Day 71
Miles Hiked Today - 10.3
Total Trail Miles - 751.4

Thunder Hill Shelter

I think there's something very important about this part of my hike. I'm learning to be alone. However, I have to admit that I'm getting addicted to NPR. (Sneetch bought a small radio at a previous town stop.) Today I listened to "Car Talk" and "Whaddya Know", but then the classical music came on - - - ugh! I can only handle a little bit of classical music.

I'm starting to struggle mentally with my attachment to society. I'm supposed to be out here enjoying nature and experiencing all the serenity of the woods, and I'm addicted to the radio.

When I'm not listening to NPR (i.e. when the classical music is on), I listen to stations with a lot of advertising. The ads make me so depressed. I look around at the woods while listening to ads about taking kids to amusement parks. Why don't people take their kids hiking? Why don't people enjoy the outdoors more?

And I hate the way the advertisers imply that the public should do this or that. I want to cut all that out of my life. I want to run from civilization, but I still enjoy my town stops and even look forward to them. In short, I'm confused.

Day 72
Miles Hiked Today - 14.5
Total Trail Miles - 765.9

Wright Motel in Glasgow, VA

I had a nice hike in great weather today. I caught a ride into town with two guys who appeared to have walked right off the set of "Animal House." It was my first time hitching alone, and hopefully, my last.

In Glasgow I found a bunch of bikers in front of the motel. They stared at me in my funny-looking hiking clothes.

I did my chores - - - laundry, shower, postcards, phone calls, and watched some movies on TV. My call to Scott brought me great news - - - he has applied for a leave of absence so that he can hike with me to Maine. Yahoo! And what's more, I'll see him in Waynesboro in less than a week. I can't express my happiness! No more hiking alone, always being homesick for my husband. He's going to bring "home" to me.

Day 73
Miles Hiked Today - 10.5
Total Trail Miles - 776.4

Punchbowl Shelter

I started the day in Glasgow in my seedy motel room, getting bit by seedy motel bed fleas. Walked over to the post office and found vegan cookies from my friend, Tamarack and candy from my mom.

After yesterday's crazy hitch, I was determined not to hitch back to the Trail alone. Luckily, I ran into Swampfoot and Bander and we hitched together.

When I hiked over Bluff Mountain today, I saw a small memorial stone for Little Ottie, a young boy whose body was found in the spring of 1861. He had wandered away from his schoolhouse the previous November.

Only three other hikers are at the shelter with me tonight. It's very quiet and relaxing. I'm looking forward to my nightly NPR fix.

Day 74
Miles Hiked Today - 14.4
Total Trail Miles - 790.8

Cow Camp Gap Shelter

Last night we were visited by Mary Ann and Ed Williams, two local trail angels. Every evening from mid-May to mid-July, they drive 22 miles to bring fresh-baked biscuits, homemade apple butter, veggies, and apples to hikers. Yum! They also take a picture of each hiker for the annual Trail Days Festival.

My new boots are finally broken in and I don't have any major aches or pains.

Right now there's some serious thunder and lightening going on, so I hope the shelter's roof doesn't leak.

Only four more days until I see Scott!

Day 75
Miles Hiked Today - 17.1
Total Trail Miles - 807.9

The Priest Shelter

A few miles into this morning's hike I came upon a wooden swing hanging from a tree. I just had to stop and have a ride. That was my only luxury for the day. I made a quick stop for lunch and then hiked as fast as I could to avoid the rain.

Today's walk took me over a southern-style bald, much like the balds of Tennessee and North Carolina. The clouds rolled by - - - an incredible mist flying sideways over the grassy mountain. I shouted and clapped my hands for Mother Nature, but then I ran like heck, hoping not to get struck by lightening!

I'm still hiking alone, but liking it less and less. I get lonely. When there's so much beauty, I want to share it; when it rains and I'm miserable, I want a shoulder to cry on (or at least a good empathetic listener).

This shelter is supposed to be visited by rattlesnakes. Let's hope I make it through the night!

Day 76
Miles Hiked Today - 13.6
Total Trail Miles - 821.5

Rusty's Hard Time Hollow

After climbing over a 4,000 foot mountain today, with absolutely no view, I am angry about being a purist. I think I may stop following the white blazes.

Plato, Timber Ghost, and Pappy all took a blue-blazed trail that went around the pointless 4,000-foot mountain to a gorgeous waterfall. And it cut four miles out of the hike. It's things like this that make me wonder why I care about hiking past every white blaze, when sometimes the most interesting things are elsewhere.

I've been feeling so lonely this past week. Part of it is the lack of female companionship. It's amazing how lonely you can feel when the people around you aren't much like you. Last night at the shelter, the guys sat around talking about hunting and eating meat. Well, I just went to sleep.

I'm realizing how important like-minded friends are out here on the Trail. I'm totally out of my element lately. But I'm still walking, getting closer to Katahdin with every step.

Day 77
Miles Hiked Today - 21.1
Total Trail Miles - 842.6

Comfort Inn in Waynesboro, VA

Before I fell asleep last night, I spent a great deal of time considering my dilemma about being a purist thru-hiker. To go off the official A.T. is called "blue blazing", as most alternate trails are marked with blue blazes.

After much consideration, I made the difficult but empowering decision to hike my own path on this journey, skipping 21 miles of the "official" A.T. As a perfectionist, this was a difficult choice for me. I had to give up my notion of an official thru-hike, meaning that I can't, or rather shouldn't, get official recognition from the ATC as a 2,000-miler. However, I will still be traveling on foot from Georgia to Maine (mostly on the A.T.) and that's good enough for me.

What a wonderful town Waynesboro is! The people here are so nice! After checking my email in the library, I asked the librarian how to get to Kroger's. A nice woman overheard me and offered to take me there. Later, as I left the post office, a local man named Larry offered me a ride back to the motel. For me, this town is the soymilk of human kindness. : )

Day 78
Miles Hiked Today - 7.0
Total Trail Miles - 849.6

Calf Mountain Shelter

The shelter is very crowded tonight! Joining me are my cousins, Megan and Schuyler, Megan's boyfriend, Daryl, and Scott. That's right, Scott is here! Yay!!!!

Megan, Scott, Schuyler, and Daryl met me at the Comfort Inn this morning. On our way to the trailhead, we stopped at the outfitter and I got a new pack! It's an Osprey Action 60 and weighs only a little over three pounds. Much lighter and more comfortable than my old pack. We hiked an easy seven miles to this shelter. I hope my family enjoyed it!

Megan made a great quinoa and veggie salad for dinner and Schuyler brought me a vegan chocolate cookie. Yum! I love having people with me, especially good cooks like Megan. Unfortunately, my cousins and Daryl are heading home tomorrow, but Scott will hike on with me to Front Royal.

Day 79
Miles Hiked Today - 20.4
Total Trail Miles - 870.0

Loft Mountain Campground

Scott and I were both very tired after today's hike. We refreshed ourselves with gourmet potato chips and Dr. Wells, a Dr. Pepper taste-alike, followed by mac and chreese with lots of dried veggies. Mac and chreese is a vegan version of mac and cheese. Very tasty and healthy.

The Trail is quite graded and smooth here in the Shenny's, making it easier to do big miles. We hiked the 20 miles between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

The strange thing about SNP (Shenandoah National Park) is that the A.T. loosely follows Skyline Drive and these two "trails" cross each other at least once per mile. So as an A.T. hiker, you walk past many parking lots and scenic overlooks. Very strange!

It's fun to see the hordes of day-hikers and tourists in the park. It's even more fun to answer the common question, "So where are you hiking from?" with the word "Georgia." Ah, the life of an A.T. hiker!

Day 80
Miles Hiked Today - 14.0
Total Trail Miles - 884.0

Hightop Hut

I forgot to mention that yesterday when Scott and I walked into the campground we saw a young bear - - - so cute! We made some noise and it ran away.

When we started this morning, we planned to do big miles. However, the numerous little ups and downs tired us out so we stopped at 14 miles. We only ran into one other group of hikers - -- two young girls and their dads. It's Monday, so I guess all the crowds are gone.