Week 1 - 2021
Week One of HOBOS going SOBO in their OBOZ ... and we never looked back. Our In-Tents Journey on the Appalachian Trail
Groseclose, VA to Damascus, VA, 75 miles, 8 days.
Not too bad for our first week, averaging a little over 9 miles a day. We keep hearing that as we build up endurance, we will be averaging more per day—we will see about that. With the terrain, elevation and winds, some days were really hard to endure — but the views were worth the struggle. I think the most exciting adventure this week was seeing the wild ponies in Grayson Highlands. They were so magnificent! They loved us hikers as we became a salt lick for them.
Things we have learned so far on the trail:
We are rule breakers: going uphill allows you the right of way when hikers are coming down hill. We always pull over when trekking uphill to allow others to go by, not so much out of kindness as it is to catch our breath!
If you don’t stake your tent down, even if it is full of your backpacking gear, it still can fly up and flip over.
Pack lighter, weight is everything. BUT don’t ship things home on a warm day. I am now missing and wishing I had my warm blanket and long johns!
Even with the added weight of the backpack and the use of trekking poles to dig into the dirt, you still can be lifted off the ground and thrown by extremely high winds.
Sleeping with 8 guys in a shelter (or as my sister would say, a homeless shelter), and a dog, leads to a whole lot of fun and laughs and a chorus of noises at night, if you know what I mean!
But the best part of that happened in the morning when we were saying our morning prayers, 5 of the guys asked if they could join us in prayer and if we would pray for them.
It really is about the people you meet, and this week we met some really great, fun people of all ages.
Did you know Rhododendrons grow in the wild in Virginia? They are everywhere! Unfortunately we walked by them before they were in full blossom, I can only imagine how beautiful that would have been if we had seen them in color.
Don’t even think about stopping and resting at an abandoned restaurant in a rural neighborhood that has inviting tables to sit at. Cops will be notified and show up to question you. Good neighborhood watch though!
I did have a Jesus encounter on the road to Damascus (if you’re familiar with Paul in the Bible you will know what I mean) that I will share at another time.
Showers and running water are not things to take for granted.
4 more miles to hit the Tennessee border!
*I lost one pound!
Backpacking the AT was always Brad’s dream, never mine. For many years I told him he’d have to find someone else to hike the trail with because I was never going to do it - I like showers, a soft bed, and a home cooked meal too much to do that. Well, never say never, as the saying goes. He must have been praying that God would change my heart, because here we are today - one week down on the AT and it’s his birthday. So excited to be able to give him his dream for his birthday! Happy Birthday, Frog !
