forgot to mention this guy walked passed just wearing two bandana's over front and back end.Last night in the woods with the girlies, Ashame cowboy Tal and barrel slug could not be here. See you at trail days guys.dandylion
Date: 2005-05-12
From: Double Spring Gap

To: Damascus
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

we left late but the girls were annoyed about our noisy neighbours. They were making rooster calls at around 6am and then laughed hysterically.I didnt mind as we have kept people up in the past by making hannah laugh. Passed a tiny shelter after McQueens knob, could hold 2 people but not in wingfoots guide. The abingdon shelter register was signed by obi. he said something like 'hey, TBFB and english groupee, ive done 73 miles in 3 days to catch you and then i hear your 2 miles back sleeping!'Me and the girls wrote messages in an attempt to conclude the great debate, who's following who?' Hannah pushes the notion that dandylions a love sick puppy following them while i tell the truth which is they cant live without my charm and wit, plus im modest! HA HA. i bet they hate reading this journal. We are having such a laugh out here. We hiked into damascus, beth fell into it as she tripped down onto her face. She was okay luckily. We set up in tent city. I was overwhelmed by everything, everyone was here, couldnt walk 5 ft without seeing good friends shouting 'dandylion'. I felt really out of place for a long while. (I will have to cut stuff out as too much happened over trail days to include everything) Ramblin man told me Rob brid was looking for me and as i came round the corner i saw a sign saying 'dandylion where are you?'. He gave me soda and we talked. Rob runs a hostel in Dalton and takes in about 280 hikers a year but charges them nothing. I can see he gets great joy out of being apart of so many thruhikers journeys. The bapist church put on a really awesome feed. We met obi down there which was cool. At tent city in the night there was a drum circle. it seemed a little lame at first but i somehow found myself dancing it for a long time. I got the feeling i was the only sober person in the circle. This was hardly the resting up i had planned. Rob came over at 11pm and asked if i wanted to stay with him at the holiday express inn. i could not refuse. breakfast,bed,shower. i let the crew know were i was going, they were jealous i think. Met applejack and this guy who hitched here form clingmans dome. we didnt get to sleep till 2am. Rob was snoring heavily till then but he turned other onto his side and silence resumed. Tal was at tent city, he was still at kincora on the trail, his illness still has not cleared up. It sucks hes so far behind me now.dandylion
Date: 2005-05-13
From: Damascus

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

We got back to tent city by 11am. Me, Sarah and beth were determined to find a football (soccer) to have a kick around. We managed it and got this really light ball. I was playing around with it waiting for the girls to finish their ice lollies this girl came up to me and asked if i was Dandylion. It turned out it was Emma, someone i had briefly exchanged emails with before coming out. She had come down with her Dad to greet some friends on the trail at Bland who were coming to trail days. It was really cool to meet her and i invited her to come play football. I found out she was home schooled aswell, does anyone go to school in this country. We played in the baseball grounds. We had alot of fun running around but we were all tired after a while in the heat. I met London Len back at tent city, he told me how he has a house in bulgaria but got chucked out on his last visit, lets just say he had a women problem on his last stay there.say no more. Mel was like a zombie all day, she didnt sleep at all last night. I then found myself in town laying out on a bench in town with a box of cookies on my belly. I just sat,ate and slepted for about 3 hrs. it was great fun talking to locals and hikers passing by.Han and Sarah joined me and then shortly after we got wind of some more food at the baptist church. We were sitting on the church steps waiting and i put my feet on Hannahs lap and pleaded for a foot massage. She just did it, i was suprised. It felt so good, i was a king being pampered. Passers-by kept making comments lie 'who's next?' 'wheres the queue?'. We took it in turns to reply, trying to be original each time. The feed was awesome, melon and smoothies. I introduced myself to a few people and sat down in a cosy chair in this basement of dreams. It really was kindness with no strings. they never preached at us, they just wanted to help us. I stayed in the tent tonight and it rained hard. When it stopped it got loud again. Me and dylan were talking in our tents about how tent city was a soggy evil bog where you couldnt get a tent peg in!dandylion
Date: 2005-05-14
From: Damascus

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I knew i could not sleep in today because the girls were leaving at 10am. They were looking all over for mel and then she suddenly appeared. It was very surreal when the TBFB left. Obi was there with the rest of the gang to give hugs and say goodbye. I couldnt take a farewell picture as i had misplaced my camera somewhere. They went and i felt a little down but Tal was there to drag me to the gazebo for the talent show. I didnt want to do it but Fester had bought a dummy for the act. I would not let the centerpiece of the 68th anniversary of the A.T down. I finally got to meet leon hale. He wished me well and i wish we could of talked longer but we really had to pratice our act. By the time the host called up our group 'international popstars' we had put in a good 5 minutes pratice. I have never felt so comfortable on stage,so relaxed. I could talk without a tremble in my voice. This hiker trash was not intimidating. I started with 'good morning my colonial friends', a few good colonial jokes always go down well. i dedicated it to the girls and we took everyone to the twilight zone. Fester was the baby wearing a nappy and sucking a dummy. Me and Tal sang:Shh shh the baby is sleeping x2I said please be quiet the baby is sleeping x2what did you say x2I said calm down,the baby is sleeping x2what did you say x2Fester :aaaahhhhhhhhhhme and tal: oh, the baby is awake!It went perfect and i could not work out the crowds reaction. Crazy horse won with his awesome voice and beat box was cool with his crazy sounds he can make. I had people all day shouting me over to say well done, complete strangers. Nobiody asked for my autograph thou.I returned to being tired, annoyed about the camera and the girls leaving and i still not resupplied. Obi grabbed me and said you look lost dandylion. We hung around and talked about when i should switch to a summer bag, he said go to marion and buy a fleece bag at the Walmart. The parade was alot of fun, hikers armed to the teeth with water guns and balloons. We tramped into the town like an invading army. the parade got cancelled because of the pouring rain but we were wet and up there so we decided to have our own parade. oncoming traffic was attacked. people couldnt get their windows up quick enough. It was the biggest water fight ive been at. i ended up at the bird cage with roband i decided to go back with him to the inn again. Tal and dylan hitch into abingdon for a movie, i was not up for an adventure tonight. hope they get back ok.they tried to convince me to come but i was not moving. I found my camera and i was so happy again. Rob took me to the huddle house and i got a chicken sandwich. Rob has become my trail dad and it be cool to see him up north.dandylion
Date: 2005-05-15
From: Damascus

To: Saunders shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: moderate rain

Rob dropped me at Food city and i ran into cowboy Tal and he told me how they hitch into Abingdon and out again.We got our resupplyand head back to tent city. Dylan was still asleep but got up when i told him about my dream of having a milkshake with him. Us 3 guys got the trolley service into town. Tal got off for his shuttle back to kincora, thats one jew i hope i see again.Me and barrel slug had a milkshake and chili sauce with chips plus some burgers. Barrel slug is really sticking now to dylan and i gave him both names, so i feel proud ive named someone. Dylan and tal have brought out a much more easy going side to me. Dylan is the most easy going person i know. I left for the trail as dylan pottered around. I ran into phoenix and we arranged to meet at partnership shelter near marion to do some trail magic together. The hiking was easy enough with the odd climb. I was suffering post barefoot bunch symptoms. Obi,tal and dylan were now behind me aswell. I hiked alike with pappa razzi who pointed out that the Rhododendrons were blooming. big beautiful purple flowers. I met sweet sixteen and joked that i had been running to catch her up. She is a older lady and she said people have told her there were guys chasing her thinking she was a young girl.Hung with fester, Goosebump and Fancy pants at teh shelter, great people. Met a guy who said he been on the move for 10 yrs and now couldnt get stable. his father had a $3.8m estatewhich his stepmother managed to get most of in his will. His dads funeral didnt sound fun. I am on the trail to get rest from town! cant wait to sleep.forgot to mention i picked up a stick to walk with. It was Mels old stick and as a side quest i aim to get it back to her by hiking it up to NY state.dandylion
Date: 2005-05-16
From: Saunders shelter

To: Before Elk garden
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I was last out this morning. I was enjoying my sleep too much. Trail says had been my main aim for so long, my drive. Now i need to develop new aims but its liberating not being on a schedule anymore.I know that more miles i hike, the more i'll get back into the swing of things.Met a tag along today, she just started her hike from Damascus. She is heading to main then coming back to hike GA to VA, this is due to her college commitments. We joined the creeper trail for a while and we saw a lady pass wearing industrial goggles. how we laughed. Crossed a cool wooden brigde, the Kuther Hassinger memorial bridge. After VA601 my day flipped. I was bouncing up the trail, i found Fancy pants and his gang up on top of whiterock top. Darwin came along and told us of his horrible experience. He saw this guy, who i wont name, jerking off on the trail. just sitting there on the trail having a good time. I couldnt handle it and every 10 minutes i managed to work a joke out about it. 'Maybe he was making white blazes', He certainly brings new meaning to the phrase 'bush whacking'. I was there for a few hours and kept saying i was moving on. They didnt buy it but true to my word i did. We had such a laugh up there and i was feeling really good. I enjoy hiking at sunset, i always feel good. I found a little spot in the woods and for the first time yet i camped totally alone in the woods.I am looking forward to the Grayson highlands tomorrow, i hear they are superb.dandylion
Date: 2005-05-17
From: Before Elk garden

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Tore myself awayfrom my beautiful spot. I was feeling like the day i hiked Clingmans dome. I ran into Crazy legs and low bridge at Deep Gap. they were planning on catching Paparazzi as his mum was picking them up and making them Lasagne. When i get to NY TBFB better make me one mean ass meal. The open Grasslands littered with rocks, was like home. These balds are maintained by controlled burning and grazing ponies. I kept running into SOBO's who recognised me from the talent show, my fame knows no borders.One lady said to me 'I dont know what it was all about but it was good'. I descended down into a place called the scales. Back in the day when farmers would bring their livestock down from the hills they would weigh them here before sending them off to market.I was hiking away the day but did lose the trail once. I hike past a double blaze and missed the turning. I soon thought, i aint seen a blaze for ages and backtracked a while. Thats what happens when you sing the monty python sketch at the end of life of brian. The privy's at all these shelters are really good, well done virginia.Strolled into Old Orchard shelter, figured i could get off quicker in morning if i stayed in the shelter. I met Jack Rabbit who was one of the Barefoot Sisters. She hiked barefoot SOBO and then NOBO straight after, known as a yo-yo hike. Thats hardcore.She thought it was cool i had heard of her.Also met Iron horse from Ireland and Truth from NY. I didnt picl up on Iron horse accent, i guess i always just presume everyones american out here. He was trying to hike the trail fast and for charity.The guys i was sharing the shelter were friendly but i never seen such giddy grown men before. they were giggling at one point.dandylion