![]() ![]() Six months is a long time for a hike, though not as long as a college degree. “After all, if one’s chosen course is long, then the only thing to do is enjoy the ride! Hmmm, I guess the same could be said of our hike. “Well, hopefully you really enjoy it, then!” I exclaimed. ![]() When I expressed admiration of her elected line of study, Cynthia sighed, “Yes, I’ll be in school for a long time.” ![]() We reached the promontory after her, and exchanged cameras long enough to take pictures. She decided to celebrate with a solitary hike to McAfee’s Knob. A north-bound earthworm passes us on the trail!Ĭynthia had just finished her spring semester of college, where she is majoring in Anthropology and Biology. Sarah, trail angel, receives a hug from a grateful Jay. North-bound earth worm passes us on the trail! They are true trail angels, to many hikers, not just us! We hope to help with the Appalachian Trail Outreach Ministry, and we hope to further develop our friendship with Alan and Mary. We enjoyed learning about the ministry, and at church on Sunday, Alan’s sermon gave Jay and me food for thought for several days. Then, we were having so much fun together, they invited us to stay the night and go to church with them the next morning! This was definitely a highlight of the hike! Alan is minister to two churches, and he sponsors the Appalachian Trail Outreach Ministry. They took us to dinner, then to a resupply run at Walmart. Once again, thank you, Connie, for reminding me what is important!Īlan and Mary Ashworth, being friends of my father, kindly picked us up at VA Rt 615. I was taught to help others along the way.” When I thanked Connie for her help, she said, “Life, in general, is a hard journey. She also gave very practical help by providing a list of the top foods to help heal broken bones! □Īnyway, Connie kindly listened to me feel sorry for myself, and encouraged me to take hope in continuing my dreams of thru-hiking the AT. But it always seems to me that it is much nicer to brush teeth beside a new-found friend rather than next to a stranger. ![]() To some, a public bath house might seem a strange place to strike up a conversation. I met Connie in the bath house of Merchants Millpond State Park in North Carolina, while recuperating from my broken collarbone. We enjoyed eating with them at the Texas Roadhouse in Gatlinburg, then they gave us a ride all the way to Maryville, to visit Sarah’s family again! Thank you so much, guys! You are awesome! (And you have great taste in music!) Exceptional young men!Īngels come in unexpected places. Two hikers, Mike and Alex, took pity on us and waited at Newfound Gap in order to give us a ride down the mountain. Trail angel, “Mouse”, gave us a ride to the Fontana Village from the Fontana “Hilton” Shelter, then waited while we shopped for resupply, and gave us a ride back! What a guy! You are so awesome! Friends extraordinaire! She kindly gave us three incredibly delicious oranges and said she would read our blog! Thank you for the encouragement!įriends make awesome trail angels! Thank you so much, Wayne and Joanna! Thank you for transportation, showers, food, laundry… But most of all thank you for the comfort of friendship, care, and love. Virginia “Winkle” and her dog Tucker had just seen another thru hiker, Signage, off on the trail. We climbed the grade out of Hog Pen Gap fueled on fructose! JustLeonard is a trail angel extraordinaire! He gave us bananas and apples, took our garbage, and offered many other snacks. They kept us from dehydration on a hot day! Two wonderful unnamed trail angels gave us water at Woody Gap. The joie de vivre of Brittany and Jared at Long Falls brought an answering lift to my happiness today. Sometimes a trail angel doesn’t actually do anything for you. Then they drove us back to Knoxville to give Jay time to recuperate after he came down with a miserable sinus congestion on the way to Amicalola! Truly trail angels. Helen and Mark drove us to Amicalola Falls State Park to put us on the trail. My parents generously gave us space to pack and repack our gear, and store extra gear. My sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Mark, and parents, Jack and Ruth, pose by the car with our packs. A huge thank you to all the people who help us accomplish our dream! ![]()
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