I can't upload photos...but I do have a massive update!

I'm trying to upload some more photos, but this computer seems to have some restrictions...and the space bar is a little bit of a pain in the derrier to use, so forgive me if there are some words running together.

I suppose a simple worded update will have to do now...but I've got some really cool pictures!

Anyway, it has been a while, hasn't it??? I FINALLY left Damascus after nearly ten days there. Me and Pyrofly got sucked into volunteering (which is a good thing) with Tent City to get the tentsites ready for Trail Days. It was worth the break - and I think my body genuinely appreciated the time off. Trail Days was fun...it definitely served its purpose of seeing folks I haven't seen in a while. I think I mentioned before that the town attracts nearly 27,000 people or so during the three days of festivities, which include a hikers parade/water fight with the spectators, food, tent city, vendors from various manufacturors - the vendors had many free give-aways raffle style (none of which I won),and repaired any damaged products cost free. But that sort of makes sense because we are basically walking advertisements for their products. I got my packs seams resewn - not much of a significant repair, but needed and appreciated nonetheless.

And one more time before I leave the Trail Days subject, THANK YOU :) again Walking Stick 75 for all your trail magic!!! - the meals you cooked were amazing, and I never thought I'd bake a cake on the trail!

Since Damascus, we've made it through the 1/4 distance completed barrier...which is roughly 547 miles down, 3x that many to go....ahhhhhh!!!! But I'm actually still having loads amount of fun, so it's all good.

It rained while I slept for the first time in ages. And for the record, I smell worse than I have ever smelled before. My clothes will not smell clean ever again, I don't think. Even after I wash them, they still stink - there is a slight florally cleanish odor to them, but it is mostly overpowered by hiker stench. i guess. ewwww. grody.

Ohhh, it was cool visiting Troutdale again - we were there maybe five days ago. Christina and I rode through there on our cross-country bike ride ( http://stephonabike.easyjournal.com/). It's not much of a big town, but the baptist church has a bunkhouse set up, a nice lawn for tents, showers, towels, and Jerry's Restaurant just down the way. I ate there maybe three years ago on our bike journey and met 2006 thru-hikers who helped inspire me to actually hike the trail one day...and after three years and many more inspirational people, moments, movies, etc. I'm finally out here doing it and loving life.

Taking ten days off for Trail Days has sort of mixed up the group of people surrounding me, so I am more or less hiking with a new everchanging crew of folks. And there have been quite a few people to leave the trail. Like Pineapple...I'm glad I got to hike with you for a bit and hopefully I'll see you in NYC! (And no, we did not pack out the white picket fence...how sad).

We got to see a movie drive-in style in Marion, VA. We intended to stop in Atkins for post office purposes - but missed the closing time just before Memorial Day weekend by 4 minutes. Then we ran into Z and Zippedy at the Ingles in Marion while resupplying food and they informed us of the Drive-in...so we didn't actually drive in, we walked in with sleeping pads and sleeping bags. But Night at the Museum 2 and Star Trek were both playing. It was fun. I fell asleep before Star Trek ended. oops.

Today, we have had an abundance of Trail Magic. There were nearly 8 people at Laurel Creek tenting/hammoking. Pyrofly was taking his time getting ready this morning, and it all worked out cause around 9 am, a church group from Arkansas here just for the week drove up and invited those of us still there (5 people) to a breakfast feed for hikers. Awesome. The food was soo yummy, hot, delicious, filling, and greatly appreciated. We then hiked 7 miles to the road to Bland with a man whose name I don't know who had food and chilled Capri-Suns waiting for us...then he offered me, Pyrofly, Jumper Cable, Spring Peeper and Sparky the Plugs a ride into town - which is great because we've heard Bland can be a hard town to hitch in and out of. Anyway, I'm in Bland, VA now. Hopefully we'll be able to get a ride back to the trail easy enough...which is what I should be doing now.

So yeah, it's kind of a random update, but it works. Computers seem to be harder to find, but I'll write again soon...

Anyone wanna give me a ride back to the trail head???

much aloha.

deja vu

I've made it to Damascus. This is my second time here! It's great to be back. The town is having its 'Largest Yard Sale of the Year,' though, so it's actually a bit overwhelming with all the people and cars. And I'll be back next week for Trail Days with even more people. My understanding is that this town attracts about 30,000 people in a three day period. That's a lot of people. And I'll be one of them.

Unfortunately, this has to be a quick update. I'm just having a difficult time figuring out what to write. I think it's because I haven't had my town coffee yet. On the trail I don't drink coffee and am fine, but in town coffee is the first thing I want in the morning. So I guess I'm just half-way addicted. :)

But we officially in our fourth state and 463 miles down...a lot more to go. There have been some crazy hard and crazy beautiful mountains to go up and over. Some wonderful trail magic. Some not so great rain, and lots of lovely sunshine.

I'll write more soon. hopefully with a few more photos.