Brumm Arrives

Post date: May 01, 2016 2:57:28 AM

Today I I left Laurel Creek shelter said goodbye to the gang and headed north. The hike was beautiful with open views of rolling meadows with cows grazing. At mile 676.6 I passed the Keffer Oak which is the largest oak tree on the Appalachian Trail measuring 18 feet in circumference and estimated to be over 300 years old. The trail then became more difficult as I proceeded and I had a welcome rest at Niday shelter. There I met a mother and daughter named Virginia creeper and Keewee. They had just started their hike several miles south and were hoping to make it to Katahdin and then come back and finish up the hike to Springer. Keewee had lived in New Zealand for a year and had moved back to United States and was now walking the trail with her mother. I also met Go who told me that for health reasons he had to get off the trail soon and had contacted his wife for a ride. I proceeded on to Virginia Road 621 where I was going to meet Mark Brumm and his parents. There I met a trail magic guy named Super Dave who gave me a piece of pizza and a can of beer. Needless to say it was delicious. I didn't have cell phone reception and it was early enough that I could get to the next road crossing which was Highway 620 nine miles away. I asked Super Dave to call Mark to change the plan and to hike to 620 instead. Along the way I saw a memorial to Audie Murphy, the famous World War II veteran, who had died in a plane crash at the site. With perfect timing Mark showed up only 10 minutes after I had arrived at 620 and we proceeded to Salem Virginia where I am now in a comfortable hotel Holiday Inn going to bed now enjoying the comfort of modern life.

Now at mile 694