In 1986, a few days after running the Boston Marathon, and following a year of touring the US and Canada in a campervan, I set off by train to realise a dream to walk the Appalachian Trail. I first heard about the Trail from the American wife of a work colleague in Melbourne a few years earlier and had since read widely about the trail. The Trail follows the crest of the Appalachian Mountains for more than 2,200 miles along the eastern side of the US. Starting in mid-spring, I followed the trail northwards from Springer Mountain in Georgia to its northern terminus at Mount Katahdin in Maine, finishing in the late summer. It remains one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, fostering an ambition for more such experiences and inspiring me to retire from work early enough follow through on that ambition. In 1986, only about 80 people each year completed the whole trail, but during that year National Geographic did a feature article on the Trail and its popularity increased dramatically.

Appalachian Trail - Day 038

Day:  038
Date:  Monday, 9 June 1986
Daily AT Miles:  19.6
Daily Other Miles:  1.4 (0.2 from motel, 1.0 to Post Office, 0.2 to Shelter)
Total AT Miles:  718.4
Total All Miles:  743.6
Weather:  Very warm, humid, mostly sunny.
Nutrition:
  Breakfast:  Two croissants, chocolate milk.
  Lunch:  Biscuits and peanut butter, health bar.
  Dinner:  Noodles and chicken, pop tarts.
Aches:  Feet still sore.
Animals Seen:  Two grouse, two black snakes, rabbit.
People Seen:  Eight AT Thru-Hikers (two by stages), one day hiker, many others.

Journal:
Got up at about 7:30am after not a particularly good night’s sleep – too much food and air-conditioning.  Stu left to get his mail in Cloverdale and, after an unsuccessful attempt to ring Barb, I left at about 8:40am.  It was a bit of a wrench to leave all that comfort behind.  I could easily have stayed another day and was glad I had only scheduled 20 miles for today.  I rejoined the Trail, which had recently been relocated, and in about 45 minutes, after a not particularly pleasant walk through waste grassland and beside the freeway, reached a road.  I left the AT and walked down the road about a mile (supposed to be a ½ mile) to Troutville and went to the Post Office where I collected my mail – but no shoes.  I found a phone and rang Barb at about 10:00am and had a nice chat.  The comforts of home are becoming more attractive.  I went into the grocery, bought some stuff for breakfast and ate that while I read my letters (Barb (2), Marj, Peter, Jean, Bill).  Time was passing but I decided to take my time.  I returned to the Post Office mailed some stuff to Barb, Marj, and myself at Linden and left at about 11:30am.  I was fortunate to hitch a ride back to the AT and began walking.  After crossing a bit of farmland, it followed a country road for a few miles which was quite pleasant in the warm sun.  It then entered the forest again and climbed steadily to Fullhardts Knob on a reasonable Trail.  I stopped by the Trail for lunch and read the Kew Camberwell Athletic Club newsletter and Barb’s again.  After lunch I continued on the pleasant Trail and met Mike of The Greenhorns running back along the Trail to retrieve a neck charm he’d left at a stream.Shortly after I reached Wilson Creek Shelter where I met AT Thru-Hikers, Darryl and Melinda, and Frank of The Greenhorns.  I stopped for a break and a chat.During the break a day hiker came down the AT from the north, said hello, and retraced his steps.  I left 10 minutes later and soon caught him up the hill but he had no intention of letting me through so I slowed my pace and chatted to him.  He stopped for a drink and I passed and the AT soon reached the Blue Ridge Parkway which it paralleled for the remainder of my day to Bobblets Gap Lean-To.  There would good views at various points down both sides of the Blue Ridge.  I reached the Shelter at 7:10pm and found Stu and Gus (a southbound AT hiker, by stages) who was a real nice guy.  We had a good evening in the Shelter, which had been adopted by a local, Running Richard, who kept everything in excellent shape for AT hikers.  A bear had been seen in the vicinity the previous day and there were a few jokes about the food bags hung over my bedding, but it was an uneventful night.
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