Tough
getting up, but glad to get out of that body-cramping tent. We had a
long day ahead of us, so I wanted to get an early start. Also, it looked
like it might rain.
Left at 7:45. The terrain was surprisingly tough for Virginia, lots of steep ups. The rhodys are finally starting to bloom. Hope to get some good pictures when they do.
Strange trail-walking thought of the day: Why do bugs try to fly up your nose and in your ears, mouth, and eyes? Do they think they’re going into a tunnel? Do they think at all?
Had lunch a little over the half-way point of our 21-mile day. Then the sky got dark and the rain started pouring down. There’s nothing like a good soaking to get your feet moving fast!
Fortunately, it stopped after 10 or 15 minutes. The last 4 ½ miles were really tough ones, but 'no pain, no gain, no Maine,' as the saying goes.
Sometimes I like knowing what the terrain is “supposed to” be like, but that leads to expectations. Expectations of flat trail or an easy day can quickly prove false – leading to disappointment and maybe even anger. Perhaps it’s best to use the maps as a rough guide, but to take the terrain as it comes – good, bad, and all. It is what it is.
Made it to the top of Chestnut Knob, and this is where we’re staying. Beautiful view, great shelter, very windy. Shelter was full, so Dave and I are tenting it. We’ll see how the old Warmlite holds up. Sunrise is supposed to be awesome, so we’ll try to be up by 6:15 to catch it.
The tent held up very well, though it was quite cold getting into it.
Left at 7:45. The terrain was surprisingly tough for Virginia, lots of steep ups. The rhodys are finally starting to bloom. Hope to get some good pictures when they do.
Strange trail-walking thought of the day: Why do bugs try to fly up your nose and in your ears, mouth, and eyes? Do they think they’re going into a tunnel? Do they think at all?
Had lunch a little over the half-way point of our 21-mile day. Then the sky got dark and the rain started pouring down. There’s nothing like a good soaking to get your feet moving fast!
Fortunately, it stopped after 10 or 15 minutes. The last 4 ½ miles were really tough ones, but 'no pain, no gain, no Maine,' as the saying goes.
Sometimes I like knowing what the terrain is “supposed to” be like, but that leads to expectations. Expectations of flat trail or an easy day can quickly prove false – leading to disappointment and maybe even anger. Perhaps it’s best to use the maps as a rough guide, but to take the terrain as it comes – good, bad, and all. It is what it is.
Made it to the top of Chestnut Knob, and this is where we’re staying. Beautiful view, great shelter, very windy. Shelter was full, so Dave and I are tenting it. We’ll see how the old Warmlite holds up. Sunrise is supposed to be awesome, so we’ll try to be up by 6:15 to catch it.
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| Smittee, Murph, Patch Monkey, and Duracell |
Such a fun night. Was this the night Shanks brought Magic Shell to put on the marshmellows? Gross!
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