Finally a day to get out in the sun and not turn to ice.

 I had to wait until noon to get out and it still took two miles before i began to shed layers but i got in a good hike today. The really cool thing about the whole day is I was not a lagger (Caboose, End of the line, the slow poke or what ever you feel like being called at the moment). I was actually able to hump this really big hill that has for some reason caused me strife and stoppage (aka Lagging) for three years now. I bested it with a little smirk of victory. All in all we covered about six miles in less than three hours and it was about a half and half up and down day. For those of you just joining our wonderful family out there. I seem to be the hikeraholic on the board. If you could have seen me struggling to do this which I did at 300 lbs. I seem to take it more like a wound up tight goat. I have not posted a good bit since I finally got a guy to commit to taking some of my fly rods in his shop and selling them for me. (huge Sigh) Hopefully I should get another store to commit for them about twenty miles down the road and if things go ok I will be somewhat busy at times. Im glad to see all of you all are making it good and Ill do my best to get in here and see what I can stir up now and then. 
Oh do any of you facebook. I did not think I would like it at first and it took me some time to figure out how most of it worked but I really like the place a good bit now. Yall have a great day. 

My best to each one of you.


Push. 

Hey Push:

I have been lagging on the exercise part of this journey.  Annie has always been an inspiration to me but your descriptions of your hikes are inspiring me.  I think when it gets a little warmer, I am gonna head up 321 to Boone or wherever and see if i can hike some.   I have a bro in law and sis in law that love to hike and i am sure they would be happy to join me.  My DH has cerebral palsy and walks to a drop foot and has a badly curved spine so i don't want him to stress his body.    Thanks for being such an inspiration and good luck with your business!

Pam

Congrats on the hiking!  I wish I liked stuff like that more.

As far as facebook, yep, I do.  It's a complete time suck! Here's my page, I think...
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=1056196045&ref=name

I thought about you this past weekend. I went to the Virginia Mountains to visit with some friends in Tyro, Va. On the way to their house the AT crosses over rte 56. There were probably 6 cars in the lot hiking Saturday midday when I crossed over. When I came off the mountain Sunday morning it was snowing - big ole fluffy flakes but there were still 2 cars in the lot that have overnighted on the trail.

The friends of mine have 2 sons that have both been active in Boy Scouts over the years. They've both made Eagle scout and I'm so proud of them. But over the years they've been on enough hikes that they've covered the AT through the whole state of VA.

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Iris

 My earliest hiking dream happened when I turned 18 and was out of high school. I got my first book on the At and have been hooked ever since. I still have some irons in the fire with my parents being aged but there will come a time when I will pack up my stuff kiss the wife good bye for a while and begin the 2175 mile trek. My wife wants to collaborate my journals into a book which if I leave off all the history stuff that everyone puts in At books it might just work out. Since I am hokey anyway some entertainment value should arise from the adventure. When you feel the need park next to some of the other folks up there at the AT crossing and just venture in for a little walk. One of my favorite places to take pictures of people on the AT is at Wesser, NC because the AT crosses this really cool bridge at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Its a good twenty steps to the bridge from most cars and of course the tourists can actually say they were hiking on the AT even though it looks like mass confusion in the summer months with rafters milling around like ants on an anthill.