More pictures ...

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Sat 16 Oct - Vandeventer Shelter

Windy and cold, mid 30s last night.  Cold this morning but warmed to the 60s.  Less windy.

It was warm in our sleeping bags but cold taking down the tent and packing up.  Hiked 18 miles today in a little over 9 hours including breaks and lunch.  The trail was good.

At lunch this afternoon, there were five adult males.  All of us were were not working due to recent early retirement (or other forced separation).  I was the only one who was voluntary.  There were some sad stories.

A good thing about hiking in fall is apple trees along the trail.  We passed our third set of tree(s) today.  Best ones seem to be the green ones. 

Passed the monument to Nick Grindstaff (born in 1851) who went west to earn his fortune but was robbed of all his money.  He returned to the Iron Mountains were he lived as a hermit for more than 40 years.  The monument says "He lived alone, he suffered alone, and he died alone."

In the shelter tonight with five locals out for the night.  Nice kids.  Only problem was that they cooked real food while we ate our freeze dried.

Nice view of the lake from the shelter tonight.

Fri 15 Oct - near Low Gap US421

Mostly sunny, breezy and cold.  High in the 50s.

Old Ridge Runner and others came to Kincora last night on their way to the ALDHA (Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association) Conference called The Gathering.  Bob shuttled us to Damascus, VA on his way there this morning.

We went into Mount Rogers Outfitters with Bob - Bob knows the owner Dave.  Also there was Bag of Tricks who we first met at the Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, PA.   He also was going to the Gathering.  They exchanged stories re Earl Shaffer, Grandma Gatewood, and others.  It was 10:30 before we started hiking.

We were only going 10 miles today.  We are hiking south back to car.  When we got to the shelter, we decided to push on.  We did another five miles.  It was cold.  Going into the 30s tonight.

Not many pictures today.  Leaves not turning yet at this altitude.

Thur 14 Oct - Kincora Hostel

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Kincora Hostel

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Wed 13 Oct - Kincora Hostel, Hampton, TN

Rain overnight, glad we stayed at Abby's Place.  Sunny morning with some light rain in the afternoon (but not on us).  High in 60s.

Beautiful hike today.  Fall colors starting to peak.  Another twelve mile day and fairly easy.  And tomorrow is an easy slack pack.  But an email from Capt. Bly informs us that this section was one of his favorites so we will take our time and enjoy it. 

We are at Kincora Hostel with lots of other hikers.  We met Mud (a SOBO) in New Hampshire.  Apparently we were all four laying on a rock overlook.  Also here is The Kid who we met in Maine at Abol Bridge.  The Kid is doin a flip flop from Harpers Ferry, same as we are doing.  Ghost Pirate and Quick Step are also here but were are not sure if we met or just passed each other.  Both are SOBOs.

There were great stories over the picnic table again but tonight from the hikers.  Great bear stories (Abu), hiking the wrong way stories, Ranger stories, hitchiking stories, and a forest fire story.

Tue 12 Oct - Abby's Place, VanGo Hostel

Nice day, becoming cloudy in the afternoon. High 70.

Very pleasant hike today.  We are doing a two day 24+ mile section from Rt. 19E up to Dennis Cove Rd. where Kincora hostel is located.  We have left Carolina behind and are now crossing Tennessee toward Virginia.

It looks like rain so we took a chance on a hostel that just reopened.  It was operated by VanGo until his death.  His stepson Scotty is reopening it this year.  It is still a work in progress but is perfect for us tonight and will be a great place.

Relaxed hike today - only 13 miles - it felt good.  We both got depressed when we realized we would not finish before Nov. 01.  Wendy first decided we should stop at Damascus and go to Beth's beach house until Nov.  Then she planned 15 mile days with no zero days.  I think now we will continue this more relaxed pace and see how far we get.  Then we plan how to finish.

Saw three white tail deer today.

Mon 11 Oct - Kincora Hiking Hostel

Beautiful, warm day near 80.

We took a zero day and moved the car up the trail to Kincora Hiking Hostel.  It is a well known and liked hostel having helped more than 16,000 hikers over the years.  It is owned by Bob Peoples who is also recognized for his trail maintenance work.

When we arrived we were greeted by Baltimore Jack, also a legend on the trail.  He stays here part of the year and helps Bob run the hostel.  Later, Bob joined us too.

Also staying here tonight is Tick.  He is another flip flipper we first met in New Jersey / New York.  He also met Aunt Esther when she was waiting for us in Unionville.

You could stay here for free I suppose if necessary.  There is a $4.00/night suggested donation (same as when it opened).  "It is not about the money. "

Baltimore Jack made a wonderful dinner and both Bob and Baltimore Jack told some incredible stories about the trail, the hostel, and the personalities of both.

Tomorrow Bob and Baltimore Jack will shuttle us to Rt. 19E and we will take 2 days to hike back here.  We should see Tick again as he hikes south to Springer.

Tennessee

We are hiking through Tennessee and headed toward Virginia. We are in a hostel in the mountains that has satellite Internet. That is how I can send this note. However, I do not have a data connection on my phone so I can't send in my normal updates and pictures.

All is well for now. Probably by the end of the week we will be back on the grid.