EMILY'S ESCAPADES

Day 64 Friday May 26, 2017 Miles: 634.3 - 643.7 Weather: NOT RAINING Tenting We were up way to early for our planned "sleep in" day. But since our luxurious accommodations were a step below a dive in Shortcake's words I couldn't get out of there fast enough. The place had an odd smell upon check in but it seemed better then the rain. However, after sleeping several hours my lungs had all they could take and woke me up with a burning sensation, a headache, and chest congestion

Day 63 Thursday May 25 2017 Mile: 623.7 - 634.3 Time: 7:00 - 2:30pm Weather: NOT RAINING Room at Holiday Lodge I had a great night's sleep in the loft of the hostel. I was presently surprised. My first impression upon entering the bunkhouse was "Oh no! This is nothing more than a barn with mattresses crowded on the floor in a hay loft!" Without heat even. I was just happy to be out of the rain. It was just a converted barn but it wasn't quite as bad as I thought. But then aga

Day 62 Wednesday May 24, 2017 Mile: 616.5 - 623.7 Time: 7:30 11:40pm Weather: Drippy, Wet, Rainy, Breezy and Cold Bunking at Wood's Hole Hostel It stopped pouring last night about 1:30am then picked right back up at 2am. By 4:30am the only drizzle was the drops from the leaves as the breeze blew. We stayed dry in our tent but it was difficult to pack things up. We needed to do so inside our little home but with two bodies trying to maneuver bags and gear without dragging in

Day 61 Tuesday May 23, 2017 Mile: 602.0 - 616.5 Time: 7:57am - 5:15pm Weather: wet, drizzle, then pouring Tenting at Wapiti Shelter The only good thing about today was I didn't have to work and even then I was asked by an elder man named Kermit if I wanted a break from hiking I could do a work for stay at his house piling wood. Hindsight is 20/20. I should have piled wood. At least I'd be in a dry house. The day started drizzly but we were not concerned. The forecast was Fo

Day 60 Monday May 22, 2017 Miles: 590.1 - 602.0 Weather: Rainy, misty to overcast but always HUMID! Tenting at Jenny Knob Shelter Today was a milestone day. We completed 600 miles. They are starting to rack up. It seems like we just did 500 and I was playing in pony poop. A different artist had it marked out this time. We started the day in rain which turned to a mist then just overcast but it was always extremely humid. At times the sweat was just pouring off my face and arm

Day 60 Tuesday May 21, 2017 Mile: 574.3 - 590.1 Time: 9:47am - 6:15pm Weather: Cloudy, rainy and humid Hotel Orange was the color of the day. It started out with Shortcake in her orange raincoat. Then we saw a flaming azalea tree in bloom. Next and throughout the day we saw orange meets. These little creatures littered the trail. We saw stopped counting at 30. An orange toad, a penny and nacho cheese Doritos at two different trail magics. My itchiness has slowed. Only two new

Day 58 Saturday May 20, 2017 Mile: 546.1 - 574.3 Time: 8:04 - 6:30pm Weather: Hot and Sunny Hotel We slack packed today with Batman's help. It is so much more enjoyable without a heavy pack on our backs. Today was filled with lots of bridges. There are so many types. Old ones, new ones, high ones, and low ones. Green mossy structures and dry rotted types. We evaded a storm most of the afternoon. We huddled over the bald again. It seems like we are always hurrying through some

Day 57 Friday May 19, 2017 Miles: 546.1 - 556.6 Time: 8:04 - 3:30pm Weather: Hot and Sunny Tenting I woke up to more bites. I am itchy, itchy all over. I need Benadryl! I think Partnership gave me bed bugs. I am the only one afflicted though. Shortcake is fine. We passed the 25% mark today. No horse poop art but someone did make this cleaver piece on the ground. Batman joined us tonight and he was thrilled to hear we saw a baby rattle snake not to far from where we would've t

Day 56 Thursday May 18, 2017 Mile: 532.4 - 546.1 Weather: Hot and Sunny Tenting I am just loving all this great weather. What I did not enjoy was waking up to several bites that itch like crazy. Partnership shelter had more than I bargained for. The rhododendrons are finally blooming in mass. We have been walking through these wild gardens since Georgia but haven't seen many flowering. But now they are very showy and it is so pretty. We took a trip back in time, fitting for t

Day 55 Wednesday May 17, 2017 Miles: 526.2 - 532.4 Time: 7:04 - 10:45am Weather: Hot and Sunny Sheltered at Partnership All those longer than expected days allowed us to have an easy and short stroll into Partnership Shelter. Which just happens to be the nicest one on the trail. It is 100 yards from the Mt. Roger's visitor center. It is a two store log structure complete with a cold shower and even a sink out back. The cold shower was awesome to wash away the accumulated swea