Sunday, May 25, 2014

 

541 miles completed.....1640 to go!

Now at Marion.....Virginia

(a catch-up blog.......4 sections........lots to report!)

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Progress to date.....now at 'Marion'
 
Store at 'Nolichucky' hostel.........Didn't stay there.....promised to be 'Party Central!'
'Mountain Laurel' at a viewpoint
 
 
'7-up' heading across one of many meadows or balds


  
 
More meadows.....(the farmers get upset if you destroy their fences!)

a balmy afternoon!......that's why you hike!

 
Sandy and I would hike in to do the 'important' summits
....'Mt Rogers'.....in this case .....Highest point in Virginia......
NO VIEWS what so ever!.....bummer!

Of course if we didn't feel like hiking we would just drive up!
Mt Mitchell ....Highest point in North Carolina
....better views!

 

 

Dinner...."Oh joy"

 
'Mountaineer Shelter'.......Better than most!

 
 
early morning start

 
 
'Trilliums'....the forest floor was covered with all kinds of flowers!.....very pleasant hiking

 
 
entering Virginia

 

 
It's not all a walk in the meadows!

 
and not all animals were wild.....in fact you had to keep your pack away from these guys...
......They'd chew on your pack while you're wearing your it
(....for the salt!) 


"are you coming...?"
 

 
"......look Angie....I told you we need to do 20 miles a day..."
" ....please try to keep up!..."

  
 
That didn't go too well.....

........Darrell ends up pleading for forgiveness!
....and mercy!


None given!

 

 24hrs in the stocks  seemed appropriate to Angie!

 

And, of course, 24hrs of R&R for Angie!
 
And Darrell downs 'Hill Billy pain killers' by the bottle!

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DAMASCUS - TRAIL DAYS

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Coming into Damascus....

 
For hiker's 'Trail Days'
....a collection of vendors peddling light weight gear.......not cheap either!....pity!


Apparently....if I follow her advise......I'll thrive......(works for me!)
 
 
Angie getting her book autographed by 'Gene Espy'
...the second guy to thru-hike the AT......in 1951
...still had all his marbles....Cool Guy!

 
 
'Helen Thayer' at a show she put on...
a very accomplished adventure!
now 76 and still doing 1000+ mile treks!


And then there's 'Naptser' ...the cat....(naps a lot) adopted while on the AT trail
(.....somewhere....near Damascus.....some little girl is going..."here Kitty"..."here Kitty"..."here kitty".).

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Virginia Creeper Trail

- Rails to trails bike path from White Top down to Damascus -
17miles of downhill .....they said it would take 4 hours......seriously??....should be two!
Took us closer to five!....go figure! ....( we eat plenty of humble pie on this trip)
 
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A 'rest' day......so we go for a bike ride?
 

Pleasant cycling ...all downhill


First stop (of many) at 'Green Cove'

 

Three riders from 'WhoVille' on a Dr. Suess 'Who Bike'


A unicycle? ....on gravel?....going downhill?......insane!

....very pretty........a little TLC?
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COACHES CORNER
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"Did you hear banjos?.....I think I hear banjos! .......
......could you speed up a bit?"
 
 
Our 'Rig'


Our camp!


Our camp 'kitchen'
(slowly evolving)



Neither hail, snow, sleet or lack of roads can stop us from getting Darrell to the trail head!


This one's for Nyla!




This one's for Kaylee and Brianne!!



A music get together in Unicoi........Public welcome!.......so we came!
......Genuine blue grass music played solely for their own pleasure!

Another group at the 'Red Barn' in Erwin
....incredible fiddler!


 


guitars


banjos

stand up base

16 year old whiz kid...he was good!!


fiddles



Mandolins

These guys were all awesome.....
.spent three nights with these groups plus more!







Memorial Day.........very humbling

Till next post

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