Hello everyone!

I never sat on a snowy porch, in 32 degree weather and sent an email. It's really beautiful, but really cold. Tomorrow it's beginning to clear up a bit, and by Thursday should be nice again. We're going to leave in the morning, or else we'll have to begin to work for stay. 


We aren't the only ones that are taking zero days because of the clod weather. The bunkhouse is over capacity, and there were 27 for dinner last night. It seems that there might be 40 tonight. Lots of hikers have already sent their cold weather gear home, and are needing a warm place. 


My leg, not the knee, is feeling much better. It was hurting lots when we stopped, so I've been glad to have some rest days. Can't download photos here, as the computer doesn't have the capacity. Do wish you could see this place. Look at the Woods Hole website: but know it's better that the photos. Michael, a co owner, has lots of raised beds with so much planted. It's all  winter hardy stuff, and is now covered with snow, but will be fine. Our meals are copious, and much of it comes from their garden, last summer, and the sausage is from their pigs.They have a chicken tractor, and the chickens will be ready to eat in a few weeks. Guess we better not stay around that long. 


I love you all. Take care.
Susan 

Thanks for all the warm wishes. But no worries, 'cause we're still at Woods Hole Hostel. It's COLD and RAINY. The high for the next several days is 45, with rain, but lows may go into the 20's with SNOW!  We may have to go on a work-for-stay here, but we're warm and dry for now.
We can't publish pictures yet.  We haven't run into a computer with the capabilities out here.  Hopefully soon....  

Tonight we are at the lovely Woods Hole Hostel near Pearlsburg, VA.  You can see the place at http://www.woodsholehostel.com/.  And tonight we are having PIZZA!  Yay!!!!!!!!

After a little scare, Elke is doing great.  We are all three are getting stronger, but Susan is having a little trouble with her right shin and ankle.  It's just something to watch.  Thankfully the bum knee is doing very well.

Full disclosure, this post is by Batchelor Rick.  S&E do not have access to anything but a private phone today, so I'm relating the conversation as best I can.  We really did not talk long at all.

I will post whenever I hear from them, which will be infrequent.
R.

We're off!

We're off!  Here we are leaving the Big Walker Motel in Bland, Virginia.  Next stop, the AT!

Please note our packs.  Susan with 28 lbs, Edith with 38 lbs (before adding food and water!), and Elke with her food.

Edith and I, along with our older sister, have hiked about a third of the trail over the last 15 years, but now it's time to finish. Two of us, Edith and myself are planning to go to Maine this summer, walking on the AT. We're beginning in southern VA, at the place we got off the trail on our last AT hike. It should take until the end of September, God willin' and the knees hold out. See you in the fall.
Susan

Martha helped me to set this blog up, and believe me, I needed all the help I could get! Now It's going to be up to Edith and i to know how to use this blog.

Now I'm out of the captions and can go on and on.

We begin on April 12, 2012!