Malfunctioning gear :(

Slowly we are moving along. About 3 miles an hour seems to be the average pace for me (not including breaks), which really is slow for many modes of transport, but not so much on foot with an oversized bag on my back. Sometimes I wish I could just take my pack off and run down the trail - I would get to my destination at least 2x faster.

The trail in Virginia is getting rocky, and my feet don't like it so much. I've also gotten blisters for the first time. I had changed out my shoes in Damascus from boots to trail runners. They were working great til the first rain came and BAM, blister on my heels. excellant. I've been ducktaping them ever so delicately with a bit of gauze in between, and they are heeling fine.

I've also had my first significant gear malfunction - my water filter broke. Gotta call REI to get a replacement, I suppose. I have an inline water filter - so the dirty water goes into the Camelbak style bag, the filter is attatched to the hose...so you suck untreated water from the back and the first half of the hose, it goes through the filter and our comes clean water through the second half of the hose into your mouth. It's easy and convenient. But for now, I'll just have to rely on the kindness of others to filter water for me (I do have some treatment tablets just in case, but would rather use filtered h2o).

I'm currently at "The Captian's" at mile 646-ish. The Captain had a 'hiker's feed' that we missed by just a day because we were lolligagging in Pearisburg too long. But he allows people to camp on his property anytime during the season - and he has a zip line to get across the large creek to his casa. In just a few more miles, we'll be at our 1/3 distance barrier. pretty neato.

I'm lolligagging again. Pyrofly and I have been trying to get a super early start, and it is now 11:36 and I am no where near ready to go. ahhhh!!!

til next time.