Shennies

Current location: Waynesboro, VA

Accumulated miles: 1800ish

After a cold, windy, rainy, but BEAUTIFUL 5 1/2 days I have made it out of Shenandoah National Park and into Waynesboro, VA. Whew!

The "Shennies" surprised me in a lot of ways. The park was PACKED with people every time I got near a wayside or Skyline Drive (multiple times a day) but the backcountry was pretty much deserted... its amazing how many people visit such a beautiful place and never leave the pavement. It was also BEAUTIFUL with the leaves changing colors. It surprised me to hit peak leaf season, having just been in peak season so far north in Maine. It also surprised me how easy the terrain was and how quickly the miles went by... or maybe my feet are moving faster than they used to... =)

Of course, the weather was tough... I was cold and wet and COLD a lot... one afternoon I spent 4 hours in a campground laundry room with some great people who are riding bikes to promote peace and awareness (ARTTE) while the rain poured and the wind blew outside... my life is so odd sometimes!

But it was a good, if tough, week... and what did I learn? HMMMM... I learned I am tougher than I thought... and that sometimes the best place to "sit and figure it out" is when my feet are following a trail through the woods.

I'm gettin there... slowly but surely... and its still a crazy good journey. =)