Well thats all folks…
Bad news. For about two days now I’ve been pretty sure my ankle has been twisted and this morning I woke up and my ankle looked like I had half a grapefruit on each side. Ricky has struck bad luck as well and has several blisters on both feet that just won’t heal. After several days of rain our spirits are real low and we decided to just head back home. Maybe pick up the trail a little later for now thats it. Just kidding. Come on guys it is april fools. The only thing that was true was the rain. It has rained the last four nights and im so happy to say nights instead of days. We have stayed dry and put it some serious miles.
We are currently in Damascus, VIRGINIA. Thats right VIRGINIA. This is a pretty famous trail town and host of ‘Trail Days’ every year where thousands of people come to celebrate the trail and those who are hiking it and have hiked it. I think we are about 461 miles from Springer which puts us a little over 21%. Not too bad for a month and some pretty hard mountains. The last 50 miles or so have been pretty easy (comparitively). A lot of ridge walking. Where you just have to hike up one mountain and then stay atop the ridge and just do little (comparitively again) ups and downs. We did around 130 miles in 6 and half days. Having a blast and luckely staying dry. We are within a day or two of about 15 guys (and one girl) and hoping they will catch us here. Been hiking with Alex (aka Rat Sandwich) for a couple of days.
Ricky has a trail name now. Roundhouse it is. I guess that will get his family off our backs about the trail names and only pressure my family more. But like I’ve always said we are letting it come naturally. I mean come on, I could be Rat Sandwich and you can guess how he got his name. So be grateful. We stopped at a little hostel at Dennis Cove a few days ago and they get delivery service from a pizza joint. I ate an entire large BBQ Chicken pizza. The four other guys who got individual pizzas did not finish.
We will definately spend the night here tonight and maybe tomorrow. (Town is a little small and might get bored being around vehicles and so many people). Did almost 23 miles yesterday and only 10 today (done by noon though). Glad to finally be out of TN/NC but Virginia is over 500 miles so we will definately get tired of it.
I’ll check the Post Office but let us know if you sent anything here so we can be sure and get it. I think its 200 miles to our next mail drop so we should be there in 10-14 days. Anything is appreciated even if it is just news of what is new in your lives. Also leave a comment if I got you on the April Fools Joke.
You totally got me. I get the email updates and it only sends the first few sentences of a post… I read it and immediately began to freak out!
Good joke.
Brandon, You goose! I completely believed you, and my seventh graders have already pulled the April Fool’s thing 500 times today. You really had me going. You sound like y’all are doing great, and it’s reassuring to see that y’all are in such good spirits. We’re rooting for you! (we being me and my seventh graders because I told them all about it… mini-geography lesson).
I wonder why he got the name of roundhouse… not … Chuck Norris is just his favorite tv star… congrats on the mileage, i’ll start praying for the boy scouts now…
You had me for a second with the ankle and blisters until you said you were quitting. Then I knew! Roundhouse huh? Ricky you have some explain to do.
Enjoy your day off and give us a call. Mama Nell sent a letter to Damascus yesterday. Check the P.O. before you leave town and ask them to forward to Pearlisburg if it does not arrive. Call Bob’s cousin and enjoy a shower, feeding and dry sleep.
Love you, Dad
OK you know after all the times you have gotten me at the top of the stairs… that you totally got me. I started to tear up about 2 sentences into the blog and barely got to the April Fool’s part! I know I am easy to get…. just wonderd why Dad and Ben kept calling me to see if I have read your blog! So glad it was a joke and hope your trek continues to be fun! Thanks for keeping in touch. love Mom Mc
Sorry guys, Am acutely aware its April Fools as have had 2 jokes played on me today, AND I knew if your ankle was twisted or you were blistered you’d tape ‘em up and keep going! Ricky, sorry I stay home hours at a time and then am gone right when you call. I have job change again, only lasted 2 months at VA! And am painting and cleaning houses to get through this week until next job starts. You have some stuff that came here I need to get you on phone about. Will be home after 9pm tonight, and before 8am tomorrow (Wednesday). My gosh the quantities of food you guys can put away after several trail days is amazing. You are right about the 21% being a feat. The trail is going to get much leveler later. Hey you are maybe a day or two from the little wild ponies now. Did y’all hear some guy is going to set off with 125 lbs, only 15 base, rest food, and try to walk beginning to Damascus with no resupply whatsoever! What would that have been like, no burgers, no pizza, no cabin (NO FUN, unless he is just into the nature and the meditation–who knows he may get into a groove and solve major world problems). Love you. MomDean
And I have no idea what Roundhouse means, somebody explain (unless it is “dirty”. Then just lie to me). Mom
And, how, I shudder to think, DID Rat Sandwich get his name? Donna
OH BRANDON!! you made me scarried for some hard and long minutes ! , time for me , over here in France, to read ben’s email , to go on your site and then……I undesrtood it was april 1 ..and a Joke ! “.poisson d’avril” in french ! RrrrrrRRh! happily u are safe both..!:)
But I IMAGINE easily your SMILE when you were sending this post !!
bon courage ma puce, on t’aime,
french family
OK so I read this a day late(and knew the joke) but what a good one! Kyle “got me” messaging me he had missed the cutoff for next semester registration. =) I think you can imagine my reaction…WHAAAAT!!!!! Your photos are great, hi to Ricky. Enjoy!