Just a quick note on what we did yesterday. We had a great visit with my mom (Barbara Rathbun) and Sharon Lee (a longtime friend of our family) in Baltimore. On Sunday Morning we got to visit Pastor Paul Stevens' church. We had a great time seeing a lot of friends we hadn't seen in years. We then made the drive to Roanoke, VA to spend some time with some other great friends, Sue and Jim. They once again rolled out the red carpet for us. I had a great time looking over the scrapbooks that Sue has been working on for her 2005 Appalachian Trail Thru Hike. As great as her online journal is, her scrapbooks are even better. Lynn and I will get a chance to see Sue and Jim a few more times before our two week vacation is over. FYI - They are the ones who have encouraged me to run my 50 kilometer ultramarathon on May 12th.
The next morning, Lynn and I had mixed feelings as we drove to the trailhead. We had to drive by Blacksburg, VA. It's only been two weeks since 33 people were killed in the horrible, senseless shooting. Our thoughts and prayers were with the families and friends of the victims.
We found the trailhead. This is a small hike. Just two and a half miles. Why did I leave such a small piece unfinished? The bridge was out when I was here last year. Here is a little history of this bridge. This is a picture I found on the Internet of what the bridge looked like a few years ago.
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The bridge was then knocked out by a flood when Hurrican Jeanne came through in the fall of 2004. Here's a picture Runtrails' took on Day 39 of her 2005 AT adventure.
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The place was a construction site when I had arrived on November 13, 2006.
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A temporary bridge was available.
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Unfortunately, I didn't take the opportunity to go across the bridge that day. I went north instead. When I arrived 2 days later to head south, the river had flooded. The temporary bridge was smashed on the river bank. There was no crossing the river that day.
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Lynn and I were both surpised to find the status of this project the same as it was six months ago. But since almost all trail work is done by volunteers, and I didn't volunteer to come down and help, I guess I can't complain. Madison won't be able to do much hiking during this two week trek. She banged her elbow, and it is swollen. The vet said she needs to have minimum activity for two weeks. I think she is upset.
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The temporary bridge was still on the side of the river.
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The one thing that did change was the level of the river. It was only knee deep now. I stepped into the ice cold water and wadded across.
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Once on the other side I decided to joke with Lynn and yelled, "I forgot something."
She yelled back, "I'll mail it to you."
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Go figure, this tiny stream has a bridge across it.
I would have preferred this bridge to have been out.
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I wasn't on the trail long when I came across some southern hospitality. Trail Magic! Ice cold drinks in the river left by a trail angel. I was just starting my hike, so I passed. I almost always save trail magic for thru hikers. They don't have the luxury of going back into town each evening like I do.
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Lynn came in to meet me from the other direction.
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Well, it's nice to have this small 2.5 mile section done. Everything I have completed in Virginia is once again connected, at least for now. It's time to head down to Kimberling Creek and work my way south.
