What More Could I Want
Sun, Tent and Charleston Chews
I have completed my trek for the day and as always a sense of gratefulness takes over. At this very moment, I am just simply happy, content and relaxed for the first time in 60 days.
I have been on the trail exactly that, 60 days. It doesn’t seem possible that my body could do what it has done in that many days. I could take the time to relive all the bad storms, cold nights, freezing fingers, ext., but those days are in my past.
Thank you to my family and friends who prayed me thru those grueling days and nights.
But back to this very moment. I’m laying in my tent on a sunny warm day. For the first time, my tent fly is off and the sun is beating on me and it could be comparable to a warm bath. The birds are singing their sweet tunes to me and as I look up, I see leaves that have just popped out.
Yes, my legs hurt from my 16 mile hike today, but it’s like childbirth, the beauty makes the pain go away.
Officially Completed the AT Triple Crown
The Triple Crown day was a bit challenging on so many levels. First, the goal was to hike 25 miles which was set because it was Mothers Day. What else was I going to do? I couldn’t be with my mom, or my kids so I thought I’d hike and just think of them all day.
McAfhee Knob, Virginia
Dragons Tooth, McAFhee Knob and Tinker cliffs are iconic places to see, all of which are part of the AT. This day I was going to be able to trek to these places. My mom and my kids are obviously beautiful to me, so I thought I should fill my day with beautiful views. Mothers Day was different this year but one I won’t forget!
Thank You to all the AT Volunteers
As I was approaching McAFhee Knob I had the pleasure of meeting, Bill. I felt quite happy to be able to personally thank him.
Bill is a volunteer for the trails and he certainly does his job well. He was professional, friendly and was able to share that I was approaching the most photographed place in Virginia, McAfhee Knob.
I was intrigued by Bill. As a retired clergyman, and at age 72 he decided to add hiking to each day. He said, “His son asked him to go on a hike two years ago and he hasn’t stopped”.
As I have often said to many family and friends, “If we didn’t know how to count, we wouldn’t know how old we are”. I finally met “Bill” who is living proof of this.
Thank you Bill and many others. Keep hiking!
As I reflect on the 700 miles completed, I am still in awe of the things I’m learning. Yes, it’s been an emotional, mental, and physical rollercoaster but one thing has been constant and that is the presence of Jesus. I will patiently wait to see what the next 100 miles brings to me. 
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