Sprout Day 92 (Monday, June 27th, 2016) (NEED PICTURES)

We woke up around 5:00 am and started getting ready for the day. It's Freddy's second day and we have a big mile day planned. We have to stay in shape and keep training for the Whites. We packed all of our gear and helped Freddy get his stuff packed too, he has a lot of work to do in this department!

We heard it might rain later in the afternoon so we put our rain gear close to the top of our bags. Five miles in we all met for a break at the first shelter. I had tuna, Cheetos, and some fresh spring water. The water was really cold here. After we were eating I looked over at Flying Dutchman and could tell he was tired. He said he was ready to push on and we all started to get our things together. I'm glad he wanted to push on because we still have about ten miles to do.

We got to the shelter later than normal. I got in around 7:00-7:15 and Bubbles came rolling in about an hour after me. Flying Dutchman was a little behind her. It was a difficult day with all kinds of different obstacle in our path. It rained throughout the day which made everything wet and slippery. The terrain was steep in some spots and a section was even hand over hand climbing. We all did great and ended up at the same spot at the end of the day. We're going to have to work with Freddy and help him get his backpack organized and to be comfortable with the pack but I think we will be fine once we get that all worked out.

Day: 92
Miles hiked:  14.9
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 828.9
Bears: 0
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Horses: 12
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 2
Squirrels: 11
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 91 (Sunday, June 26th, 2016) (NEED PICTURES)

We got back on the trail today after having a zero yesterday with Poppa Lip and Mb. The hotel stay and family time were amazing and much needed. Freddy, aka Flying Dutchman, came out to hike the trail with us. He's planning on staying until we summit Katahdin. We're excited to have him on our team!

We're at the same spot as Smudgy Cheeks so we're hoping all of us can stick together until we finish Maine and Katahdin. Flying Dutchman brought a backpacking guitar and he said he would try to teach me some songs. I'm excited to learn a few tunes, I've always loved the guitar.

We took it easy today to let Flying Dutchman adjust to the trail and to kind of get an idea of what a whole day consists of. There's a lot involved in backpacking. We did around 7 miles today. We plan on waking up early and getting on the trail to bust out some miles early in the day. We're going to try to do something around 15 miles tomorrow.

We woke up today and finished packing our backpacks at the hotel and all met for the breakfast buffet. I ate so much since I knew this would be the last meal I didn't have to cook for myself on a small stove and because who knows when I'll be at a buffet again, haha. I filled my pockets with to-go peanut butter and packets of honey too! We made our way to the trail and had to say our goodbyes to Poppa Lip and Mb.

Poppa Lip surprised us by showing up on Friday. He told us he had a golf outing he had to go to and wouldn't be able to make it! It was hard leaving them but also a little easier since Freddy was going to be with us now! We're so excited he's on the trail!! Whiskers took a zero with us and got to meet some of the family. It's always nice to introduce our trail family to our family. We're happy Whiskers is with us too because he's a great person to hike with and fun to be around. It makes it great hiking the trail with other people that are trying to accomplish the same goals.

We had an awesome weekend with everyone and ate so much, watched tv, swam, and soaked in the hot tub. Everything was perfect!

We're happy to be back on the AT and can't wait to get to New Hampshire.  The Whites are going to be tough but I know we can do this.  Especially if we stick together and help each other along the way.

Day: 91
Miles hiked: 7
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 814
Bears: 0
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Horses: 12
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 2
Squirrels: 11
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Smudgy Cheeks Day 91 (Sunday, June 26th, 2016)

Today we got back on the trail and hiked 6.9 miles.   The Flying Dutchman joined us, one of my other brother-in-laws, Freddy. 

We stopped two miles into our hike at a shelter to take a break.  I went swimming in the Little Rock pond.  It was nice and cold.  I swam across the pond and then went back to where I jumped in.  The rest of the day was easy.  When I got into camp I relaxed for the rest of the night.

Today could not have been more beautiful for a hike!

View from the trail today

Flying Dutchman with his guitar

Bubbles being a hippy

Bubbles teaching the Flying Dutchman how to filter water

Day: 91
Miles hiked: 6.9
Total Miles hiked on the trail:  742.9
Bear: 1
Chipmunk: 1
Deer: 1
Lizard: 1
Snakes: 4
Toads: 2
Vulture: 1
Zoo Animals:   2 foxes, 1 porcupine, 1 bobcat, 1 turtle, 2 bears

Sprout Days 58-64 (Tuesday, May 24, 2016 - Monday, May 30th, 2016)

Pictures from Graymoor Spiritual Life Center (May 24 & 25)

Some people camped here too

We zeroed here at the pavilion

Free shower (cold water though!!!)

Great place to have a fire

Back on the trail (May 26)

Can you find the toad?

Beautiful day to hike!

Mountain Man and Karma on the trial

Trail today

Hike to our pickup!!! (May 27)

Can you spot the hikers?

Bubbles drinking some water while hiking on the trail

Incredible roots!!  I think the one in the middle looks like an alligator!

Love Chipotle! (The tortilla couldn't handle my massive burrito!!!)

We had an amazing weekend with the family and we were able to introduce Mountain Man and Karma to some of our family members.  It was a great weekend.  We went to an amazing wedding in Cooperstown, New York and we all had a great time.  It was a two day break and it felt good to be with close people from home and to finally introduce our trail family to some of the people that they have been hearing so much about.  At one point all of us were out on the dance floor dancing, laughing, and having a great time. Jimmy was the best man, it was great seeing him and hanging out for a couple of days.

The food was delicious!

Reception was in a greenhouse!  It was really cool!

Poppa Lip and Bubbles boogieing on the dance floor!

On Sunday Bubbles and Freddy a.k.a. Flying Dutchman went back and hiked 6.5 miles by Bear Mountain.  Bubbles got off the trail last week to have dinner with our cousins and had to make up those miles.  Flying Dutchman wants to be on the trail and was happy to go with her!  I wish I could've been there with them but Mb took Mountain Man, Karma, and me to REI to get some more supplies that we needed for the trail.  Flying Dutchman did a great job, we can't wait to see you back out on the trail whenever you get the opportunity! We wish you were here now!

We were so thankful Mb was able to take us to REI. We got some Merino wool t-shirts and I got a pair of Merino boxers too. Merino wool is a special wool that doesn't hold sweat in like some cheaper fabric and dries quickly.  It’s basically a must have for how hot and humid it's been. We both got an air mattress this weekend and I couldn't be happier.  I wasn't getting the best sleep on my sleeping pad and have been wanting an air mattress for awhile now.  Bubbles picked up some new shoes because the ones she had were worn out from all the rocks.  Our initial plan was to get back on the trail Sunday evening but time went by quicker than we anticipated.

We ended up getting hotel room for the night and got dropped off earlier today where we were picked up off the trail. It's really hard leaving family and getting back on the trail.  Of course we want to be out here hiking and doing what we're doing but we are really close to our family and have a wonderful family. Whenever you see someone from home it makes you miss everyone else.  We are truly blessed to have this problem, we hope we see you guys again soon and hope everyone else from home can come out at some point.

We got to the shelter and started talking to Mountain Man and Karma about their hike and eventually got to the topic of them getting off the trail.  It was devastating because we love hiking with them!  Karma has been having terrible feet and ankle pain and now it might be moving to her knees.  It's going to be hard to keep moving on if they have to get off, it has been great being with them for as much time as we have. I think they are going to try to continue on and I hope they do.  We ordered Chinese food and had it delivered to the road outside the shelter. Mountain Man and I tossed a frisbee around that I bought this past weekend. It was a great evening but still a sad one.  All we could think about was the possibility of them leaving and it's not something we want to happen. I hope we all wake up tomorrow and can continue moving on.

In memory of those lost on 9/11

View from the trial today!

Stream

Memory plaque

Day:  64
Miles hiked:  7

Total Miles hiked on the trail:  567.1

Bears:   0

Butterflies:  8

Chipmunks:  3

Cows:  24

Crawfish:  1

Deer:  20

Donkeys:  2

Horses:  12

Inchworm:  1

Really Big Dog:  1

Mice:  2

Nest of bugs:  2

Newts:  2

Owl:  1

Rabbit:  1

Skunk:  1

Snail:  1

Snake:  2

Squirrels:  11

Toads:  3

Trout:  2

Turkeys:  4

Turtles:  107

Vultures:  6

Woodpecker:  1