Virginia Blues make for some embarrassing pictures

Explination of the picture of me 'weeping' my mother put on Facebook is in order. For the sake of not sounding too vulgar... 

The trail will have its way with you! 

Somewhere in the depts of its massive beauty lies a chocolate stained mouth, sticky finger, whiny, drive you crazy two year old. And this deceivingly cute toddler will poke, prod, and tease your emotional sanity until you break... At least this has been my experience. (There really isn't a toddler on the trail.... It's an analogy... The trail is like a toddler, you love it! You have to! It's part of you! But it tests your patience in ways you can only imagine) (I'm sure you understood but just incase it's not clear)

The trail will test your patience, especially Virginia. In his book Appalachian Trials, Zach Davis talks about the Virginia Blues. This is a really thing people! Everyone tells you that the VA terrain is 'flat', and after conquering Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee you look forward to the so called 'easy' walking. 

Virginia is not flat! 

Don't be fooled by the seemingly endless fantasy of a forever flat section of the trail... It doesn't exist. There are sections where the elevation doesn't change as dramatically as it did in Georgia... But don't expect it to be as easy as people make it sound. 

You are also in Virginia for a long, let me reiterate this, it's a LONG time! Sometimes I felt as if I wasn't making any progress! Also by this time many hikers have experienced either an injury, close hiker friends getting off the trail, being sick in the wilderness or a combination of the three.... I know we sure have. 

And man... I had the Virginia Blues!!! 

My parents coming to visit may have triggered the built up frustration..... and all the other emotions I was experiencing for that matter. See for yourself....

This is a picture of them dropping YoungBeard and me off at the trail before they left. 

Yes I am blubbering like a child, clinging to the comfort of my parents before they left to go home after their short and sweet visit. It was raining that day. I walked 18 miles and cried about 19 times. Them leaving triggered the build up of emotions I was experiencing due to the 'toddler' poking at them for the past three months. They were not all bad emotions, more like a cocktail of great and terrible blended in a way that will knock you on your butt. 

Before you have the thought 'its a woman thing' let me tell you, these stir crazy emotions happen to everyone... Including your typical bearded male hiker. I have seen guys throw rocks out of frustration, kick signs, and quit because of the emotional ringer the trail will put you through. 

Although these photos are the saddest and the most hilarious photos I have, they have taught me a great deal. 

I am stronger than I think and can accomplish more than I believe I am capable of. This has not put me off the trail, although during these few days, going home was all I thought about. I'm glad I've stuck through this, I truly feel stronger than ever. With sweet anticipation I again look forward to every step yet to come. 

I have to thank YoungBeard for taking these ridiculous photos of me. I asked him to because I wanted to be able to look back and remember everything, even the hard times. He was so patient with me and helped me through the Virginia Blues. He is my best friend and I am so fortunate to share this experience with him. 

Remember, 

Life's short, do epic shit.

Sunshine☀️

Virginia, Family, Snakes.... Oh my!

Taking off deeper into Virginia has been quite a roller coaster. Rainy days have drenched us, sunny days dried us... And all our belongings, and the weather has finally warmed up! Spring is officially here! 

Sunset at Chestnut Knob Shelter. This shelter was unique in that it was a concrete block shelter, fully enclosed with a door.... Cool! There arn't many doors out here in the wilderness. 

My favorite place we have stayed at so far was this slice of heaven, Woods Hole Hostel! Known for the historic 1800's chestnut-log cabin. Roy and Tillie Wood opened the hostel in 1986 and Neville and her husband Michael continue their legacy. They place an emphasis on sustainable living through beekeeping, farming, organic gardening, yoga, and massage therapy. 

Dinners were the best I've had since starting the trail! Neville makes multiple loaves of her own delicious bread everyday and serves it at dinner with whatever mouthwatering meal she comes up with. Salad, entirely from her garden, tomato soup and a stew over rice was dinner our first night here. 

Followed by a homemade cake to celebrate Rambo's 20th birthday! 

Our hiker friends Princess and Dino cuddling with Aumakua.

^ hostel cats!!! :) 

Neville and Me

Rambo, Halfmoon, Mamma Bear, Joules, and Canary loading up the truck to get back to the trail. 

In order to do laundry... We resorted to wearing the clothing we found in a hiker box... This is what Young Beard found. 

Stonebear and Me! 

Our hiker friend Heiko from Germany! 

We had the pleasure of staying at The Captain's one night. He lets hikers camp in his front lawn and set up this awesome zip line to cross the creek. 

This is the Keffer Oak, which is the largest oak tree on the AT in the south. It is over 18' around and over 300 years old. 

This is the Audie Murphy Monument. Murphy was the most decorated American soldier of WWII. This monument was just off the trail, definitely a humbling experience seeing this. 

Young Beard's mom and Joe came to hike with us. Even though it unexpectedly rained the whole time they were troopers. They got to experience sleeping in a shelter with us for a night and hiking a few miles in the pouring rain. We are so thankful for the visit and deeply enjoyed spending time with family! 

Youngbeards mom got to sumit McAfees knob.

We also got to go into Daleville, VA and eat at the 3 Lil' Pigs restraunt, where hikers get free banana pudding!!!

This is The Homeplace, a restaurant in Catawba, VA. The food just kept coming.... So much food! A hikers dream! 

Climbing to the top of Dragons Tooth. 

And climbing down Dragons Tooth

On top of McAfees Knob! 

With Nala... Simulating Pride Rock!

Tinker Cliffs

Went into the town of Buchanan, VA to await the arrival of Sunshine's parents. 

Hung out by the James river all day relaxing. 

And got to borrow a truck to go to dinner in! I remembered how to drive a standard thanks goodness! 

We also met Debra and Mike who were awesome and let us hangout at their home for a few hours until the parents got there! Thanks guys!!!! 

A few days of bliss was spent with these two... Hot tub included! We got to drive along Skyline Drive and see the magnificent views! 

Dinner at the Green Leaf Grill!

They also went on a 4 mile hike to Humpback Mountain! 

^ Becky was excited to hike with Nala! 

Playing arcade games before going into the movie theater :) 

It was sad to see them go..... More on that in the next blog.

But we saw some fascinating wildlife... No bears....... YET! 

^ Mr. Turtle

^ copperhead ? 

^ bunny

^ rattlesnake (almost stepped on it)

^ some pups (technically not 'wildlife' but I just loved them)

We got a hitch into Big Island, VA where we met Kenny and his wife, who so kindly paid for our lunch! Thanks a million!! 

YoungBeard dared to take a 'bath' in the stream.... Let just say he was very very cold! 

We avoided 16 hours or rain and thunder storms at Crabtree Falls Campground! 

And met the owners Dave and Sue! Thanks for everything! Especially the clean towels! :) 

This is the Devils Backbone brew pub! We got a hitch here by a guy named Alex who was playing live music there that same night! Thanks Alex for the ride and great music! 

Oh yeah... They let us in the restaurant before they opened for a delicious 5$ breakfast!

Thanks Cole! 

Remember,

Life's short, do epic shit. 

Love, 

Sunshine ☀️ & Young Beard