Day 103 (October 5)

What an awesome day of hiking in Virginia! Crisp, sunny, still, and an easy trail. We got a ride back to the trail head from a retired trucker named Paul. Great guy. We made 22 miles. Starting at 8:30 a.m., that's pretty darn good.  We followed a stream for the first five miles (nice sound) and then some ups and downs with several great views.  We went over some neat walking bridges too. The largest was over the James River of John Smith and Pocahontas (Jamestown) fame. We're stealth camping along the James River in fact. Big climb out of this river bottom tomorrow morning.

Day 102 (October 4)

Left our campsite at Salt Log Gap this morning when it was still dark. It rained all day yesterday and all night. We did an eight mile hike over three small mountains to a highway where we got a nine mile hitch into Buena Vista, VA. The hike had some great views, but my hands were so cold, I couldn't make my phone camera work. Staying in a motel tonight. It's nice to dry out. It's supposed to be great weather the next four days. Take care.

Day 101 (October 3)

This was quite a day. It started and ended in the rain, but we did 20 miles over some pretty tough terrain. Virginia's tallest AT mountain is The Priest. We climbed up for about five miles; it took two hours. Prior to the climb, I fell into a river trying to get drinking water. The rain made all the rocks slippery and treacherous for walking. Worst thing was my feet were wet up the climb. Still raining at our stealth camp tonight. This sort of thing is not much fun.

Day 100 (October 2)

We left Waynesboro at 7:30 a.m. this morning. A trail angel gave us a ride to the trail head. Some communities have lists of trail angels who voluntarily shuttle hikers to and from the trail. Cindy is an older volunteer. She said she has shuttled approximately 300 hikers this season. She takes no money for her work.

The hike went well today, but we got a little too aggressive and went too far -- 23 miles. We got caught in the dark with no good stealth camping spot available. We are beyond the Shenandoahs now, working on central Virginia. Still beautiful and fewer people. Nice. Here is a view from today's hike.

Day 99 (October 1)

Today consisted of a quick eight miles in the morning and a hitch into Waynesboro, VA to resupply, wash clothes, and clean up. We got a hitch from two ladies in a Honda civic. They took us to an outfitter and on a tour of the town before dropping us off at a diner. They thru-hiked the AT two years ago. Took a selfie of all four of us before leaving. People below the Mason-Dixon Line seem to pick up hikers more readily. We have a trail angel picking us up to get back to the trail tomorrow morning. Everything's working. Take care.

Day 98 (September 30)

We hiked 18 miles again from our tent site at Loft Mountain Campground. The camping was great. We waited around until 8:00 a.m. when the camp store opened up just so we could have a cup of coffee. Big babies. We hit the trail at 8:30 a.m. Hiking was quiet in terms of other hikers but very beautiful. The Shenandoah Park trail is so nice on the feet. We finish hiking the park tomorrow. 

Here is what we woke up to, as well as a few views of scenery today. Take care.

Day 97 (September 29)

We completed another 18 miles in the Shenandoah National Park today. The trees are changing daily. Beautiful. I saw a bear on the trail. The youngster was within five feet of the trail and I barely noticed him as I was trudging uphill. When I did look to the side, he looked back, casually eating acorns in sort of a half seated, half lying down posture. He was unperturbed. I moved ahead on the trail because that's what they tell you to do. I wish I'd taken a picture, but I forgot all about it. He was a very black bear, and I can confirm that he was not a man killer. We are staying in a campground tonight with coin operated showers, a camp store, laundry, and folks from all over the country roughing it in their campers. Pleasant. 

Here are a couple views from today, hard to do the beauty of this place justice with a photo.