Sunday, 3 June Destination: Low Gap Shelter Today’s Miles: 11.5 Start Location: Neel Gap Trip Miles: 51.4 I had the hostel to myself last night but still did not sleep well, unfamiliar building noises and motorcycles on the road. I was up early and ready to get on the trail before 7:30. As I got…
2018 AT – Day Four – Blood Mountain
Saturday, 2 June Destination: Neel Gap Today’s Miles: 8.1 Start Location: Lance Creek Trip Miles: 39.9 Started at Lance Creek Campsite. I was up early and on the trail at 7:20. Several of the hikers that came in during the thunderstorm ⚡ yesterday afternoon had set up their tents right on the trail. The morning held…
2018 AT – Day Three – Lance Creek
Friday, 1 June Destination: Lance Creek Today’s Miles: 7.3 Start Location: Gooch Mountain Shelter Trip Miles: 31.8 It ended up crowded last night with people in the shelter and most tent sites full. It started to thunder about eleven last night. There was an incredible sound and light show. It thundered, lightninged and rained for hours….
2018 AT – Day Two – Long Falls
Thursday, 31 May Destination: Gooch Mountain Shelter Today’s Miles: 12.9 Start Location: Stover Creek Shelter Trip Miles: 24.5 Lucked out with no overnight rain but did have to deal with mice scurrying about in the night. They didn’t seem to get into anything. I left at 7:30, a little after the lady who also stayed in the…
2018 AT – Day One – Amicalola Falls Visitor Center to Stover Creek Shelter
Wednesday, 30 May Destination: Stover Creek Shelter Today’s Miles: 11.6 Approach Trail 8.8 AT 2.8 Start Location: Approach Trail Trip Miles: 11.6 Started at the Amicalola Falls Visitor Center around ten am. Dolora hiked up near where the stairs started. She let me hike up the 604 steps alone after a hug and kiss. Dolora is my…
Northbound AT Plans
Tropical Storm Alberto is forcing a reevaluation of my planned start date. My plan was to start on the Approach Trail at Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia on Tuesday, 29 May. The current forecast is for as much as 9-10 inches of rain on Monday and Tuesday. The last couple of updates have the…
Italy Tips
Our Rick Steve’s tour included only hotels and transportation. The hotels all included breakfast. There three optional group dinners and a happy hour. No activities were included. Rick Steve’s Do It Your Way Tour – This turned out to be an excellent choice for us. All hotels were centrally located, provided Wi-Fi and breakfast with…
Roma to Manassas
It was early to bed last night for Dolora and I since we had a five a.m. taxi to get us to the airport. It was no surprise that there was little traffic at that hour. Our taxi driver told us that it was the most dangerous time to drive. Without all the traffic, people…
Roma – Day Three
The tour officially ended after breakfast this morning. Dolora and I said our goodbyes to Amanda, the tour leader, and the other members of the group. After two weeks, we finally took a little later start than usual. It was off the the Victor Emmanuel Monument. Victor Emmanuel is the guy who united Italy in…
Roma – Day Two
After breakfast this morning, it was off to the Vatican Museum. Our museum passes include bus and metro service. We headed for the nearby metro stop. The trip was quick and efficient if a little crowded. We had scheduled our Vatican Museum entry for nine, when they opened. The prepaid entry pass again saved a…