April 4th, 2019, Virginia
After a bus to Richmond, Virginia my son, Ryan, picked me up for a short overnight together. Incidentally, we ate at a fried chicken place that was truly fantastic. If you’re ever in Richmond…
Ryan and I worked on our plans to meet up in a few weeks to hike together. I’m excited to have a hiking partner!
The next morning I picked up a one-way car rental for the 2.5 hour drive to Waynesboro. The drive was uneventful and I had time for a couple errands in Waynesboro then pulled into the Enterprise parking lot at noon. It felt a little strange to be back, but not as much as I expected.
A short while later a cheerful Enterprise employee was giving me a ride back to the trailhead at Rockfish Gap. After unloading I stood for a moment, staring into remaining 863.7 miles of the AT.
Tomorrow will be my first real day back on the trail. And, coincidentally, it will be my 6 month anniversary of departing the trail at this location. I didn’t plan this timing and it doesn’t seem like six months have passed. While the trail has been on my mind, off and on, the whole time, it hadn’t dawned on me how much time had actually passed: healing a stress fracture, overwintering, traveling for business, and continuing life’s responsibilities. My internal clock had recorded weeks, not months.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) defines a thru hike as completing all sections of the trail, in any order, within 12 calendar months. I have until July 10th before my one year thru-hike timer runs out. Barring unforeseen circumstances, I have plenty of time to make it. But I need to be home in early June for family business, so it won’t exactly be a leisurely stroll home to Georgia. There are many miles ahead. And my “trail legs” are AWOL for the moment…but it feels great to be back.
