Since coming back from AZ we've had only one day of rain and the weather has been wonderful for hiking. At each shelter we've met interesting and entertaining hikers and have had a great time. We had been increasing in confidence and strength daily.  Then on May 20, Edith fell and hurt her arm. We wrapped it and continued hiking up Bluff Mountain. As it was still hurting there, and we had phone service, we called a shuttle to pick us up at the next road. That night we spent in a hostel, and as her arm was worse in the morning, we got a ride in to Waynesboro, VA to the doctor. Sure enough, her arm was broken. It's now in a blue cast. The choices were blue, purple, and camo! We'll spend the next several days slack packing ( hiking without a pack and coming back to a hostel to spend the night). Our plan is to continue hiking and we should be in Shenandoah National Park in about a week. Our adventures continue!!

On May 10, we flew from Roanoke, VA to Tucson, AZ to attend the graduation of Susan's daughter and son-in-law from the University of Arizona.  We were able to finally add photos to our blog!  We're looking forward to being back on the trail on Monday, May 14th, north of Roanoke, VA.  Many thanks to our kind and generous shuttle drivers, Homer and Theresa Witcher.

Saturday, April 14th, we had lunch under the bridge at Laurel Creek.

We arrived at Woods Hole Hostel on April 20th.  The food here is excellent!  They raise much of it themselves.

Monday morning, April 23rd, we woke up to snow at Woods Hole!

If you've wondered why we don't blog more, here's one reason.  Woods Hole's computer was on their porch, and all that white around me is snow!  Uh.... Yeah!  It was cold!

This is Molly.  Her trail name is Glide.  She's a daughter of a friend's friend, who we were told to look for.  Lo and behold, here she is--at Woods Hole with us! 

We stayed at Rice Field Shelter with No Sweat, Stray Dog, and Beast. Almost everyone has a trail name with a story.     

Here are Morning and Tigger, tenting at Syms Gap Meadow.

This is Pine Swamp Branch Shelter. It had a very welcoming fire in the fireplace after we had hiked all day in the rain.  This was also the day that Elke decided to lose herself in the woods 3 1/2 miles before the shelter.  When we realized she was missing, we both hiked back, uphill, looking for her.  After about 2 miles of backtracking and hollering "ELKE!" she bounded out of the woods, quite happy to have found us again.  

This is the trail through the rocks....a preview for what was to come!

A Snickers bar on a hot day!  Yum!

LADYSLIPPERS!

This was our "easy" 7.7 mile day.  Here is the top of the Dragon's Tooth!

And THIS is the "trail" down!  It was like this and worse for about a mile!

Please note the white blazes indicating the trail. Look closely!  No we did not have rock climbing gear.  We had backpacks and a dog!  Elke made this jump on her own!

There are no words!

McAfee Knob.  Once again, there are no words! 
Friday, May 4th.

Adventures on the Way to Daleville Continued

Have you ever seen a Dragon's Tooth?  We did!  On May 2nd!  The tooth was very interesting.  Pictures WILL follow!  We just haven't been on a computer where we can download them!  However, the trip off the TOOTH was a rock climb with backpacks and a dog!  Whew!

We climbed McAffee's Knob on May 4th, along with a huge 5th grade class from Roanoke.  They beat us!  And then were gone when we got to the top.  Very beautiful, restful afternoon. Incredible views!  You should look up McAffee's Knob until we are able to post pictures.

To follow up our restful afternoon, we walked down to Campbell Shelter, right below the Knob.  It was quiet, peaceful, and we were wonderfully alone.  At dusk, in the quiet of the evening, we began to hear rustling behind the shelter.  Elke perked up, but did not bark.  On investigation, we discovered Many LARGE men, in desert camo, quietly walking through the woods--NOT on the trail, mind you!  They began to put up tents and we were uncertain whether we were REALLY safe or were we REALLY in DEEP trouble. We both thought we would ask one of the LARGE men.  As it turned out, they were Army drill sargents, on a forced march.  We had a very secure and quiet evening with the U.S. Army behind us! 

Tinker Cliffs should also be worth viewing on the computer.  If you find dramatic pictures share them with us, because when we were there it was cloudy and raining!  Lots of rain on this trip, but we are doing well!    

Adventures on the Way to Daleville