Journal Entries

Otter and @hammerhead waiting for breakfast at Wood's Hole Hostel

Day 62 - Trent's Grocery to Wood's Hole Hostel

15.2 miles

Started today by stopping at Dismal Falls and having breakfast.

It was beautiful hiking this morning, dappled light through the trees, and easy flat rolling terrain (my favorite) to Wapiti Shelter (we didn't stop there).

After the last couple days, with long stretches between water, we appreciated today's plentiful water. Lots of streams and footbridges.

As the day wore-on the hiking grew boring and tedious, but we had a beautiful view over the valley.

We hadn't planned to stay at Wood's Hole Hostel tonight, we thought we'd just check it out. But once the kids arrived they didn't want to leave, I don't blame them.

The bunkhouse is full so we're camping behind the main house, beyond the parking area (not so scenic, but we aren't here for the camping). We are not impressed with price of $10/person, that is a ridiculous price for a family to camp on the AT. The whole scene made me cranky. But after we went down to the bunk house to cook supper I stared to relax.

I enjoyed the best milkshake smoothie ever, made with Amish-made ice cream and berries.

This place is very peaceful.

I spent some time by myself reading Neville's old (public) journals while @toesalad cooked us mac n' cheese for supper (one of our trail favorites).

I was so inspired by Neville's honest, open writing about the process of making dreams come true. I was sitting in the end product and experiencing the dream of a hiker hostel and reading back on her struggles to get there, to get here. It was the full circle picture, the idea made real.

Since I've been struggling with my writing and decided to take a blogging sabbatical this summer, I looked at this writing with increased interest and inspiration about how to return to my blog (someday) and how to write more true to my experience, the struggles in making dreams and big ideas become reality, the struggles of living.

I'm going to bed tonight satisfied with the day and though I'm still heartbroken about not blogging this summer and taking a writing break, I feel there is hope for the future of my writing and that the break will change and grow my writing for the better.

Had a nice evening laughing with hiker friends. @celine met Taka and Loon who she didn't meet earlier this week at Chatfield Memorial because she was sleeping. It was a great connection.

Bunkhouse at Wood's Hole Hostel

What hikers need most - a charging station.

Virginia

Otter at Dismal Falls

The most unique breakfast we've eaten yet on the trail. Hamburger buns topped with Beanie Weanie and sliced hard boiled eggs.

The Beanie Weanie was terrible, our first and last experience eating canned beans and weaners.

Breakfast at Dismal Falls. We had thought yesterday that we might camp here. I'm glad we didn't there, it looked like a party scene when we arrived this morning. When trail camping spots are so close to road crossings, and in this case, a store selling alcohol, camping can get kind of wild.

Last night was really hot in the tent and I woke up in the middle of the night feeling terribly claustrophobic and hot. (The Hilliberg doesn't have the greatest airflow). So I stepped out of the tent to get some fresh air and the whole hillside, field and grass where we were camping was lit up with fireflies. It was unreal. Living in the north I've never seen anything like this before. It was like a Thomas Kincade painting, but real.