Sprout Day 189 (Sunday, October 2, 2016)

We got up and got on trail earlier than yesterday and got 20.4 miles in for the day! We're staying at the Rice Field Shelter. The views from up here are amazing. It felt good to hike this far and still get here with enough time to set up and make dinner before the sun went down. The Kiwis, Flatlander and, Marvel are staying here too. I set the tent up for Bubbles and I out by the view, away from the shelter.

We're getting up around 5:00 tomorrow to get ready for Pearlsburg, VA. I'm excited to get into town. Whisker’s dad is getting us a hotel room for the night. It's going to feel good to get a shower and clean laundry. There's a lot of different places to eat plus a Walmart and Food Lion for a resupply. Poppa Lip sent us a package so we won't need to get too much, just some sweets and cheese. There's also a Dairy Queen in town. I cannot wait to get some ice cream tomorrow!

We went to the Captain’s Place today. It was a cool stop right along the AT. We didn't actually get to see the Captain but we met the dog that lives there and went out back to get some cold pop to drink. This guy stocks the back fridge for hikers to come up and get a cold drink. It was great! We threw our trash away and got back on trail. It was cool because he lives right on the trail. To get to his house you have to cross a wide stream. He set up a zip line with a carabiner for your pack. You sit on the wooden seat and pull yourself over. It was a slick set up and worked great. Thank you for the cold drinks Captain!

My feet don't really hurt as bad as what you'd think after two big days in a row. I feel good and ready to keep going. Tomorrow is a shorter town day with a hotel. That will help me get rested and ready for the rest of next week!

Bubbles making her way across the creek

Day: 189

Miles hiked: 20.4

Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1553

Baby Bear: 1

Bald Eagle: 1

Bluegill: 2

Butterflies: 8

Chipmunks: 3

Cows: 24

Crawfish: 1

Deer: 20

Donkeys: 2

Grouse: 1

Horses: 15

Hummingbird: 1

Inchworm: 1

Really Big Dog: 1

Mice: 2

Moose: 2

Nest of bugs: 2

Newts: 2

Owl: 1

Rabbit: 1

Red Squirrel: 1

Skunk: 1

Snail: 1

Snake: 3

Squirrels: 12

Toads: 3

Trout: 2

Turkeys: 4

Turtles: 107

Vultures: 6

Woodpecker: 1

Sprout Day 188 (Saturday, October 1, 2016)

Late last night, around midnight, someone showed up at the shelter. It's insane to think that someone was hiking on those ledges in that weather. It just goes to show you that you never know when someone will show up. It took me awhile to fall back to sleep but when I did I slept great until we got up and I was sleeping really good until they arrived.

We woke up at 4:30 and started packing and getting water boiling for breakfast. It was cold, wet, foggy, and misty out but we had to get down the trail and the weather was supposed to clear up as the day went on.

We ended up going 17.1 miles and we're staying at Wind Rock. It felt good getting a big day in and getting done before the sun set. We had plenty of time to set up camp and go up to the view to make dinner. We had to pack the water we needed for tonight and in the morning from the campsite 1.2 miles back.

Right before I left a hiker came down the hill and I realized it was Flatlander. He's a hiker we met at the Hiker Hostel in New Hampshire. He said he was with The Kiwis, another couple we met up at the hostel too. We were hoping we'd meet up with them soon. I told them where we were camping and they brought water up to camp with us. Bubbles was excited because she's been hoping we would meet back up with them too. I think we're all going to hike together tomorrow and stay in Pearlsburg, VA together.

We're planning 19 miles tomorrow so Bubbles, Whiskers and I are getting up around 4:00 a.m. to start hiking. The weather was perfect today nice and cool. It's cold tonight but I like to sleep when it's cooler. Hopefully tomorrow the weather will be as perfect as it was today.

Day: 188
Miles hiked: 17.1
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1532.6
Baby Bear: 1
Bald Eagle: 1
Bluegill: 2

Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Grouse: 1
Horses: 15
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Moose: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Red Squirrel: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 3
Squirrels: 12
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1