We didn’t leave the family until after 4:00 p.m. yesterday so we hiked into camp together after dark. We quickly set up our tents, made dinner, and bam - lights out! I was OUT and slept better than I did in the hotel too! Man I love sleeping outside. There is just something about it.
Today was our biggest day so far! 18.2 miles on the trail. Most of it was through farmland, which should have been a breeze! Flat land with barely any elevation change for 13 miles!!! Considering we have been on the trail for close to four weeks, we thought yayyyyy! However, I got new boots when my dad and sister came to visit us this weekend. I should have been skipping down the trail with flowers in my hair, singing songs. However, the lowa Renegades (boots) aren't working. My feet were in so much pain after the first two miles I had to put my crocs on. Hiking in crocs with a 40 pound pack (I'm working on lowering that sucker, I have to determine what I really need!) is dangerous. I had to hike slow and watch every step. It was tedious, but I didn't care because my feet felt much better without those stupid boots on. I swear, I want to dump a gallon of gasoline on the things and watch them burn. Obviously in a controlled environment! (Side note: The wildfires in the Shenandoah are so sad to hear. I have a serious love for SNP and I am sending love to everyone affected by the fires.) Back to the devil boots. Sprout carried them for 13 miles. He wouldn't let me carry them. He is always so selfless. He always puts others before himself, ALWAYS. Even though his pack is heavier than my pack and Smudgy Cheek's pack he insisted on carrying them. I swear I fall more in love with that man every day. It truly makes me believe that everything happens for a reason. We were destined to meet and fall in love. All day I thought about how lucky I am to have a husband like Sprout. I couldn't imagine a better hiking partner.
See my boats on the back of Sprouts bag?
Sprout resting his feet in a stream
We stopped at the Mid-Atlantic ATC to sit down. We hung out with a lovely thru hiker from 2015 who was finishing up a section she had to skip last year. Shout out to Slow-Mo! You are amazing and we really enjoyed chatting with you! And thanks again for the turkey wrap. It was delicious and my first trail magic. Go figure it would be from another hiker! Wish we would have been heading in the same direction. I could have hung out with her for days.
The boys drinking some energy for our long day!
There was a fun activity at the ATC. There was an artist trading cards station! The station had cardstock and colored pencils. As long as you drew a card and left it, you could take a card along with you. I picked out one that looked like a crazy dog. The artist's e-mail was on the card so I sent her an e-mail telling her that I am carrying her card on the trail. She text me back with a picture of her dog. No words, just the crazy picture below!
If you zoom in you can see the Moose I drew
The picture I got back...
I was so excited when the trail took us through a horse field. I was so close that I could touch the little guy (he was huge, not little). I wanted to hug him, but I refrained. I love animals. It made me think of Papaw (Sprout's grandpa) which naturally made me think of my Nanny (my absolute favorite, and Sprout's grandma) shout out to Nanny and Papaw. Thanks for being the most amazing grandparents in the world.
Look at how close this horse is to me!
Also, we saw cows today. And they were right in the way of the path! I was a little intimidated but Sprout handled it like a champ. He sounded like a farmer or something getting those cows out of our way. Moooooooo. I shouldn't have been afraid but I'm a city girl. I didn't know that they are scared of us and run when you raise your voice.
They are so close to us
The trail today was through and through amazing. The animals. The scenery. We walked past a nice stream for a while and there were fields of blue flowers which are beautiful. It made me think how blessed and happy I am.
We got to camp late and I was super happy to have made it. Lights out!!!
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