Today, Lynn and I arrived at the trailhead a couple miles south of I-81. The AT runs right next to Virginia's Settlers Museum. I'm heading north today so I won't be able to check it out, but here is a picture of a schoolhouse built in 1894.
I get to hike the first 3 miles or so today without a pack. Lynn will meet me north of I-81.
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Crossing my first of many bridges today.
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Climbing over my first of many stiles today.
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It was a foggy morning with rain in the forecast, but the Virginia landscape was still beautiful.
I passed a woman heading south. She looked like a thru hiker, but sobos don't start until June. Maybe she is a section hiker. Turns out I would meet her on the trail 3 more times over the next week or so.
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I crossed another bridge and set of railroad tracks.
Followed by a short boardwalk on the other side of the tracks.
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Here's a defunct stile. There was no fence so I just walked around.
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This is probably the most well marked turn along the whole Appalachian Trail.
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Either this gas station was out of business, or they have the cheapest gas in town at less than a penny a gallon. |
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Under Interstate 81
The AT and I-81 intersect in three other places. Further north in Daleville, VA and twice in PA.
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Lynn and Madison come to meet me.
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We walked back to where Lynn had parked the car.
I grabbed my pack and headed off.
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Over a stile and back into the woods.
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I caught up to a thru hiker named Rock Man before coming to the Davis Path Shelter.
I had quite a variety of terrain today.
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Steep trail with log steps
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Smooth Trail
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Through a tunnel of rhododendrons
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I came down a stone staircase.
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Here's a stile with style.
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Next I walked through a narrow strip of woods. There were woods about 20 feet to each side of me, but I could see a field on both sides.
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Over another stile
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Through a field
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Are you getting tired going over all these stiles? I am. I was glad I didn't have Madison today. I would have had to carry her over all of these.
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Here's a look back at the trail we just hiked with the white line representing the AT.
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Another style of a stile.
I told you there were a lot of stiles, and I probably only took pictures of half of them.
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More smooth trail
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I had a nice walk along a river.
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Here's a different type of bridge I never saw before,
a cement bridge with tubes to let the water through.
The trail crosses the bridge on the road before going back into the woods.
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Back in Maine, I live about 45-50 minutes from the Appalachian Trail. I wish I lived closer. What do you know? I found an affordable home right on the AT.
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Everyone has seen a cow in a field.
Have you ever seen a cow in the woods?
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Next I reached O'Lystery Picnic area on Route 42 where Lynn was going to meet me. I had another 6.5 miles to go, but she was going to meet me here first. She seems to be running late so I sat down. It started to sprinkle, then rain, and then pour. I was sure glad I had this pavilion to sit under.
Lynn still didn't come, and I began to worry. This wasn't like her. She usually leaves plenty of time to come pick me up. She finally came almost an hour late. There was a major backup at the tunnel on I-77. I'm just glad she was all right. It was still pouring, so Lynn talked me into hiking the remaining 6.5 miles tomorrow. No sense being miserable if it can be avoided.
