Washington, DC (USA)

[work - Contract Win Party at Carmine's at Gallery Place (done at 2000) - then met up with Dan, Jim R., Stephanie and Kelly at Matchbox at Pentagon City (done at 2130) - home late]

Arlington, VA (USA)

[work - happy hour at the Ritz in Pentagon City with Kelly, Stephanie, Joe R., Trinka (finished at 1900) - went with Kelly to have more drinks at Sine on Pentagon Row (left at 2210) - bed very late]

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 5

We were up by 0530, packed and ready to go by 0600.  Our route home took us via I-95 through Providence.  We first drove to New London and took a brief tour of the Coast Guard Academy (Mollie's request).  We got gas and breakfast in Branford (near Bridgeport) and made good time on I-95 (GWB), I-287 and I-78 after that (NYC by 1000, PA border by 1115).  Unfortunately, we hit really bad traffic near Harrisburg (had to take a detour on PA-39).  On the plus side, we had some really good food for lunch (Katie packed it), so we didn't have to stop.  After passing into Maryland on US-15, we had more traffic trouble south of Frederick and then again on I-495 but still arrived in Alexandria 1530.  Since we learned that Nicky would not be back at her house (because she was driving the Twins back to JMU) until much later, we stopped there so Mollie could feed her pets and let the dog out.  After unpacking from our trip at my apartment, we ate dinner together and watched a movie ("The Secret Garden").  I did some laundry for Mollie (she ended up forgetting it when she left) and Mollie also did some chores (taking out trash and recycling, putting away food and laundry).  Nicky picked up Mollie at 1900 and I got ready for the new work week.  What a nice trip!

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 4

Mollie slept until 0930, when I woke her up.  We ate breakfast and drove down to Cape Cod.  We met up with everyone else at the Brewster Book Store so we could see my dad at his book signing (1115).  Afterwards, we (Mollie, Ella had I) then went to the Cape Cod National Seashore (Salt Pond Visitor Center, Nauset Light, Marconi Beach, White Cedar Swamp Trail).  We saw lots of seals pilot whales as we walked on the beach; we then picked up lunch (Wendy's, Mollie's treat) and visited my mother's grave (1500).  On the way back to my father's house, we drove along MA-6A until we arrived in Sandwich.  Just before the end of our drive, we enjoyed viewing the Christmas lights ("Giants") and then stopped to see my Dad and Beth.  Mollie and Ella took the dogs for a walk and we visited until 1700.  We then headed back towards Hanover.  Mollie said she wished she could have had more time on the Cape.  John and Mollie were texting and ended up convincing us to go to see Katie performing at the Rockland Holiday Stroll (1800).  That was fun - we watched Katie singing in a traditional (Victorian Era) caroling choir and enjoyed the holiday streets (all closed off for pedestrians only).  On the way back to Katie's, We stopped at Tedeschi's so we could pick up donuts (for the donut eating game) and cash in the lottery ticket present that our cousins gave us.  We ate dinner (Thanksgiving leftovers) at the house and, when all the Duffs had returned, we watched "Elf" together and ate desserts.  Everyone said their goodbyes (2145) and then Mollie and I went to sleep early (to prepare for our drive home).

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 3

Fun day visiting historical sites! Mollie slept late while I teleworked all morning.  Katie and John made us a late breakfast (bacon & cheese cupcakes, chocolate chip pancakes).  At 1230, we rode with Katie, John and the kids to Concord so we could visit the Minuteman National Park (Old North Bridge) and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (Thoreau, Emerson, Alcott).  It rained on us but we walked around a good bit anyway.  Ella and Mollie also worked on a Junior Ranger badge together.  Afterwards (1530), we drove to Burlington and ate a big/early dinner at Del Friscos (ate from about 1630 until 1745).  We got back to Hanover by 1800, where we all watched TV ("The Goldbergs") and ate dessert.  Mollie went with Johnnie and his friends to the movies ("Fantastic Beasts") while I rested.  By 2200, everyone was home again and I went to bed (Mollie stayed up late with her cousins).

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 2

Mollie was up very early and helped Katie cook breakfast (frittatas) for everyone.  By 1000, we started setting up the dining room for the Thanksgiving feast.  Mollie helped with more cooking and the guests (24!) started arriving at around 1315.  Katie's meal (turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, lots of desserts) was a rousing success and we finished off the fun with random questions around the table, a post meal walk and more visiting.  The Redskins-Cowboys game came on at 1630 and some of us watched it while others played board games.  Every guest left by 2000 and Katie made special turkey sandwiches as a light dinner. We watched TV for a few hours.  Mollie went with her cousins (and Katie) to check out Black Friday deals at midnight (they actually got home at 3:00 AM on Friday morning) while I went to bed at regular time.

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 1

I woke Mollie up at 0645.  She got ready and we packed the car for our trip to Massachusetts.  We went to the grocery store on the way to school and picked up some breakfast bars.  I dropped Mollie off at 0735 and went home to telework.  Originally, I was going to pick Mollie up again at 1100, but she texted me to say that her makeup test (Biology) would actully be done by 0945.  I stopped by the main school office and learned about late check-in and early check-out policies and procedures (including sub-school rules).  We were on our way to Massachusetts by 1015 (!!).  We did encounter significant traffic for about half of our drive.  We stopped for gas and lunch (Pizza Hut) in Manada Hill (PA) at 1230.  Our route after that was to drive on I-81 all the way to I-84.  We crossed the Hudson River at Newburgh and then used back roads through Connecticut to reach I-95 again (avoiding the typical Danbury traffic jam).  We stopped again for gas and dinner (Dunkin Donuts) in Providence (RI) at 2000.  After that, we made good time and arrived in Hanover (Katie's house) by 2115.  We visited with everyone and watched movies of our August rafting trip.  Headed to bed at around 2300.

Coatesville, MD (USA)

[first day I felt like traveling after my surgery... - got a haircut - visited Brother Jim in Beltsville - ate lunch with him - drove to Annapolis to visit Chris (he was at his other house) - repositioned to Rams Head Roadhouse in Coatesville - lunch and World Beer Club activites with Ash and Chris - drove him to drop off his car and then he got a haircut nearby - hung out at his "Cottage" until around 1745 - drove home and hit huge traffic jam on the beltway - rain and very windy - home around 1900]

Columbia, MD (USA)

[drove to Columbia, MD, to meet with Mark B. - we ate breakfast at Wegmans and then headed to Frequentis, where I observed some testing with his team - headed back home to telework for the rest of the day - gas fillup in Alexandria (1110) - later, I went walking with Bear and Mollie at Huntley Meadows]

Harrisonburg, VA (USA)

The end of Daylight Savings helped me a lot this morning - I was on the road, wide awake by 0615. Gas fillup and breakfast at McDonalds in Marion (0625).  I used VA-16 (Back of the Dragon) to reach VA-42 and headed east. It was 27 degrees in the valley north of Marion (yikes!). I located a trailhead on VA-623 (northeast of Ceres) after crossing two ridges on a winding gravel road. Along the way, I saw a raccoon, skunk and several deer. I headed SOBO on AT at 0745. The trail guide seemed to indicate a flat section but it was really another infuriating series of "up and over and downs" that I've seen often in my trekking. I was walking west on a long ridge above a wide valley to the north which was once coveted by the Vanderbilt family (they couldn't purchase the land, so they established Biltmore elsewhere). To the south, there was another valley - I enjoyed tremendous views all day. Highlights of the day included: no other hikers except for an Amish family, out for a Sunday stroll; constantly lowing cattle; spectacular views from Garden Mountain; and warming temperatures (20s became 60s). I turned around at Walker Gap and made it back to my car (after nearly 10 miles) by 12:15 PM. Just in time, too - lots of day hikers spoiled the solitude as I was leaving. Made my way back to Wytheville by crossing three ridges again on VA-621 and US-52 (brakes not happy...). No traffic on the way back! Great weekend - made some nice progress on my AT goals this year. Still have a few more weekends in 2016, too! Was able to reach Eileen for on the phone as I made my way north. Gas fillup in Wytheville (1325).  Made contact with Brenna and Erin and was able to meet them for dinner at Billy Jack's in Harrisonburg (done at 1715).  We also got gelato at Bella Gelato (1725). Drive home was pretty uneventful after hitting some traffic near New Market.  AT Today = 4.70 miles / Grand Total AT = 823.68 miles

Marion, VA (USA)

The morning was very cold (low 30s with frost on the windows) but it was clear again (can't beat the weather!). At breakfast at McDonalds in Marion (0740).  I started NOBO from the trailhead at the Mount Rogers NRA HQ (parking lot was actually closed) at 0815. From that moment until I returned to my car, I didn't see any hikers at all. I did encounter deer hunters, farmers and drivers on the road - but, even though it was a beautiful Fall weekend day, I guess no one else wanted to escape to the trail... Startled deer scattered as I followed the ridge line, a series of rollercoaster peaks (+/- 500 feet). The views of Mount Rogers and Whitetop, on one side, and the Back of the Dragon, on the other, were tremendous! I peeled layers off as I climbed (it was generally uphill until I passed FS-86) and the temperature reached 55 degrees by the time I finished. As I neared my planned turnaround point, it was clear I'd miscalculated the distance when I had been on Glade Mountain before: probably an error of a mile. Nevertheless, I found the vista point again and turned around. By that point, my feet were bothering me, so I decided to use the gravel forestry road to get back to my car. This also proved to be a mistake and I added another mile to the hike. I also ended up entering a private property area with suspicious locals (but no dogs, fortunately). Made it through OK, though. Walking on the roads, while better on my body, meant that I ended up going downhill into the valley below the AT and then climbing all the way back up again (actually not sure if that beat the rollercoaster option...)! In total, I walked 13.5 miles and finished the day at 1345. Thought about hiking another short section but decided to preserve my bones and muscles for a longer trek in the morning. Tried to go to Mass in town but it was cancelled (I guess there aren't a lot of Catholics in the area...).  Ate a nice dinner at New China House in Marion (done at 1805) and then went exploring (trail gear) in Walmart.  Watched some TV before bed. AT Today = 5.40 miles / G.T. AT = 818.98 miles

Marion, VA (USA)

The rain moved out last night, allowing me to strike out on the trail again. I was up very early and squeezed in some telework and breakfast (McDonalds, 0755) before heading out of town. About 20 minutes south of Marion, I lost cell signal (no problems here...). I used VA-600 to locate the AT trailhead at Elk Garden, starting NOBO at 0845. The mountains were wreathed in clouds, the temperatures were in the mid 40s and there was a brisk breeze when I left my car. I layered up and brought warm clothes, just in case. But the sky was beautiful! All day long, I walked in and out of the wild pony range (through various ingenious gates) and saw lots of evidence that they were around - but I never saw any. ?? I saw deer, countless birds and a large number of hikers. I talked to "Smoke Break" (SOBO thru) about my section hiking strategy, whether the Mount Rogers NRA was better than the White Mountains in NH and 20+ mile days. A few miles later (near Thomas Knob Shelter), I met an older, bearded hiker who (through a thick country accent) told me he was section hiking with backtracks like me. Just as we were finishing, a Prowler (EA-6B) flew by at eye level (offset from us by a few hundred yards - I could see the crew). Probably USMC out of Cherry Point on a low level (what do you think, Chris & Arnie?). They came back later but it wasn't nearly as SH... I continued east and made my way across the Grayson Highland State Park balds and boules (including a fat man squeeze). I hadn't planned on going all the way to Massie Gap but the weather was so great and I felt so good that I made it. But then I had to backtrack... I used red Milburn Ridge Trail (basically, it was all a boulder scramble). There were so many people on the AT by that point that I stayed away for as long as I could, bushwacking and following the pony trails until I reached the spur trail to Mount Rogers Summit. It was half a mile to the top - 5729 feet - but there was NO VIEW! More entertaining was the cadre of fluorescent vest clad older ladies who chased me up there to the dead end. I headed back down towards my car, encountering "brr, its cold" day hikers, a shotgun wielding rabbit hunter who was training his dog and several packs of loud hikers who I mainly avoided by following the Virginia Horse Trail instead of the AT. I finished my wild adventure day at 1545 PM after 17 miles, feeling great. Whew - bring on more tomorrow! Dinner (food I'd brought) in the hotel.  AT Today = 8.00 miles / G.T. Today = 813.58 miles

Marion, VA (USA)

It was a heck of a day, but it ended on the trail (and that's all that matters to me!). I was up at 0500, worked for a few hours in Warrenton.  As I was leaving the area, I stopped for gas in Haymarket (0945) and then drove to Roanoke to visit the VA Medical Center.  My business there didn't take too long (1215-1330). I then headed south, bound for Marion and another four days of AT! Got lunch at Taco Bell in Dublin (1430).  I checked into Travel Inn, Marion, VA with coupon (1530) and got changed.  Using a map I bought last time was in the area, I found a trailhead on Pugh Mountain (VA-601). At 1630, I hiked NOBO towards VA-16 (trying to meet up with another section I hiked with Mollie during the previous month). The leaves above were vibrant reds, oranges and yellows - my camera couldn't capture the startling colors. More than half of my hike was through a deep tunnel of rhododendron bushes. There were no signs of people and I only saw birds and squirrels. After an hour of walking, I realized I'd overshot my turnaround point (I passed the pile of rocks before seeing another pile I recognized from my photos). As a result, I hiked ("retreaded") almost an extra mile (about six total for the day). And then it got dark... I never had to use my headlamp, though - I was able to sense subtle clues of the beaten trail and was relieved to occasionally catch glimpses of the white blazes in my peripheral vision. It felt kind of like drifting down the river - following the path of least resistance. After finishing (1900), I carefully made my way back down the narrow gravel road to civilization, just as it started raining. Hoping to climb Mount Rogers in the morning! AT Today = 2.50 miles / Grand Total AT = 805.58 miles