morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-02
From: Home

To: Homr
Miles today: 0.0

Start: HomeEnd: HomeMiles: 0HouseJust so I'll have an entry for everyday, I'd like to report that I did not getout of bed until 1:00 p.m. this afternoon! Of course I watched television forpart of the day, but I do recall admitting I'm naturally lazy right? hee heeI'll be kicking it into gear, but you know how it is, we ALL need a "transition"day right? Real thoughts to come tomorrow I think....~Certain
Date: 2008-05-04
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy.....I allowed Hank and Henry to have a sniff-o-thon today as I unpacked my pack(finally). A little cat education, all cats (including big cats like tigersand cougars) have an extra olfactory region in the roofs of their mouths thatallow them to smell even more deeply in conjunction with their noses. Thenerve is called the Jacobson organ, so when you see a cat sort of squintingwith its mouth open and it almost looks like it's panting or breathing, that isthe cat drawing the scent into its mouth and across this nerve region so theycan more deeply smell/identify scents.You should have seen them today. Hilarious, and then Hank started thinking themesh hipbelt would make a nice clawing post, so I had to store everythingbehind closed doors.Other than that, cleaning my cookpot, which still had remnants of my lastmexican rice dinner and finally putting my disgusting clothes into the washerwith like 4 times the usual amount of detergent, and then I made my list forthe coming week. Not exciting stuff, but hiking does have a tendency ofsimplifying life doesn't it?~Certain
Date: 2008-05-05
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well, we were going to travel to Karen's university today, but decided to justgo early tomorrow morning. Today included more card games (I lost 3 in arow...something is SO wrong), a few chess games (I'm still winning all ofthose), and a new game, one of my other favorites...Yahtzee!! We also didabout a 5 mile walk at a local trail. My knees and hips have been reallypainful at night as they tighten up, so the walk was good to loosen me upagain.We also enjoyed going to our neighbor's house for evening drinks and justtalking half the evening away. We found out that sadly, she had to put her 14year old kitty to sleep because its cancer had spread to the lungs. Pusscatwas his name and now he's hopefully frolicking about with my Rusti, who I'd hadfor 18 years. We did, however, introduce her somewhat new kitty, Noni, to thelaser pointer. Noni is hooked, as all cats are.Other than that, I'm gathering all my crap to get down to business tomorrow.Pics have been uploaded, and my mom is doing a fantastic job of getting them upand captions up, so I've been looking at them. I have to say, I am SO FREAKINEXCITED that I get to go back and hike to Maine!!! It only takes a few days ofbeing back in civilization for me to long for that trail again. And the bestpart, Karen will be joining me for about 5 days, and that will be tons of fun.Anyway, more boring blah blah non-hiking stuff tomorrow.~Certain
Date: 2008-05-07
From: Virginia Beach, VA

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Well you know you can't just get up early and leave a beautiful beach right? Sowe got up, opened the glass sliding door to the little deck and just let thatwonderful beach air blow into the room. Today was actually quite warm, so Icame up with the hair-brained idea of going swimming....in the ocean.We decided to head home in 2 hrs, so we went for another long walk and watchedthis lady throw a tennis ball into the ocean while her 2 dogs raced for it. Soadorable, and this only gave me more confidence that the water temperature wastolerable right? I mean, if dogs run right in, can't I?It was finally time, either go swimming or go home, so we approached thecrashing waves and ocean water and all I can say is there's only been one othertime in my life that I went swimming in water that was colder than this, andthat was in a fresh spring-fed swimming hole on the island of Maui, and thatwater actually took my breath away when I dove into it (of course, nobodywarned me of how cold it was either!).Wow, the Atlantic Ocean in May....not so warm, but you know what...we swam anddodged the waves for a good 45 minutes before our fingers were aching so badlywe had to get out (and it was time to go home too). It was ridiculously funnyactually, and in such contrast to the water, the sand was so burning hot fromthe sun I had to run to the boardwalk because I thought my feet were going toget burned! One cool thing was this morning as I was drinking coffee on thedeck, I saw a dolphin way out there (no it was NOT a shark...I can tell thedifference..hee hee). So it was home by 4:00 p.m. with an organized list ofthings left to do and phone calls to make tomorrow. The ocean rocks....~Certain
Date: 2008-05-08
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

What a productive day I had today! I basically had 3 major areas to address forthis whole grad school thing...Michigan stuff, UVA stuff, financial aid stuff. Can you believe that by 5:00 this evening, I had it ALL done and am now justwaiting for (hopefully) an acceptance letter from UVA and to see how much(MORE) student loan debt I'll be going into. Hey..it's only money right?It's all working out perfectly, I need to transfer 12 hrs to Michigan, andthat's the exact max # of hrs I'm allowed to transfer I found out. One weirdthing is that if this all works, classes start August 26, which is the firsttime I'll have somewhat of a "deadline" to meet with my hike. Granted, I wastotally confident I'd be finished way before then, but there's something alittle sad about saying, "On this date, I know 100% for sure, I will no longerbe hiking on the AT." I'll just push it out of my mind though and live in themoment, which I'm pretty good at.So today was all school-related stuff. And I did check into that Daikonorganization, and it's not the best fit for me, but the Association forExperiential Education is pretty cool with job postings all over the place. Nothing locally, but that's ok....there's other resources on their site that Ican check into when I get back for good. Definitely a little weird thinking Imight be back in school this Fall, but thankfully, it's a short-term thing. Ihave no interest in doing it for years and years again.Tomorrow...addressing some hiking-related stuff.~Certain
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Wow, some pretty major thunderstorms last nite here, with Tornado Warnings andall! I'll admit it, I'm a TOTAL weather snob. When you grow up in Oklahoma,where tornados are deadly and common in spring and fall, you get used to acertain competency level with your local meteorologist. Well, they fall REALLYshort here. I actually trusted my own ability to make safety decisions insteadof listening to their "educated guessing." Still made me extremely glad I wasin a house, and every single time it does this, I look at the radar and thinkabout all of the hikers that are out on the AT in this stuff. I wish them welland safe camping/hiking.Today I arranged our shuttle for when we head back up to PA (SOON!!). I alsoarranged 1 nite's accomodations in Boiling Springs, where I left off last week,so after we get everything where it needs to be, we can stay the nite and startoff early the next morning. Boiling Springs has very little to choose from foraccomodations, and one place was totally booked with fishermen? Don't ask me. I think it would be a fantastic spot for a hostel! (hint hint to anyonethinking about opening one). One thing was the place I did book advertised inthe companion different prices than what he's actually charging now. I amhiking with my 2007 book, but I called him back and asked about it, and he'sjust flat out charging differently now, so when you hike people, be aware thatthis happens and don't cut yourself so financially close that you're screwed ifsomething is more expensive. And as everyone report, you're pretty much paying2-3 times more for accomodations north of the Mason-Dixon Line (which is whenyou enter PA). This will have to mean more low mileage/zero days in the woodsfor resting and less multiple town days for me I think.FYI, the outfitter in Boiling Springs does not shuttle people at all, but theoutfitter in the nearby town of Marysville (about 7 miles from Boiling Springs)does.I also got my maps out to make sure we could find the road crossing we'd behiking to (which is another good reason to have the maps by the way...you neverknow when you'll need to explain to someone how to find you out there).Only other exciting tasks were trimming Hank and Henry's claws (I know...totalexcitement huh?) and doing crap around the house. I'm itching to behiking....soon soon soon... My to-do list is getting shorter!!!!~Certain
Date: 2008-05-10
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was nothing eventful, just the normal life crap you deal with too, so Iwon't write about laundry and cleaning the litter box.My days home are numbered though, and I realized that yet again, (now this isthe 3rd time really) it is STILL hard to tell your brain that everything iswrapped up enough and it's ok to leave for a few months.   I was feeling a bituptight today, and realized that was why. I always have to remind myself that99% of my "things to do" are self-created and the world will not go up in afiery ball if I don't get them completed before I head back out. I got the bigthings done.school and some financial crap, so it should be no sweat.So, a few more days left, repacking, resupplying, helping Karen get squaredaway, and then it's back to hiker life.~Certain
Date: 2008-05-11
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MY MOM!!!! So last year on this day, Persistent and I hitour 400 mile mark and we both toasted to our moms. We made the 400 numbers outof Rhodadundren leaves right next to this stream. It is absolutely amazing tome how I can still remember so much detail about every single day, even stuff Ididn't write about in my journal. It is the pictures and journal, however, thatallow me to remember it all, and as you all know, is the exact reason whyjournaling every single day is so important to me.Today, Karen and I decided was a non-working day. It's actually raining likecats and dogs and lightening must have hit the top of a nearby mountain,because there was a clap of thunder so loud it sent Henry running under thebed! He's such a scared little boy I swear. Of course Hank just camewandering up with sleepy eyes from undisclosed nap-place #3, with thisexpression like, "What the hell was that man? I was sleeping!!!"It's also very very cool outside, so we started a fire in the fire place, pulledout the cards, some wine, loaded up the laptop with music and are having arelaxing day of just enjoying each others' company. Days like today make meglad I'm not out in this weather.it's been that grey, cool, wet weather that isTHE worst to be hiking/living in, the past few days. I'm not thinking it'sgoing to be drastically different when we head back out, but I have decided tolug my dumb sleeping pad along this time. I know for a fact that ALL of thetemps I've encountered thus far and struggled staying warm in would have beencompletely fine if I'd had the sleeping pad. I just don't get it, how I canalways be so cold, but I suppose knowing how to deal with it is better thannothing.So a few more days folks, and it's back to hiking. YIPPY!!!~Certain
Date: 2008-05-31
From: Bangor, PA

To: Bangor, PA
Miles today: 0.0

Well, good call on zeroing today. I woke up around 10:45 a.m. to thunder andrain, and another round came through later in the evening. Scribe slept latetoo, so I got up and had a bowl of cereal and took care of sending some emailsoff to people.Gadget showed up and we went out for lunch at the Trolley Shop, a local placewith good food. Fried Clam dinner for me, and then Gadget showed me the localschools which from the parking lot had a great view of the ridge I'm hikingtomorrow into Delaware Water Gap, PA.They took me to the grocery store, which I like the name, Mr. Z's (my last namestarts with a Z) and I got my stuff for the next 5 days. We came back and Igot all the food repackaged, man do we waste SO much paper with the packagingof our food. The rest of the day was uneventful, but I REALLY enjoyed lookingat all of the incredible pics from Scribe's school outings. Man, she found anawesome school, Prescott University. It's an experiential education school andScribe gets to do all sorts of incredible field training.Basically we just relaxed today, her parents (Scott and Eileen) went out and got pizza for all of us and we ate dinner while watching Scrubs (which I LOVE).It's like 9:30 p.m. and I'm ready to go to sleep. I feel like such an old ladywhen I'm in people's houses because I get so tired so early in the evening, buton the trail, I would have been tucked into my hammock for at least an hour bynow.It was a great day and probably a good idea for me to zero after a 20 miler. My feet were aching all nite last nite so they had a good rest. I think I'm going to take a shower and hit the sack. I've got the last 15.4 miles ofPennsylvania to knock out tomorrow and Scribe is going to meet me at a roadcrossing around noon and hike the final 7 miles with me, which is really cool.It has been WONDERFUL staying here with friends and with people who "get" trailculture as well. Her parents have hiked parts of the AT, so they know how thistrail gets into your blood as well.Wow, what a different experience this year has been with visiting friends andall. It has added so much for me.~Certain
Date: 2008-06-15
From: Highland Falls, NY

To: Highland Falls, NY
Miles today: 0.0

Very uneventful ad relaxing day today. We got breakfast and then played some cards (Karen won by 5 points!). Watched t.v. ad then decided to drive to Bear Mt. Park so I could try to find a place to put Cathy's brochures for other hikers.We walked aroud a very busy park, and it was neat. The diversity here is wonderful. There were latino families, black families, Korean families, and even 2 Muslim women praying to Mecca. I thought, "Wow, if only the world could co-exist in harmony like all of us in this park right now." Nobody was telling anybody else what to do, what to believe, or how to live. Karen and I were holding hands while walking around and people were all just enjoying and sharing this beautiful park. It's the way the world ought to work really.I found a place to plant some brochures..not sure how long they'll be there though.On our way back to town, we stopped @ the Ft. Montgomery Historical Site office. As we turned in, Karen noticed a TINY fawn hiding under a parked car! We drove down and parked and told the lady @ the desk so she wrote a note we could place on the windshield saying "please look under your car before pulling out, a fawn is under it." By the time I put it on the car and walked back to our car, I think the fawn ran away.Then we drove downtown to Highland Falls and got some ice cream. We walked down to a park bench and people watched.The rest of the day was relaxing and then I had to pack my stuff up. I feel sick to my stomach during the last hours. It's the way of it for me. I hate good bye's. Karen unselfishly reminds me each time that it will burn a hole into my soul if I don't finish this trail, and I know she's right. I've come too far, gone through too much, tolerated too much physical pain and emotional lonliness to walk away from the trail now. I'm seeing this through, and then I'll go home and celebrate with my family.~Certain
Date: 2008-07-19
From: Strafford

To: Strafford
Miles today: 0.0

So I don't know when the power came back on, but it was on when I woke up @ 6 freakin 45 a.m. this morning! Oh no sleeping in for a hiker.Today was a wonderfully relaxing day. I got up, took care of some emails and then B.I. and I went to the post office so I could mail stuff out. B.I. described his town as full of progressive people but the town feels like a 1950's town, and he's so right. For example, the PO had a little dish with candy at the 1 window, and another little dish with dog treats in it, and everyone seems to know everyone's name. Not all little VT towns are like this according to B.I., but this one is pretty cool.Then we drove back to Cloudland Rd. to retrieve the trail magic. It was wiped out except for 1 coke and about 5 slim jim sticks. Of course everything was soaked because of the storms yesterday.We loaded everything up, and B.I. drove me back via the scenic route. We drove past Joe Perry's house (one of them anyway). For those of you who don't listen to Aerosmith, he's the guitarist for the band (I think).Then we drove thru the town of Woodstock, which can be a trail town, but I hear is a little hard to get in and out of. It's a neat town though. Little shops and a few restaurants. Then I saw this giant chalkboard that was labeled "The Town Crier," so people could write stuff on there to let others know what's happening. There were also a couple of those wooden covered bridges that you only seem to see in New England.Then we stopped by Coburn's, the little town market here in Strafford, and I picked up some sunblock. Apparently I'm allergic to the stuff I got in Manchester Center, because my neck and forehead, where I put it on, has broken out in a rash. I'm a mess I swear.So we went back to the house, I threw a load of laundry in and grabbed some great tunes from B.I.'s library. Then, another horrific round of storms came thru. It was hailing and everything. I guess it's forecasted to do this most afternoons this week. B.I. suggested I try to be at a shelter or my ending point by 2-3 everyday. Man, that's going to be tough, but I'm going to try. These storms have been wicked, but fast moving at least.So we're all just chillin and watching movies. Bobby, wow..great movie, but hard to watch. I love the speech @ the very end of the movie though. Sad that his words still totally apply to the state of our country still today, even more so actually.I'm pretty much packed up, and I'm going to call Karen and harass her for a bit. Then B.I. will drop me off @ Norwich in the morning and in 1 mile, I'll be in New Hampshire! WOO HOO!! I'm actually starting to believe I might touch Mt. Katahdin this year!~CertainCut and Paster Note:Well, I've got all of the latest photos up. Everyone should check them out - there's some good stuff in there. Can't wait to see what's in Certain's next batch!
Date: 2008-08-15
From: Gorham, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Wow..painful nite¢s sleep. As expected, my body tightened up and my hips werekilling me from the abuse yesterday. I think it was 3:30 a.m. before I finallygot some sleep. Hey..I did this to myself, so that¢s just how it goes, and Iknow I¢ll recover in a few days tops.I woke up a lot, and finally woke up hearing Karen say, ¢Oh crap.¢ She had beenup for a while, but hadn¢t realized it was 10:30 a.m., and check out was at 11.We were moving motel from the Top Notch, over to Towne and Country, which hasbetter prices and nicer rooms.I woke, and Karen told me I should go sit in the hot tub while she packs upquickly. I wasn¢t awake enough, so opted to make coffee and help pack up mycrap. We got everything ready and packed the car and then talked to the ownerof this place for a bit. Nice guy.We went to a place called Welch¢s for breakfast. So I know I eat a lot, butthis morning takes the cake. I desperately needed protein, so I ordered theHungry Man of 2 eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, homefries, but I ordered a 3rdegg. I ate it all but the pancake, because it had a weird texture. Karenordered a 4-egg omelet which also came with homefries. Well, she only ateabout 1/2 of it, so I actually finished her omelet and ate all of her homefriestoo! That¢s like 5 eggs and probably 2 whole potatoes too!! I didn¢t even feelthat full!After breakfast, we went to the Towne and Country which I believe is right bythe trailhead in Gorham, just outside town. It¢s much nicer than the TopNotch, and is much cheaper too! We moved everything inside and then played 2hands of cards. I won both!Then it was time to get into the hot tub here. They have a great indoor heatedpool, steam sauna, dry sauna, hot tub, and game room! First we went into thesteam sauna, which I¢ve never been in one before. Oh¢¦felt so good. Then wentswimming, which was good to try to get my muscles moving again. Then we wentover to the hot tub, which did wonders with the heat and all. Then Karen wentswimming again and I stretched and walked around to try to stay loosened up.Finally, we ended back in the steam sauna. Wow did this all feelfantastic!!!!! I could actually walk back to our room and not look like anarthritic that had no range of motion!The rest of the day was spent watching the Olympics, I caught up on journaling,and then we went out for mediocre Japanese food and I topped it off with an M&MMcFlurry.I think I¢ll sleep great tonight. Tomorrow is getting my pack ready, doinglaundry, stuff like that. Karen got the tip of my hiking pole fixed at a localoutfitter, so that was awesome. The Whites ate the tip of my left hiking pole.Yup, I¢m paying the price for pushing so hard yesterday, but I¢ll admit. Iwanted/needed to do that, because I need to push slightly harder for theremainder of this trip so that I¢ll have plenty of time in the 100 milewilderness for Karen and I slow down and just enjoy. It¢s all good.Desperately need sleep now.~Certain