1st day of 3rd Month - 558.6 miles

Happy Birthday Elmone (my young sister)!

We are happy and sad - Chipmunk has decided to go off the trail. She loves hiking - she does not like the snakes (stepped on snake yesterday and today) - that was enough! Chipmunk was our trail secretary and treasurer - we are sure going to miss her. She wants to get a job and think about going back to school - we wish her the best in what ever she decides to do. She has a wonder sense of humor on the trail - we are truly going to miss her! Hopefully, her dad can pick her up at Bland, VA.

Today we did 14 miles - relative easy - some in the real woods and a few miles on private property - cattle and meadows - nice change from the woods. Yes, we can even look up and see birds - no rocks and logs to step over. Crazy Lady saw a black snake in a tree - knotted up like a pretzel - wanting to get a snack (small bird or egg) - the mommy/daddy bird went crazy in the tree - live and let live.

VA does not have a lot of wild flowers on the ground, but the flame azaleas, rhododendrons and the sleep laurel are very pretty. The sleep laurel is pink flowers - very nice pink - mt laurel is white.

A very pretty sunny day today - 8 PM and we all in bed waiting for the storm - the sky looked very promising. The trail is very quite and empty - all the hikers are in Damacus. Met a man today that started at Harpers Ferry, VA - hiked south to Springer.