The day was perfect. The only negative has been my ankles. Every step brings pain. By the time I walked into Atkins, I was hobbling once again. There was no way I could continue on to my camp site. So, one more time, I am checked into a motel resting my feet.
June 20, 2013
Nine o'clock found me boarding the Marion shuttle bus. I paid my 50 cents, and in less than 15 minutes I was strapping on my pack and headed north. My first goal was a shelter about 7.5 miles ahead. The trail did some climbing in the early miles, then descended down to follow a stream for miles through the woods. Without any real sense of purpose, I crossed back and forth over the swollen flow. Most major streams on the AT have some form of "bridge" in place to help in crossing. These range from secure eagle scout project bridges to a log put across the span. The trail today, however, chose to let you rock hop across each time. I have come to enjoy this. My walking sticks keep me balanced. As a worse case, I can always change into my Crocks and wade across. I've only had to do that once.
I arrived at the shelter in the early afternoon. It was located next to the stream, a lovely but damp and dreary setting today. I kicked off my shoes and socks (and ankle braces), settled back for lunch, and pulled out my trail map. It was too early to stop for the day, but there were only limited options ahead for camping. I aimed for a tent sight another seven miles ahead on the other side of Atkins, VA.
The next five miles were completely different then my morning travels. The trail climbed out of the water shed area and opened up into rolling hills and pasture land. I was headed for interstate 81 at Atkins, where the trail crosses under the highway and to the west for a time.
The day was perfect. The only negative has been my ankles. Every step brings pain. By the time I walked into Atkins, I was hobbling once again. There was no way I could continue on to my camp site. So, one more time, I am checked into a motel resting my feet.
I am trying to figure out what to do. It's only about ten days until I come off the trail for the convention. That will give my ankles a week of rest. I don't want to lose any of the days before that, but can't make much progress when I break down after just one day of hiking. Susan has encouraged me to seek wisdom and completely stay off my feet for tomorrow. I can't hide the fact that im frustrated. Somewhere there is a lesson in this for Phoenix.
Nine o'clock found me boarding the Marion shuttle bus. I paid my 50 cents, and in less than 15 minutes I was strapping on my pack and headed north. My first goal was a shelter about 7.5 miles ahead. The trail did some climbing in the early miles, then descended down to follow a stream for miles through the woods. Without any real sense of purpose, I crossed back and forth over the swollen flow. Most major streams on the AT have some form of "bridge" in place to help in crossing. These range from secure eagle scout project bridges to a log put across the span. The trail today, however, chose to let you rock hop across each time. I have come to enjoy this. My walking sticks keep me balanced. As a worse case, I can always change into my Crocks and wade across. I've only had to do that once.
I arrived at the shelter in the early afternoon. It was located next to the stream, a lovely but damp and dreary setting today. I kicked off my shoes and socks (and ankle braces), settled back for lunch, and pulled out my trail map. It was too early to stop for the day, but there were only limited options ahead for camping. I aimed for a tent sight another seven miles ahead on the other side of Atkins, VA.
The next five miles were completely different then my morning travels. The trail climbed out of the water shed area and opened up into rolling hills and pasture land. I was headed for interstate 81 at Atkins, where the trail crosses under the highway and to the west for a time.
The day was perfect. The only negative has been my ankles. Every step brings pain. By the time I walked into Atkins, I was hobbling once again. There was no way I could continue on to my camp site. So, one more time, I am checked into a motel resting my feet.
I am trying to figure out what to do. It's only about ten days until I come off the trail for the convention. That will give my ankles a week of rest. I don't want to lose any of the days before that, but can't make much progress when I break down after just one day of hiking. Susan has encouraged me to seek wisdom and completely stay off my feet for tomorrow. I can't hide the fact that im frustrated. Somewhere there is a lesson in this for Phoenix.
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