Another amazing nights rest sleeping in a big ole bed at my cousins house. I awoke to the smell of eggs and bacon crackling in a frying pan up stairs. I immediately got up and went to investigate. Yes, sure enough, my nose was on point. There stood my cousin cooking up yet another masterpiece on the stove. “Good morning” we both said simultaneously. I sat down and we chatted while she finished preparing everything for breakfast. Her husband Scott and son John Michael joined us. It tasted as amazing as it smelled.

We sat around chatting and catching up for a few hours. I was heading back to the trail today, but before doing so, Terri offered to take me by an outfitter (outdoor store) to see if I could find some new shoes, and some new gear that was lighter, that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. But before we could do that, she prepared another massive meal for me. This time it was spaghetti and salad! Again Scott and John Michael joined us for this fabulous feast!

I packed my few belongings in my backpack, said my good byes to Scott and John Michael, and hopped in the car with Terri and we were off. The first outfitter we went to didn’t have the shoes I was looking for. So we went to another one. The 2nd one had the shoes I was looking for AND they were a bit less expensive than the original ones I bought. Plus they had a nice backpack that was lighter and on sale. They had a lighter sleeping bag that was also on sale, and a lighter sleeping pad too. These items would lighten my pack load by about 8 lbs. That might now seem like a lot, but it’s pretty significant actually.

I took the items up to the register. When we arrive at the outfitters, I figured Terri was just going to drop me off. Nope! She came in to help me shop and find what I was looking for. She not only did that but she offered to pay for some of the items too. I refused at first but she insisted. ❤️

I’ve been so fortunate to have family, friends, acquaintances, and even complete strangers offer to help me out along this journey. Send money, send resupply boxes, etc. I haven’t excepted much from people. It’s my stubborn independence that gets in the way. But I do know that giving is receiving. I know when I give, it makes me feel good. So by not allowing someone to give to you, you kind of rob them of the gratification they’d receive had you accepted their gift. So if someone offers you a gift, accept it. It’s a win – win ☺️

The new shoes felt amazing and with 8 less pounds on my back, I was certainly going to be doing better once I got back on the trail. I thanked my cousin profusely for all that she had done for me over the past two days before bidding her farewell. I met up with some friends and made my way back to the hotel where Mulligan was hanging out. The plan was to meet up with quite a few others at Honey Buns house. He was having a party for all thru hikers at his house in Pearisburg this evening.

When I met up with Mulligan and the others I discovered they had a different plan. They had been partying a bit throughout the day, so they were more interested in just chilling at the hotel. It was raining a bit too so the weather wasn’t the greatest. The whole crew was there: Mulligan, Grizz, Riggs, Ollie, Bullseye, Sweatcicles, Kiwi who I just met, and TenMore, who I met for the first time that night.

I was a little disappointed we weren’t going to the party but at least we’d be up bright and early and hitting the trail the next day… or so I thought.

Mulligan and I learned about everyone else’s plan to get off the trail, rent a van, and go bouncing around to different sights along the AT— and some even off the trail— like Virginia Beach. So we bid them farewell also…

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