Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day... - lunch at Applebee's (1245) - worked very late - gas in Centreville (1910) before driving home]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day...]

Buena Vista, VA (USA)

Woke early, grabbed breakfast (Hardees - 0735) and drove up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Started SOBO at Punchbowl Overlook (m/m 51.7) and headed up Bluff Mountain (0815). After yesterday, the change in elevation wasn't very strenuous. But the fatigue in my muscles and the higher temperatures made it slow going. I passed thru hikers all morning, chatting with a few. Views at the top were nice and I kept going across a series of small roller coasters until I reached an overlook of the James River on Big Rocky Row, my turnaround point. A larger pack of thru hikers caught me soon after I headed NOBO again and I had conversations with most of them as they passed me (or I passed them while they were picnicking). Butterflies where everywhere - and so were lots of pesky flies (I killed several) and ticks (on the outside of my clothes only). Flora & Fauna: the many Trillium and Rhododendron flowers were beautiful and I saw several large birds (from above). Throughout the day, there was a pleasant breeze that kept me from overheating too much. At the top of Bluff Mountain again, I spent an enjoyable time talking to Flicker (he was from Pittsburgh) and Shiver (she was from Hanover NH). They were carrying over 14 pounds of food and set up an amazing spread! Departed for my car just as weary dads and little kids arrived - it was getting downright crowded! I love the whole hiking culture but encountering so much of the leading edge of the NOBO bubble may be a warning for me to hike farther north in the future, though... On the way back, I encountered a Ridgerunner and we talked for a bit - he had lots of tips for enjoying the mountains. Finished my roughly 12.5 mile day around 1415 and headed home. There was very nasty traffic on I-81 - I had to use US-340 to get to I-64 and then US-29. Even then, the traffic was bad and it was a frustrating drive... Got gas in Bealeton (1625) and continued via I-66 and I-495, arriving in Alexandria at 1730. Ate dinner with Brenna at my apartment and then watched "Game of Thrones" episodes with Bob. Nice weekend - it will have to hold me for awhile, I think... AT Today = 6.10 miles / G.T. AT = 700.30 miles!

Buena Vista, VA (USA)

I went to bed last night without a plan or alarm clock. It has been raining every day this week, so the idea of driving three hours to get soaked wasn't appealing. But when I woke up, the weather had improved enough that I took the gamble... Left home at 0800 and used I-66, US-29 to head south. Got gas in Ruckersville (0955). Then used I-64, US-250 and VA-151, arriving at the AT Trailhead on VA-56 by 1115. It was sunny and pleasant - truly a beautiful day for hiking! I headed SOBO, straight up the north face of The Priest (~3000 foot climb in less than three miles). Right after I reached the summit, the trail went back downhill again... I didn't see any people until I passed the Crabtree Falls (crossing) trail. After that, I saw a steady stream of day hikers and few NOBO thru hikers. Didn't actually talk to many of the people, though, since climbing had sapped my intellect (that's a GOOD thing!)... But it all changed when I passed another section hiker who asked about a crossing road behind me. I gave him the intel (including my hike origin) and turned to go - it was then that the other hiker realized he'd been going in the wrong direction (and had traveled about two miles since he was in the right place). He was lucky to have talked to me - there was almost no one behind me. I later encountered an energetic hiker, "Mambo" (19, from Nashua NH, thru hiking during her "Gap Year"), who asked me lots of questions. She also mentioned how she'd encountered our mutual friend, "Jabba" (AKA "Hiking Viking" - see March 27), several weeks earlier - he must almost be done... She and I chatted for awhile before we both realized the daylight would be a factor. I hiked about another 1.5 miles, to the campground at Spy Rock before turning around. It started to rain (luckily, not hard) and I got it into my head that I'd reach the car quicker if I used the Crabtree Falls Trail. The rain did stop but the detour was not the best idea (apart from the views). Four miles later, in the parking lot of the park, I was fortunate that nice day hikers I'd caught on the way down offered me a ride. It turned out that it was FIVE miles along the road - I definitely wouldn't have made it to my car in the daylight. Serious miscalculation but Trail Magic saved the day for me... Hiked over 16 miles total, even with the ride (finished at 1915) and drove west until I got dinner (McDonalds - 1945). Afterwards, headed to Buena Vista (2035) for the night. More tomorrow! AT Today = 8.70 miles / Grand Total AT = 694.20 miles

Bethesda, MD (USA)

[I picked up Mollie at school at 0900 and drove her to Walter Reed for another appointment (1030) - afterwards, I dropped her off at school again (1140) - I then went to Fort Belvoir to fill a prescription for her - teleworked the rest of the day]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day... - left at 1500 and drove to Huntington - rode Metro to L'Enfant and walked to Penn Quarter Sports Tavern (met up with Joey, Stephanie and folks from their office) - stayed from 1630 to 2130 - took Metro home (2230)]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day... - got gas in Centreville (VA) at 2000]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day...]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day...]

Dulles, VA (USA)

[Mollie and I went to the early showing of "The Jungle Book" at the movie theater - just as it was ending, we heard from Joey that he was stranded at the Dulles Airport - we picked him up and then got gas in Vienna (1440) - we ended up eating lunch at the Smashburger (just off VA-7) with him - after navigating a huge amount of traffic (and taking the "scenic route"), we drove home and found Brenna there (studying) - since there was no other way to do it, I walked to retrieve the Chrysler minivan from Nicky's house - Brenna practiced her driving with me after I dropped Mollie off at Nicky's (1745) - Brenna and I ate dinner together and she stayed until 2045 (studying)]