Date: 2016-05-11
From: 666.8

To: 686.7
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: light rain

Today is Wednesday, day 48. I am at mile marker 686.7. I covered 19.9 miles today. I started walking at 7:40 and stopped at 5. I passed; laurel creek, sarver hollow and Niday shelters. I am camping alone by a creek. Last night I was so happy to be in the shelter. It poured for 2 hours. The thunder was so loud! And no one snored!! That was amazing. There were 2 guys and two gals in the shelter. I was the first one awake (6 a.m.). But by 6:45 everyone was packing up their gear and getting ready for the day. The rain started, again, so leaving the shelter I had rain jacket and pants on. But it only lasted about 30 minutes. It did not rain again until 2 and that only lasted for 30 minutes. I hiked through some beautiful pasture land today   And I saw the largest oak tree on the AT. It is the Keffer Oak (mile marker 676.3), over 18' around and over 300 years old. I also had some serious Rock scrambling to do but had some wonderful views of the mountain ranges. I met Crazy Larry who informed me that he was homeless and he thought what a good place to be... Homeless.. Walking the AT. My feet are quite tired and I look forward to a zero day soon. I will take one in Daleville ... Hopefully Saturday or Sunday (or both). And I now have a rash from poison ivy... Yuck. It is around my ankle so I am trying to treat that with cream. Hard with wearing two pair of socks!In talking to some hikers I find that a few are taking side trips during their thru hike. One girl will get off the trail for 2 weeks to go on a rafting trip in Colorado. Several are going on a cruise. I just want to get off the trail for a bit to rest my feet and see Chrissy and Sammi. I wanted to mention some of my favorite gear: dirty girl gators, perfect for this type of hike and cheap, my leki (anti shock- plateau) hiking pools/ love that they act as a shock absorber with each stroke (thanks Chrissy), my big Agnus tent.. Two person, the one person tent is too small. The guthook AT app. Cost $60 but well worth it. It pinpoints exactly where I am and I can locate all the water sources. I also use the AWOL hiking book - that is a must on this trail. It changes every year so, if you are planning on hiking make sure you purchase the current year. My neoAir thermarest air mattress is great. The sawyer system water filtration system is what 90 % of what the hikers use. It is easy and light. News from Trotter/- I think she is 2 days behind me but hopefully she will catch up when I take a zero or two. I miss her company I have to say//- I STINK!! Gosh between no shower, being in wet clothes, sleeping in my sleeping bag that now has the hiker stink... It is pretty bad. My hair is growing out (Bill M no comment!) and I might even need another cut pretty soon. Shout out to my dear friend B.T. Happy Birthday!! And to my brother Gordon//- YES, I am still in Virginia!! Also, my brother Jordan who is following me daily--- I will keep going!! Theresa M....think of you daily! Oh, side story-- a hiker showed me a picture of a rattle snake that she saw on the trail. It was sooo big. Reminded me of a story from my youth that had me laughing while walking. My Dad had killed a rattle snake and wanted to take it home to show others and cut off the rattles. I was riding in the back of his truck... He threw the snake in the back -- with me!!! Well, as he was driving through the fields towards the house the snake--- was NOT dead and when he started moving you never saw a 9 year old little girl fly on top of the truck... So fast. The next thing I knew I was looking at my Dad through the windshield telling him to stop that the snake was still alive. He slowed ... Stopped... Laughing at me the entire time.... Anyway... I am off to sleep. Tomorrow I think I will hike! It is Thursday--- I woke to a dry tent. OMG I am one happy hiker. And my friend Keri ( who started the hike with me) is meeting me today for a couple of days hiking.