Date: 2016-05-28
From: front royal hostel mile 965.3

To: Mile marker 977.3
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: few clouds

Today is Saturday, day 65. I am currently at mile marker 977.3. I covered 12 miles today. I passed the Jim and Molly Shelter which has a porch, chairs, solar shower. Pretty cool for a shelter. I know I complained when it was cold and raining... well, now it is crazy crazy hot and humid. Oh well.... just like life... in general.. there always seems to be something that we wish we could change. But that is NOT happening out here.. I just need to get over it and keep moving North. Last night at the hostel I though for sure there would be snoring but you know what... I was WRONG. It was actually pretty quite for a bunk room with 8 people in it. I met a few new hikers... Sponge Bob, from Hawaii. He and I chatted a bit this morning and we both expressed the desire to have more time during the day to really enjoy nature.... but we both feel like.... we need to WALK to get our miles done for the day. I think both of us will try hard to correct that and take a little more time to really enjoy everything around us. The hike was nothing special today other then....at the end I knew Chrissy and Sammi would be there. I arrived before she did so I made a few phone calls and then saw her pulling into the parking lot. I told Chrissy...I am one spoiled hiker!! This is two weekends in a row that I have seen her. I don't take that lightly!! There are some folks out here that will not see their loved ones until they go home That would be so very hard. Anyway, we are now in Front Royal, Va for two night. I am taking a ZERO tomorrow. I am really looking forward to NOT walking for the day. Also, Trotter will be in the area tomorrow night and I am hoping we can have dinner together. She sent me a text that said, "I am so dirty...and I can't believe ...I don't even care, any more!" Too funny! After checking into the Super 8 motel Chrissy and i headed to dinner at a local Asian restaurant. The appetizers were very good but both of our entrees were not that good. So....what would any good hiker do??? Hmmmmm... after we ate what we could, paid our bill..... I then drove straight to the hamburger joint and order another meal! Yep...ate that as well. The good news is - - -the hamburger joint is across the street from the motel. And they also sell ice cream. All that makes me very happy. It is hard to believe that I am close to the 1000 mile mark. To look back on the journey thus far I can't even wrap my arms around the fact that I have been walking for 65 days. I have met so many people, heard so many interesting stories, learned so many things, push myself harder then I ever have, cried because I missed Chrissy and Sammi, fell flat on my face and now have a permanent scar on my nose, eaten more food then I ever thought I could (and some very strange combinations), heard from folks (through trail journals) that I have not seen since high school, and from new friends that just happened upon my journal.... that is just a few of the things I think back on when I start to reflect a bit. OK.... nothing else for now... Just so happy to have my feet up as I have put in a lot of miles over the past two weeks. OHHHHH... IFLH stands for: I fu*$ing love HILLS (that is why I called him a liar)... Several of you answered I fu$%ing love hiking.