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

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.