tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614595677624377742024-03-05T00:33:47.327-08:00The Path of Most ResistanceWe are Tom & Terri Shaver from MI. Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail has been a dream of ours for many years. It is our hope that this blog will be a way for us to communicate to our friends, family and others our trials and successes as we plan for and attempt our thru-hike. It is our goal to begin our journey on March 1st, 2013 from Springer Mountain Georgia. Our dog Charlie will accompany us as we move North to Katahdin Maine; hopefully, ending in early September.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-50704131718265903522014-10-28T11:30:00.001-07:002014-10-28T11:30:46.278-07:00"Dreamer" has Prostate Cancer and we are Thankful.....Yep, we're on a new adventure... fighting cancer. We are thanking God for the cancer and the circumstances we now
find ourselves in…<br />
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“In all things, give thanks to the Lord.” <br />
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Of all the kinds of cancer Tom could have, prostate cancer
is a pretty benign option. We could have been told he had a grapefruit sized
tumor in his brain and to go home and put his affairs in order. But, no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got a good diagnosis.</div>
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He has had this for a while, but it’s been quiet and quite
manageable. More recently, his PSA spiked and he had another biopsy, which
showed advancement of the cancer and a change in his Gleason score. For those
of you unfamiliar with prostate cancer, <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">a Gleason Score is determined from the analysis of
tissue samples taken from the prostate during the biopsy and a physical exam.
It was evident that the time to do something had arrived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Having researched many options for treatment, we decided to see the
physicians at RCOG, in Atlanta, Georgia. The doctors here in Michigan were all
about surgical intervention, with pretty high odds of encountering side effects,
which wasn’t an option for us. RCOG, (<a href="http://www.rcog.com/">www.rcog.com</a>)
who has successfully treated over 16,000 men over the past 20 years, was the
option we chose. As a man with a strong family history of prostate cancer, this
probably was inevitable. So, a word to the wise fellas…. Get checked. It’s a
sneaky cancer, that’s mostly silent, especially in younger men who don’t
typically warrant PSA checks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
a lot like ovarian cancer in women… silent, until it’s already there and
raging.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">So, tomorrow, Tom will start the first of 35 daily radiation treatments
to kill the cancer. Two weeks ago, he underwent surgery to implant 35+
radioactive ‘seeds’ in the prostate, which began initial treatment. Now the 7
weeks of daily radiation will complete his treatment. Hopefully, Christmas we
will be rejoicing that we’re on the other side of cancer. We won’t have
accurate ‘cure’ level for approximately 2 years, when the PSA remains at 0.2 or
less.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have an extremely strong
faith and this has only given us more opportunities to be on our knees before
The Lord. We thank Him every day that this is all we have to deal with, knowing
that He is in control and will work out all things for His Glory. We covet your
prayers for successful treatment, no complications or setbacks and a quick
return to normal life afterwards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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"DREAMER"</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">All this to say…. Women, get your men to get checked. Any man over 50
should have a baseline PSA. Men with a family history should have a PSA at 40. Men, don’t ignore urinary issues…. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Should you want to encourage him with notes, cards or even a care package of goodies, I'll soon post an address where you can send things to him. We are so thankful to all of our hiking followers for your love, encouragement and prayers. Bless you!</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-19340683745204476192013-11-28T08:52:00.001-08:002013-11-28T08:52:23.392-08:00TNT on the Farm: Thanksgiving <div style="text-align: center;">
It's Thanksgiving Day, a chilly 22 degrees, our first snowfall of the season and this is the beginning of life on the farm in the winter.... where it's usually very cloudy, grey and cold. The trees have lost every tender, green, red or golden brown leaf and things appear lifeless and still. Charlie now walks from one side of the pond to the other....</div>
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The grasses are brown and will now be covered under a blanket of white for months. The lawnmower will now be blowing the white stuff from the drives, instead of throwing grass to the side. </div>
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BUT, we are thankful. Thankful for so much.... </div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Thankful that we were able to take much of this year to walk amongst the other vagabonds along the Appalachian Trail, discovering more about ourselves and our life together.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Thankful that we have such an amazing family, that supported that dream and prayed for us and encouraged us along the tough road.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Thankful for all the incredibly strong, determined, interesting and unusual people we met along the way... some of who just this past week, FINISHED the trail... almost 8 months later and 45# lighter. (Karma, you're inspiring and amazing!)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Thankful for the life we have back here in Michigan, on the farm. We live a simple, pretty private life, without much glitz or glamor.... and we like it that way. We are comfortable with that. And since hiking, are even more comfortable just being alone. It's a good thing, as "Martha" would say.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Thankful for our health. Even though we're getting along in years, we're still pretty healthy and have lofty goals of getting back out to hike on the AT again in the spring. Hopefully, Socks' knees will hold out!</li>
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We are truly thankful for the life we live and the many great blessings that have been bestowed upon us, even though we are so unworthy. Only by the grace of our great God, we have been given these earthly riches and hold onto the faith that one day, we'll meet Him face to face and enter into Heaven to enjoy true riches of eternal life. Until then, we press on... doing our best, loving completely, giving wholly and rejoicing in all God has for us.</div>
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Life in the winter here will be comprised of mostly Dreamer working outside.... </div>
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BEFORE</div>
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AFTER</div>
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He has big dreams of getting both orchards completely pruned. (A HUGE job for the west orchard. Trees here haven't been pruned for 15 years and are HUGE! He'll need a big ladder for this one!)</div>
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WEST ORCHARD- apples, peaches and pears</div>
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He's creating a path around the property that he and our granddaughter, Lydia can enjoy this coming spring. He's clearing a 10' swath around the perimeter of the 17 acres, meandering through maple groves, along the back of the pond, over the creek in back and even creating berry picking patches along the way. He's made a picnic spot, where they will take a sack lunch and visit on their walks. It's a huge undertaking, but he's made great progress and enjoys every chilly minute he's out there chopping and clearing brush.</div>
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He's clearing some dead trees and creating lots of brush pile for the bunnies to enjoy all winter long!</div>
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As for me, Socks.... I've put my gardens put to bed for the winter. Finally dug the last of the red beets from the frozen ground and said good-bye to the soil for another year. The gardens are all covered with leaves, manure and compost, ready to be tilled into commission in the spring. </div>
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I will spend most of my time during the winter, cozied up by the wood stove, knitting socks or working on some sort of handiwork project or cooking in my lovely, comfortable kitchen, creating some delicious, but simple meal from our pantry/cellar of canned goods.</div>
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When we moved to this place, some 30 years ago... we dreamed of being self-sufficient and worked towards that goal initially. We had sheep, goats, chickens and ducks. We had an orchard and grape vines. We had solar heat and all the land we needed to grow whatever we wanted. BUT, kids came along and life got busy and complicated and those things fell by the wayside for convenience and necessity. BUT now, time is all we have. We can again, move in the direction of being self-sufficient. When the weather warms, little chicks will again bring life to the barn. The green shoots of plants will begin to emerge from the black soil and life will begin again. We'll enjoy the fruits of the labor of winter, as we watch the apple and fruit trees flourish with life and the pond begin to again show signs of turtles, fish and muskrat. </div>
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Until then.... all is quiet and we are thankful. So VERY thankful.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-80063543211847304762013-10-25T12:15:00.004-07:002013-10-25T12:16:17.682-07:00Our Other Life....Many of you know us from the Appalachian Trail. We, well mostly Dreamer hiked 1200 miles this year on the AT and we've established this blog to share our journey. We'd like to continue to share with you parts of our lives until we return to the trail in the spring of 2014. We plan to leave from Duncannon, PA sometime mid-April or early May and go for a month. Wherever we end up then is fine... we are now section hikers and that's OK with both of us. We'll finish someday...it's the journey folks, not the destination. Hopefully, before we're both unable, we'll summit Kahatdin.<br />
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As you have read, our lives were turned upside down after our hike this year. We came home fatigued, mentally and physically, broken spiritually and hungry for rest...in so many ways. We embarked upon a journey of simplification, elimination and rejuvenation. We had a giant yard/garage sale, getting rid of so much 'clutter' in our home and earning a substantial amount of money along the way. We simplified our lives with both of us pretty much retiring from our jobs. Tom (Dreamer) has a bit of work to officially be 'done', but I've stepped back from the non-profit I founded and have become an occasional photographer for The Oldham Project. (<a href="http://www.theoldhamproject.org/">www.theoldhamproject.org</a>).<br />
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We've been spending time with those we love most<br />
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... entertaining in our home, spending time with our kids and investing in the future of our granddaughter, Lydia... creating a legacy for her and all those to come.<br />
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We've been caring for our home, which has been neglected for so long... with both of us being consumed with working over the past years, it's needed some attention. We've tackled a garden when we came home and have seen produce that's needed to be eaten and placed in canning jars for future use. Dreamer just built us a new raised bed for our garden which is hopefully, the first of many, which will make my knees happy and our garden more productive over the years.<br />
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He's taken on the job of creating a 'path' of sorts around our 17 acres to take Lydia, our granddaughter on hikes. He's eliminating years of brush and overgrowth, like he took on the trail...with a vengeance.<br />
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We've put new siding and roof on, spruced up the outside and given a little attention to the decorating in the inside.<br />
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Life on the farm is easy and relaxing. Exactly what we needed... </div>
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I'm not sure how many reading this have actually attempted to hike the AT or have hiked it or are wanting to hike it, but know this..... IT WILL CHANGE YOU!</div>
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Like it or not... life will never be the same.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-18266706628182521202013-10-03T13:48:00.003-07:002013-10-03T14:30:22.389-07:00Team TNT is BACK! Livin' like there's no tomorrow!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Appalachian Trail should come with a warning label, much like a pack of cigarettes. It will change your life THAT much.</div>
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I know that this blog post has been a long overdue entry and I hope that all of our faithful followers are still there to read what's coming from our hearts. To say this has been a difficult transition, would be a monumental understatement. Coming home from the trail at the end July was a difficult decision, a difficult adjustment and has continued to evolve into a new lifestyle for us, personally and as a couple.<br />
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Our last days on trail were absolutely miserable, to say the least. We were caught in the worst heat wave to hit the trail in recent history. 98 degrees, with humidity and blazing sun, the rocks of Pennsylvania and the mosquitos had just hatched... plus, if you remember, I, Socks, had blisters which turned my already tender feet, literally into hamburger. Almost losing my little toe to some rotten infection, we reluctantly left the trail at Duncannon, PA. We'd packed the packs to return to the trail that day, hoping that the weather would break and cooler temperatures set in. We sat at the UPS office ready to ship our 'bump box' to the next destination and Dreamer said, "There isn't anything in me that wants to go back out there again." He was done. He likened to Forrest Gump running and running and running. Then one day, out of the blue, he said he was done running. Dreamer was the same. He'd hiked almost 1200 miles, most of it alone without the rest of Team TNT, endured horrible weather and terrain and was just DONE. He was really having trouble watching me struggle physically, limping with each step due to the blisters. We together decided to turn our car towards Michigan and head home. The decision made; we excitedly talked about home and all the things we'd missed for so many months, our life back here in Michigan and all the things we wanted to do.<br />
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In what seemed like endless hours hiking, spending time inside your own head, we both had 'spiritual' experiences so to speak... meeting our God and hearing His voice. We are some of those crazy, whacko Christians and spend much of our afternoons listening to spiritual music on our iPods, feeling the presence of God, and listening for what He was trying to teach us each day. Each and every day we hiked we prayed and asked for safety and that God would show Himself to us in the beauty and people around us. Should you chose to hike this, or any long-distance trail, you WILL meet your maker. I don't care what religion your profess or none at all. There is no way you will spend that much time along with your own thoughts and see what's around you and NOT come to believe in some 'higher' power. Unless you're mentally incapable of hearing that 'still, small' voice in your head, you will meet God. You will call out to 'someone' for physical strength when the terrain gets tough, your feet hurt and you think you can't take one more step. You will seek our 'someone' when you are so lonesome you think your heart will break. You will call out to 'someone' when you find yourself scared and alone in a dark, wet shelter in the middle of the night. You will be changed spiritually.<br />
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I couldn't be more proud of Dreamer and all he accomplished. Almost 1200 grueling miles, enduring most of it alone, spending endless hours hiking forward, waiting for the day when I could return and join him. He persevered through loneliness, horrible weather, boring hiking food, extreme weight loss, and most times, no phone signal.... with our communication being very limited, sometimes going for days without speaking to each other. For any of those who know us or have followed this journey, we've been married for 33 years and haven't spent much time apart. We're hopelessly in love with each other and being separated was the absolute worst part of this entire journey. Should you decide to hike: YOU WILL BE LONELY. Even if you're hiking with a group of people who become your friends, you will miss home and family and sometimes it will be very painful and will cause you to think about leaving the trail. Make sure your relationships are solid at home before you leave on a journey like this and make time to stay in contact with those you love. Your journey will be much more pleasant.<br />
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I found both extremes of my physical limits on the trail... I was amazed at what I was able to do physically... at 58 and not in terrific shape to start with, I could hike. Not as fast as the young people, but we could do some respectable mileage and stay on schedule.... UNTIL the injury. In one instant, in one day, my hike went from a 'thru-hike' to surgery. Although I fought hard and tried to deny there was a problem, I had to make my way back to Michigan for surgery on my left knee to repair two torn meniscus. I'd managed to tear both the medial and lateral meniscus, injuring one so badly, they removed much of it. I highly recommend that you take care physically and when you encounter an injury, deal with it. I pushed myself to hike another 60 miles on a debilitated knee, ruining it forever. I will ultimately be looking at a second knee replacement sometime in the future. But all this to say, the trail will test your body. It will batter your feet, it will hurt your legs, back and shoulders. You will be brought to your knees physically, especially those folks who are older and not in such great shape. You will have to plan ahead, pace yourself and care for your body. Treat it right, and it will carry you far.<br />
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So, where is Team TNT now? What is life like for us? What has changed?<br />
We are <b>still</b> <i>"LIVIN' THE DREAM"</i>. We came home profoundly different people and a renewed couple. As I stated in the Warning Label, you will be changed. Our priorities in life changed dramatically and we are working together to achieve these new goals for the final third of our lives. Tom celebrated his 60th birthday on September 14th, the day we'd anticipated and planned to summit Mt. Kahtadin... He didn't say anything, but I'm sure, certainly a day of reflection.<br />
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We surmised all of our goals to:<br />
1. SIMPLIFY (and all that entails)<br />
2. Spend time with those we love and care about<br />
3. Make the most of the time we have left.<br />
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#1- Learning on the hike, just how little we actually needed to survive, we came home to SIMPLIFY our lives, both in terms of physical 'things' and commitments. We've been selling 'things', cleaning our clutter, both in our home and lives. eBay has become my new best friend, as we get rid of the things that just weigh us down. Much like we spent hours getting our pack weight down to a minimum, with the least amount of things, we're doing the same in our lives and our home. We have accumulated so much STUFF in our 33 years and it's become 'weighty'.... takes up space and doesn't give us joy. So, it's the Salvation Army, eBay and Craig's List for many things. We've gone through and cleaned out the house, the barn and garage. There is such freedom in having less things. It's less to take care of, less to manage and less to worry about.<br />
We've also pared down our commitments to our family and our God. Tom decided to retire upon coming home. It's something he did once over 10 years ago, but then started another company and became busier than he ever was before. NOW is the time to truly retire and say goodbye to 'work'. Once before we were forced to cut our income in half and we survived, we'll do it again and we'll be fine. We certainly won't live the lifestyle we have in the past, but our priorities have changed and those things aren't important anymore. We can live a simple life, doing the things we enjoy, with the people we love....and that's LIVIN' the DREAM for us.<br />
I came home and planted a late garden. I wasn't planning on having one this year, as we were hiking...and it would have been the first time in 35 years that I hadn't had a vegetable garden. But, my beets, green beans, kale, collards and tomatoes are thriving in the cooler Michigan temps! I love my garden. (I've always said, when I die, cremate me and till me into my garden.)<br />
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#2- We've been available to spend time with our kids, our new granddaughter and friends who are very special to us. That's important to us. Invest time in those we love most. All the rest is just busyness. We've had Lydia for an overnight visit and although exhausted, we LOVED every minute of it. She is the light of our lives and we are thrilled that we've had the opportunity to have a grandchild. Grandchildren will change you too. Watching your children be parents will rock your world....and make you see your mortality a little bit closer. We want to watch our children grow as adults and guide them through life as we are able.... spending time with our kids is the most important time we'll ever make.<br />
We have a lot of friends, but a handful of very dear friends, who we've spent years with, lived through tragedy with and love with all our hearts. They are important to us and we want to continue to invest time in them and their families. This is a goal we will actively pursue and have already spent some wonderful times making memories with some of them.<br />
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#3- This is where it gets personal.... we're both about 60. IF, we're lucky, we're in the final third of our lives. God willing and continued good health, we might see 80? We both have faced our mortality and are both thankful to be here now. We are both profoundly aware of time and the fragility of life....Tom with prostate cancer and me with Lupus, we've been thanking God for each day for a long time. But, we as a couple, want to spend our remaining time, whatever that is, being together, enjoying doing the things we love and continuing to build our relationship. We have lived a life LARGER than most will ever know, doing things and traveling places that most will never see. We ARE blessed beyond measure.<br />
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We do plan to hike again next summer and are planning our return to the Appalachian Trail, hopefully in May 2014. We so enjoyed doing trail magic this year and want to coordinate our trip east with some trail magic and visiting special places to us, like <a href="http://www.woodsholehostel.com/">Wood's Hole Hostel</a>.<br />
We are profoundly grateful to all of you who have come alongside us, cheered us on, send notes of encouragement and watched our videos' so faithfully. NO, we didn't finish the trail, NO we didn't touch the sign.... but we didn't need to. We'd accomplished all we'd set out to do, personally, physically and as a couple. This was our journey, our story and we hope that it has in some way provoked you to think about challenging yourself in a similar way... maybe not with a physical hike, but challenged you personally to examine your life and your priorities, your dreams and aspirations and your belief in a God who can do all things.<br />
Please keep watching for continued updates on next year's leg of the Appalachian Trail adventure. We'll go into this one a little more educated, mentally stronger and knowing what the trail will hold!<br />
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As our 'theme song' says... we are living like there's no tomorrow and loving like we're on borrowed time. We are all on borrowed time! Make the most of yours!<br />
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Hang on for a wild ride next time!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-54840510083145669582013-07-18T12:53:00.001-07:002013-07-19T04:39:23.940-07:00Team TNT feeling the HEAT!As we SLOWLY make our way northward, we are feeling the heat...figuratively and literally. Plagued with these continual blisters has kept us moving slowly, making small miles. THEN, as if we haven't experienced enough 'weather' related issues this season... ( below freezing for all of March, record rainfall for April and May), and now record heat!!<div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8KO1emsr6AgU05OdU3ntmpjAN46nFrKEM4pvj887OMj38gkGVuV1hNqmmmDaGn0dUbADNOAZDzekcsRYWt3oLUaxuIm2M8H2nv3ewkSOjpTEC63Oq6ImFhmMpY9vdhhwRG-omqpPVNc/s640/blogger-image-1590840476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8KO1emsr6AgU05OdU3ntmpjAN46nFrKEM4pvj887OMj38gkGVuV1hNqmmmDaGn0dUbADNOAZDzekcsRYWt3oLUaxuIm2M8H2nv3ewkSOjpTEC63Oq6ImFhmMpY9vdhhwRG-omqpPVNc/s640/blogger-image-1590840476.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We have been driven OFF the trail due to the persistent blisters and the oppressive heat! Water in Pennsylvania has been skimpy at best, so to jeopardize ourselves and Charlie out there in this heat isn't wise. Our last day hiking, poor Charlie literally was dragging so far behind us, we carried his pack for him. The rocks in Pennsylvania, we knew would be an issue and we really tried to make lite of them with daily 'Rock Updates" from the trail.... But they seriously have almost driven me mentally over the edge. I'm sure it's a combination of the heat, blisters AND the rocks, but I've been close to running off into the woods screaming. What lunacy keeps us out here???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jmNlE0dHULpKAf1G32k5LcmCUv3YC679r1N_MRxG2XGW1xhQepQi-pj8Csaa5GW9JtZFxlVukmtoGXyCnu408upYchCuIA1SOSAcaWPeIE-Eq9MIDmeYIn4trI6XTqGBQrxR0olqdd4/s640/blogger-image--2144455173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jmNlE0dHULpKAf1G32k5LcmCUv3YC679r1N_MRxG2XGW1xhQepQi-pj8Csaa5GW9JtZFxlVukmtoGXyCnu408upYchCuIA1SOSAcaWPeIE-Eq9MIDmeYIn4trI6XTqGBQrxR0olqdd4/s640/blogger-image--2144455173.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SgufWcKU3SAp9T73H0mgOKp_IwJ0LHSqnVr3J4YVbdJ1wJ5M_RWVGMTtgWZMZ9RozJ4OKaInkqw6Xu0hBMwJXUFGN-ugsLAfXOyzrsOqef2JmvFIgv0NpyIhdTwv73aFC-3BXukhPxc/s640/blogger-image--2016966310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SgufWcKU3SAp9T73H0mgOKp_IwJ0LHSqnVr3J4YVbdJ1wJ5M_RWVGMTtgWZMZ9RozJ4OKaInkqw6Xu0hBMwJXUFGN-ugsLAfXOyzrsOqef2JmvFIgv0NpyIhdTwv73aFC-3BXukhPxc/s640/blogger-image--2016966310.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYS1ED-yYKTnLsyVPI-38N0ZTI-b-8QSzigT-IS7xuTXwOXmv4EvNL6FRH97wNuvfMkQon8g6YOG-Ikj7TSJKWdXIiapaACh7ySCXAblPJpTtK8oMi1oix7MykSMuR9B_DOV6EnwmRrmo/s640/blogger-image--696610447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYS1ED-yYKTnLsyVPI-38N0ZTI-b-8QSzigT-IS7xuTXwOXmv4EvNL6FRH97wNuvfMkQon8g6YOG-Ikj7TSJKWdXIiapaACh7ySCXAblPJpTtK8oMi1oix7MykSMuR9B_DOV6EnwmRrmo/s640/blogger-image--696610447.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are seriously asking ourselves that question.... Actually making a list of pro's and con's to keep going. Due to the deadly temps, we've been held up in a hotel room with air conditioning for the past four days. We're going stir crazy, but the heat isn't supposed to break for another couple days. So here we sit. We ARE making plans to head back out Saturday morning, doing some small miles on day one, then bumping it up again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've managed to secure some new hiking shoes here in Carlisle and hopefully, with all the soaking with Epsom salts, loss of a toenail and cooler temps will keep us moving forward. The blisters are now all dried and ready to go again. I just pray that the new 'kickers' will cause less pressure but enough defense against the sharp and HARD rocks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLpwb6OWXUnbDvP_pbSP8vebPxE9zRABKpvE3V1l6haotmhDQGa12bY8y1wTYHak8H0tYFgtU2qh_J1ToJGQrusgwSgLQoq4Mtijkw-_nM9_Q3bYbuMyWv5AoFpk9pGyIoOkCj95LtDE/s640/blogger-image--763180754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLpwb6OWXUnbDvP_pbSP8vebPxE9zRABKpvE3V1l6haotmhDQGa12bY8y1wTYHak8H0tYFgtU2qh_J1ToJGQrusgwSgLQoq4Mtijkw-_nM9_Q3bYbuMyWv5AoFpk9pGyIoOkCj95LtDE/s640/blogger-image--763180754.jpg"></a></span><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; ">Part of me REALLY wants to just stop all this craziness and go home to love on our precious grand baby Lydia...</div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0-ybI0URoi_rRlOuXWM72BRaWzGX-5P3vReFBCRDKQ8ZFOI_Cgt98Zq_1fVzu8cmYV3nQcLDIunpGdzeJelkMozdHMlYMYpF3xj5KxRUKwmO-Jj3_8AR5wPDd6LvMa6jR4-F74mIp-0/s640/blogger-image--1330832376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0-ybI0URoi_rRlOuXWM72BRaWzGX-5P3vReFBCRDKQ8ZFOI_Cgt98Zq_1fVzu8cmYV3nQcLDIunpGdzeJelkMozdHMlYMYpF3xj5KxRUKwmO-Jj3_8AR5wPDd6LvMa6jR4-F74mIp-0/s640/blogger-image--1330832376.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; ">Part of me wants to continue the adventure, spend this time helping Tom to realize this dream and part of me just questions if I'm strong enough mentally and physically. We've learned so much about ourselves and each other and have apparently inspired so many others to consider such a journey...I'd hate to quit early or with the wrong motives.</div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; ">We prayerfully ask for God's direction, safety and guidance daily... And selfishly ask for you to pray with us. This has been the most difficult undertaking of our lives and we can't do this alone. We have so much support for family and friends back at home and the community of support from those watching our YouTube (www.youtube.com/tntonthetrail) videos and Facebook page, (www.facebook.com/tntonthetrail). </div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; ">Somehow we'll find our sanity and make some progress in the next couple weeks or we'll bag this and head home. It's been quite an accomplishment already and we've done more than many will ever venture to do. We've learned how much we LOVE being together... Sweating, working hard, crying and especially laughing. </div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhco7XlCqNwanvChH6pGBiz5qKy-NpksY1T0QI7KL8VShoEY0ysa4vshxpilRTnFekZMvdsQ0uI0ewmlp9FdXpHsAgcAnCCfn_2FlKhr_ewUFCTqokeIXbjg82vvNkNlQ45uzFIqFHrtNM/s640/blogger-image-189592606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhco7XlCqNwanvChH6pGBiz5qKy-NpksY1T0QI7KL8VShoEY0ysa4vshxpilRTnFekZMvdsQ0uI0ewmlp9FdXpHsAgcAnCCfn_2FlKhr_ewUFCTqokeIXbjg82vvNkNlQ45uzFIqFHrtNM/s640/blogger-image-189592606.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; ">We hope you'll continue to follow this as it all works it's way out, hiking or home.</div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; ">New video upload at YouTube! #27 is loading as I type!! Please subscribe to our YouTube channel so that you'll get automatic updates as we create them!! www.youtube.com/tntonthetrail</div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><br></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-32972173763174282692013-07-10T17:41:00.001-07:002013-07-10T18:13:12.900-07:00Team TNT reaches the 1/2 way point!! Several times!!<div>
1100 miles is nothing to sniff at, whether by car or plane, or in our case, on FOOT. we've crossed the 1000 mile mark, the arrival at Harper's Ferry, WV....the psychological 'half-way' point and in most recent days, the ACTUAL half-way point near Pine Grove Furnace State Park!! It was a tearful celebration for Dreamer, Socks and Charlie. We arrived just as another hiker friend, Acorn arrived, so we were able to get some pictures of us all together. </div>
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Quite a milestone for this Team! Plagued with all manner of obstacle over the past 1100 miles, from the winter weather, injury, surgery, rehab and the constant mental challenges, rain, blisters and now blistering heat, Team TNT marches on northward, albeit a slower pace than most or we'd like, but continuing to put one foot in front of the other!</div>
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We continue to meet small goals set each day, but taking time to rest, enjoy the scenery and even stop to eat a few wild berries along the way. God blesses us each day as we ask for His direction, safety and wisdom.</div>
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Since the Team has reunited, we've passed through the end of West Virginia, Maryland and are now 1/4 the way into Pennsylvania!! Poor Pennsylvania is known for its 'friggin' rocks.... But early on, it hasn't been too bad, but we will be doing daily "Rock Reports", live from the trail to keep everyone updated on our progress through one of the most difficult states. We'll encounter everything from pea sized gravel on the trail, to house sized boulders we'll have to scale. Watch Facebook for updates!</div>
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We're adjusting to being together again and finding our routine,, but trail life continues to be good. We're thrilled with the simple things, ga-ga over things like a road side stand, ice cream and each other! Neither of us would rather be anywhere else. Don't get me wrong.... This is way more of a mental challenge than either of us ever considered. We thought the physical part would be the most difficult and it is, but mentally keeping it going is a daily battle. We ask for prayer support that regard; that we would mentally be strong and able to keep up a pace that would enable us to finish in time.</div>
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We are so thankful for this time together, taking this break from 'real' life and for our family and friends, old and new who are supporting us on this journey. We receive daily comments and encouragement notes on our Facebook and You-Tube sites and we are thankful. Over 30,000 people have visited our blog and over 1000 people a week are watching our videos. We are humbled.</div>
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New video coming as we speak.... Zero days are video days. Tom has been busy working on producing two new videos that will upload later today. I work on laundry, repacking and organizing the next food boxes and mail drops. </div>
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<div>Thank you again for your support and please keep following! Your encouragement and notes are the fuel that keeps us going. Several have asked about how to send things to us. We would love that, but please keep in mind: we can only carry so much. We have chosen to travel light and endure when we come to towns. But, notes of encouragement, homemade cookies, treats and the like would be most welcome anytime we zero. </div>
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So, our next location for pick up will be Duncannon, PA. Any packages/ envelopes can be sent to: </div>
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Tom and Terri Shaver</div>
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c/o General Delivery </div>
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US Post Office</div>
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Duncannon, PA 17020</div>
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**PLEASE HOLD FOR AT THRU HIKER (must appear on package)</div>
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We are expected there by <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://1" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">July 13th.</a></div>
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Next drop will be:</div>
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Tom and Terri Shaver</div>
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c/o Day's Inn</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=961459567762437774"></a><a href="x-apple-data-detectors://2" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2" x-apple-data-detectors-type="address" x-apple-data-detectors="true">3 Everest Lane</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=961459567762437774"></a><a href="x-apple-data-detectors://2" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2" x-apple-data-detectors-type="address" x-apple-data-detectors="true"></a><br>
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<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://2" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2" x-apple-data-detectors-type="address" x-apple-data-detectors="true"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=961459567762437774"></a><a href="x-apple-data-detectors://2" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2" x-apple-data-detectors-type="address" x-apple-data-detectors="true">Jonestown, PA 17038</a></div>
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Any packages must arrive by <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=961459567762437774"></a><a href="x-apple-data-detectors://3" x-apple-data-detectors-result="3" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">July 18th.</a></div>
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We are profoundly touched and grateful for your support and treats!!!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-39659181259760078772013-06-27T12:40:00.004-07:002013-06-27T12:41:40.708-07:00Team TNT re-joins the Appalachian Trail!<div style="text-align: center;">
1019 MILES!! I major milestone and the almost 'half-way' point of the entire Appalachian Trail. Even though Socks has been 'absent' physically from the trail.... we've done it together!</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2quFqRZKqQ8&feature=share&list=UUgOzPcZE-EQzBWn75CAm8wA"><span id="goog_766355135"></span><span id="goog_766355136"></span>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2quFqRZKqQ8&feature=share&list=UUgOzPcZE-EQzBWn75CAm8wA</a><br />
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As we run around the house packing up last minute things, cleaning out the fridge and making notes, we are both thrilled beyond belief at the thought of leaving in the morning! After spending a marvelous week, packing in time with family and friends, we will return to Harper's Ferry, WV tomorrow and again starting hiking as a full TEAM on Saturday!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNTzrWh74PwRKtVFNxI-zRRWxA5a29dEavOcmfkANB_9RdO50q-mBgP-JZDFhdwql8VU2PYh8cVPvBmMN3Gvf19gvP3xfiESxUT52XUOs9ZxEREox6Y1eJOiwvuhmwCYjr2Q_Z8R2IDI/s1600/DSCN0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNTzrWh74PwRKtVFNxI-zRRWxA5a29dEavOcmfkANB_9RdO50q-mBgP-JZDFhdwql8VU2PYh8cVPvBmMN3Gvf19gvP3xfiESxUT52XUOs9ZxEREox6Y1eJOiwvuhmwCYjr2Q_Z8R2IDI/s1600/DSCN0228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'll admit, I'm pretty nervous, as surgery was JUST 8 weeks ago. I'm stiff. It still hurts, but I don't think I can be any more ready mentally. It's the physical that will really challenge me! Thankfully, the terrain after coming out of Harper's is much tamer than previous stuff! As I sat here <span id="goog_1831318596"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yJ7rxaCCF8lyv10L4jEt7ijDO_XXqhzlq3za6yDawRmsnTTSxeVY9VwaiMFckC4sOxpp6M4BndbogBSfaoUGrV7YK89ty3YFGYxzILS9wvejBeGP9OYPg2IIOLJ-WYQ9MWsuUA3UcLU/s1600/DSC_1107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yJ7rxaCCF8lyv10L4jEt7ijDO_XXqhzlq3za6yDawRmsnTTSxeVY9VwaiMFckC4sOxpp6M4BndbogBSfaoUGrV7YK89ty3YFGYxzILS9wvejBeGP9OYPg2IIOLJ-WYQ9MWsuUA3UcLU/s1600/DSC_1107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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at this picnic table, near Cheoah Bald, not quite understanding the extent of my injury, I had no idea what lay in store for me over the next couple months. Living alone at home, surgery, recovery, physical therapy and a trip back to the trail to pick up Dreamer! All these tribulations have only prepared me for the reality of coming back to the trail.</div>
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We've learned so much about ourselves, our relationship and exactly what we can do if we put our mind to it.... lots of lessons learned up to this 'half-way' point. We'll be sharing our hearts as we move forward.... </div>
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I want to thank my sweet friend Margaret Ross (<a href="http://www.margaretrossjewelry.com/">www.margaretrossjewelry.com</a>) for her support, encouragement and for this adorable 'inspiration' bracelet she custom made for me, just for the trail. It has an angel on it and two other 'charms' that say, Perserverance and Determination.</div>
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I think that pretty much sums it up.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-50570962738071269602013-06-17T08:52:00.002-07:002013-06-17T08:59:07.109-07:00Team TNT again reunited!! This time for GOOD!! NEW VIDEOS!!With some great sadness, I wrapped up my recovery time at Wood's Hole Hostel yesterday (www.woodsholehostel,com) and joined Dreamer and Charlie up the trail at Front Royal, WV as they exited Shenandoah National Park!! I had a fabulous time at Wood's Hole and can't highly recommended it enough. The sweet spirit of Miss Neville and Michael will cause your spirit to pause and say... "Aaahhhhh." The lively animals and the bustling atmosphere of hikers passing through will make your stay entertaining as well. And the food goes without saying, it's the best organic "home-cookin" on the entire AT!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipblqVdLpMGmihtDk6ZzfX5acWfLYPnoCVOZsbf_5ROCWsdvDEM5k_FkAF8xvipm0gv-OH98vpkt4tKMGe-lbaXnTbWiPzDkCwFEHqVCx6zJRyA5PNlsNuMoiURH3eoog6RknkyjAqD4Y/s1600/woodshole2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipblqVdLpMGmihtDk6ZzfX5acWfLYPnoCVOZsbf_5ROCWsdvDEM5k_FkAF8xvipm0gv-OH98vpkt4tKMGe-lbaXnTbWiPzDkCwFEHqVCx6zJRyA5PNlsNuMoiURH3eoog6RknkyjAqD4Y/s320/woodshole2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wood's Hole Hostel, Pearisburg, VA</div>
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A small part of the animal menagerie at Wood's Hole!</div>
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Neville and I had such a fun time together. We are very much 'kindred' spirits....</div>
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But, I'm lonesome for the man of my Dreams and I'm willing to fight through some 'on the job' training on the trail, so we're packing up when we hit Harper's Ferry and heading back to Michigan to grab my gear, spend some quick time with friends and family and head back to the trail for the second half!!<br />
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After an almost three hour drive, I was again greeted by the 'male' part of Team TNT as they walked out of Shenandoah National Park, where they have been hiking through, while I was recouperating at Wood's Hole. Charlie was so glad to see me as well as Dreamer.<br />
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He's promised we WILL NOT be separated again.... we just don't do well apart, so, no matter what, we'll stick to this promise. If for any reason, I can't continue due to the knee or whatever, we will stop hiking together. BUT, for those of you who know me very well, know that I am one pretty determined lady. I don't take no for an answer and live by the motto my Dad taught me.... "I can do anything I put my mind to." I have endured incredible physical pain on this trip already and I have lived through the death of a child, so I figure I've much been dealt the worst blows possible in life, physically and emotionally. I will resume hiking at Harper's Ferry with Dreamer and Charlie and will give it my all. Of course, we'll have to start a bit slower than the 20+ miles a day that Chuck and Tom are currently doing, but it shouldn't take long to have my hiking legs back beneath me. I want nothing more than to be part of this trail community again! I want nothing more than to be with the love of my life, all day, every day.<br />
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I hope you'll continue to watch this journey unfold as we make our way into the second half of the trip! It's difficult to comprehend that it's almost half way over already! In just a couple days, we'll have our pictures taken at the half way point, at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harper's Ferry, MD. THEN, will be quickly driving back to Michigan to re-unite with family and friends for a week. For those of you who are local to Michigan, we'll be hosting an open house event on Sunday, June 23rd to touch base with friends before launching into the second 1200 miles of the trip, when we doubt that we'll be making any further trips home. So, if you're in the vicinity, stop out or see our Facebook page for details. (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/tntonthetrail">www.facebook.com/tntonthetrail</a>)<br />
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Team TNT is together again and will remain together till the bitter end! We have several new videos up so you can stay up to date with our journey. Please take some time to watch and be sure to share with friends who you think might be interested in this journey!<br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/-n_Oz_rJhbs">http://youtu.be/-n_Oz_rJhbs</a><br />
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We took several days over Memorial Weekend to 'work' some trail magic for many fellow hikers!<br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/VBkdbxq38LA">http://youtu.be/VBkdbxq38LA</a><br />
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And another stretch coming into Waynesboro, VA.... just before going into Shenandoah National Park.<br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/i6t2pmblkss">http://youtu.be/i6t2pmblkss</a><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-4494589287738072022013-06-04T09:15:00.001-07:002013-06-04T09:15:07.546-07:00Team TNT experiences the greatest blessing!!!As you know, if you've been following, I am staying at Wood's Hole Hostel (www.woodsholehostel.com) while I recover and to be closer to Tom and the trail. Someone who has been following our journey, either on this blog or our Facebook page, (www.facebook/tntonthetrail), called Neville the owner of the hostel and offered to pay for a great portion of my cost to stay here!!! <div><br></div><div>I had just returned from my first actual walk/hike facing some sort of incline, and she greeted me with this incredible news!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTQdFe0mUZvaMakbris_g9w7Uc2RFXvkrkd2xLt0cfh-bcnwc2oKJpR5cTeGLERdOo_dgtsj59mYiRiX9phqo_VXV7RP7noDWNQHcl8Ei3J_eWpQlUanvIOrAvuIpf8F5txbtEfLExIg/s640/blogger-image--134659827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTQdFe0mUZvaMakbris_g9w7Uc2RFXvkrkd2xLt0cfh-bcnwc2oKJpR5cTeGLERdOo_dgtsj59mYiRiX9phqo_VXV7RP7noDWNQHcl8Ei3J_eWpQlUanvIOrAvuIpf8F5txbtEfLExIg/s640/blogger-image--134659827.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> The pasture that I walked beside today.... Simply beautiful!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This could not be more of a blessing or encouragement to Team TNT!! I literally cried and held Neville in the driveway. I was literally exhausted from such a short climb and was feeling so overwhelmed at the thought of all the HARD work that will be involved in getting my 'trail legs' back... And this news was just what I needed to propel me forward!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcvbUKrPh71TBElHS6A0VFZ5ZLvosmnRT8xemIGgWUyD3zdPbhwgqdtJIbfhmrvOhVEKAbD3QP9K1Ckl-Wj5lVfXpuXIbaR6n2fq9sMfLGsLfVcBHaIBwrFXgNXpTsd9DVWDKtOvar9I/s640/blogger-image-1854020409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcvbUKrPh71TBElHS6A0VFZ5ZLvosmnRT8xemIGgWUyD3zdPbhwgqdtJIbfhmrvOhVEKAbD3QP9K1Ckl-Wj5lVfXpuXIbaR6n2fq9sMfLGsLfVcBHaIBwrFXgNXpTsd9DVWDKtOvar9I/s640/blogger-image-1854020409.jpg"></a></div><br></div>So whomever you are.... You are truly a Trail Angel' and have been such a blessing to us!! I wish I could thank you personally, but Neville has claimed absolute secrecy!! Thank you for the bottom of our hearts!!</div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-4125368443983583072013-06-02T15:06:00.001-07:002013-06-02T15:06:27.108-07:00Dreamer, Socks and Charlie together again!!This has been an up and down couple months for Team TNT!! No pun intended!!<div><br></div><div>Our son Jesse and our nephew, Adam came down to visit Dreamer and hike three days with him, to experience part of the trail and get just a little closer to the dream we've been living for all these months... It was quite a revelation for both Jesse and Adam, to see exactly what Tom and I have been hiking on and what the trail community is all about! Of course, it was quite a treat for Dreamer and Charlie to be together again! What a reunion it was!! It involved lots of jumping and licking on Charlie's part!!</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://youtu.be/n2fbGJsovkM">http://youtu.be/n2fbGJsovkM</a></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzUNwOUG-lh_xyBViF3JyiDKK9Gxn0sgRJ7ec-dSUSqRG21t9OMmO3KWFEAjYf7piicXVLqvyx-NLrm764IYacyrgb3-1kSHZV_lceq6QSJkuM9mj22KqL64tUDVH3HrAa4TZ0FpYbJM/s640/blogger-image--441540857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzUNwOUG-lh_xyBViF3JyiDKK9Gxn0sgRJ7ec-dSUSqRG21t9OMmO3KWFEAjYf7piicXVLqvyx-NLrm764IYacyrgb3-1kSHZV_lceq6QSJkuM9mj22KqL64tUDVH3HrAa4TZ0FpYbJM/s640/blogger-image--441540857.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Tom (Dreamer) is at about the 802 mile marker and (Socks), Terri is able to walk 2.5 miles on flat ground and has been through some physical therapy, enabling me to get around without much of a limp and with high hopes of starting to do some limited climbing and some incline hiking in the coming couple weeks!! </div><div><br></div><div>Being separated by 10 hours and 600 miles didn't work very well for us, although, we've learned a lot about ourselves as individuals and as a couple during this time, we thought it better for all of us, if I were in closer proximity to both Tom and the trail, so.....</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuRqqhFTFudvoBEXxj6_Csj3AZDG0MI-A6noHddSnSTqa8yvK0H8_MB1Q1E55weRhyphenhyphenvEr6ghr2MWhClT0xLrCp2QeVLRkOW00UQyZADU43zwAvSHccRjJM53gQUTI8zgKPnqgxQJUSPw/s640/blogger-image--977803768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuRqqhFTFudvoBEXxj6_Csj3AZDG0MI-A6noHddSnSTqa8yvK0H8_MB1Q1E55weRhyphenhyphenvEr6ghr2MWhClT0xLrCp2QeVLRkOW00UQyZADU43zwAvSHccRjJM53gQUTI8zgKPnqgxQJUSPw/s640/blogger-image--977803768.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Charlie and I packed the car full of 'trail magic' and some simple belongings and we headed towards the trail. Snagging Dreamer from the trail at Glasgow, Virginia, we reunited for a couple days, just spending time together, sharing our experiences from the past couple months. </div><div><br></div><div>We reconnected together to the trail doing 'Trail Magic', blessing other hikers on the trail with free food and drinks! Trail Magic is random encounters with fellow hikers, setting up our roadside/trail side table full of COLD drinks, sweets, cookies and all the goodies that hikers are missing from their civilian life. COLD Mountain Dew, peanut and butter sandwiches, chips and all salty crunches known to man, fresh fruit and even pudding cups and cheese sticks! Our first day out, on Memorial weekend, we served 45 hikers!! Many of which Dreamer knew and I was able to meet as well!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnMaDottTWp-OzxDU9j7TcdZWde9AsD0Kow7pHlrth16pUU9-qTmy85LsgE6nyaIHnhAscpE1VWGs_wdmmPoNOqUVPzxxp0kfgeBprMF7DA9SotvQ-VNRWqpuGyOeKvtKMpfSMJU7QDk/s640/blogger-image-693128032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnMaDottTWp-OzxDU9j7TcdZWde9AsD0Kow7pHlrth16pUU9-qTmy85LsgE6nyaIHnhAscpE1VWGs_wdmmPoNOqUVPzxxp0kfgeBprMF7DA9SotvQ-VNRWqpuGyOeKvtKMpfSMJU7QDk/s640/blogger-image-693128032.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfB_8AG_y4_wkIDDMeOvGrlWdfySn13_IbXnLr6Ohei0DDK0y77f3QL5MbD2dif5AOAwtgLQn1nKvGND47_kZPrpEzhmd4NVspQlGfHNhizXIqA3U3pV3h87FE9Q5LwCp_wr6O7aE9Rt8/s640/blogger-image--204760150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfB_8AG_y4_wkIDDMeOvGrlWdfySn13_IbXnLr6Ohei0DDK0y77f3QL5MbD2dif5AOAwtgLQn1nKvGND47_kZPrpEzhmd4NVspQlGfHNhizXIqA3U3pV3h87FE9Q5LwCp_wr6O7aE9Rt8/s640/blogger-image--204760150.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Dreamer is looking pretty rustic these days, resembling Grizzly Adams more than Tom Shaver!!</div><div><br></div><div>I'm feeling the need to feel closer to the trail and be more physically connected to Tom and the trail, so I will be staying in the vicinity of Dreamer and the trail I have become such a part of.... I am heading to Wood's Hole Hostel near Pearisburg, VA, working at the organic farm and hostel that supports hikers along the trail. I'm thrilled that Michael and Neville want me to come back and spend some time with them. This is my dream home and farm... </div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://youtu.be/dL6Nlg6hTxs">http://youtu.be/dL6Nlg6hTxs</a></div><div><br></div><div>Much like Tom and I started with many years ago in our quest to be self-sufficient... we started with 17 acres, 50+ chickens, goats, sheep, a wood stove and two babies! Now, we're left with the acreage and the dream of living like that again.... I'll get to live our dream life for the next few weeks as I heal and gain strength in my knee, awaiting the time that my feet are again on the path northward.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-83003583021468227562013-05-15T13:19:00.001-07:002013-05-15T13:23:06.294-07:00Dreamer and Charlie reunite.... Visitors from Home- Appalachian TrailLast week was a major highlight for Dreamer since returning to the trail, some six weeks ago. Our son Jesse (Tex) and our nephew, Adam (Opie) went to meet up with Tom and hike a 36 mile section from Bland to Wood's Hole Hostel. Of course, Charlie went to see Dad and get some time back on the trail.<br />
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The boys got to experience weather changes, varied terrain and experience, first hand, the importance of limiting the weight in your pack. </div>
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Both guys have done considerable types of backpacking from Mt. Robson in British Columbia to canoeing with packs through the Boundary Waters of Canada, so these are not newbies to hiking and backpacking.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5CIJiduixYD38nzpYckZWHLfhnJO5FKSbjKTBf1th5o5H_ivKPOiBtY3CevJN8VTI95GZpuXOgZmeDg5XfaqgTH_wtd2IQ5tHQ3nG3Pfzr1voyAXnUBWDaKXngFjs6cYqKcojFitmZk/s1600/971086_10103368890907434_966040501_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5CIJiduixYD38nzpYckZWHLfhnJO5FKSbjKTBf1th5o5H_ivKPOiBtY3CevJN8VTI95GZpuXOgZmeDg5XfaqgTH_wtd2IQ5tHQ3nG3Pfzr1voyAXnUBWDaKXngFjs6cYqKcojFitmZk/s1600/971086_10103368890907434_966040501_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>We have been talking to the kids and our videos have been very clear about the strenuousness of the terrain, the difficulties with pack weight and wear and tear on knees and the never-ending weather obstacles, so none of this should have been a surprise.... But, they were clearly caught off guard. Tex was carrying twice the weight he should have, bringing enough food to feed the entire over-stuffed shelter on night #1. Opie, unfortunantely suffered a debilitating knee injury on day two, which he suffered with till the very end. They were cooked and dehydrated on day #1. Day #2, drenched with a mountain cloudburst that lasted all day and day #3 provided the nicest day of all and landed them in the cabable and loving hands of the owners of Wood's Hole Hostel, Michael and Neville, who showed them mountain hospitality. </div>
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Opie recaps their trip for us here:</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>My thoughts after 36 miles on the trail with Dreamer</i>.</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">"Tex and I met up with Dreamer</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_869959687" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Friday</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">morning for what I thought was</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">going to be a fun 3 day hike on the Appalachian trail. The trail had </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">other thoughts in mind and I was humbled very quickly. To say I was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">grossly unprepared for the way the trail tests you mentally,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">physically and emotionally would be a fair statement. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">We met up in Bland with dreamer to begin our hike which started with a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">short mile walk down a road and across a highway overpass. But as soon </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">as our feet met the soft Virginian mud and we started our first ascent </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">we met the trail for the first time. The sheer beauty of the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">surroundings were breathtaking as the rhododendron groves enveloped </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">us. But the steep grade and narrow trail soon required all of our </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">attention. It was almost as if it was saying "I will determine what </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">you see as beautiful".</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">That first 10 miles were grueling. We had packed entirely too much </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">food and not nearly enough water. Nothing could be prettier than </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">coming to the first stream after carrying dry water bottles for the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">past 3 miles in the hot spring day. I was elated and felt that now I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">was prepared to tackle the trail...and then the downpour started.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">We finished the last 2 miles of day one in the rain and arrived </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">soaking wet at the shelter for the night. We were met by other hikers </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">who had battled the trail that day. Everyone was bruised and broken </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">yet optimistic and resilient. They all seemed to acknowledge that there</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> had been a battle and they may have been defeated but they </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">didn't mind, this is a war and they are determined to prevail. We </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">spent the evening huddled in the shelter out of the rain with quiet </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">laughs and short stories in a similar fashion to how I imagine </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">soldiers interact after a long battle. For the first time I realized </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">how significant the resolve of a thru-hiker really is.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">On day two after a quick breakfast we hit the trail in the cool morning</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> air on a trail that was soggy from the nights rain. Our 14</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">mile route for the day took us on a long downhill followed by a steep </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uphill and then "flat" ground for the last 6 miles. We had lightened </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">our loads the night before at the shelter and despite some sore </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">muscles we were in high spirits.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Shortly after beginning the big downhill section the trail struck me </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">with a lightning bolt of humility as I slipped on a rock and "tweaked" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">my knee. It's been years since I've sustained an injury and I figured </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">this was no different and I could just walk it off. The trail had </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">other plans though and as the steep downhill miles wore on they became </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">increasingly more painful and at points unbearable. I found two sticks </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">from beside the trail to help bear some of my weight but the pain kept </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">growing. I felt broken and disheartened as Dreamer increasingly had to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">wait for me. <u>It was a stark realization of the pain and heartbreak </u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><u>that Socks had experienced just a month before.</u> My goal of 36 miles </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">was a drop in the bucket compared to her goal of thru-hiking but was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">my trip over too? Could I struggle through this? Am I jeopardizing the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">goals of Dreamer and Tex? Am I selfish for needing their help? The </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">questions raced through my mind. We stopped at the bottom of the hill </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">for lunch and with tape and an ace bandage from Tex I wrapped my knee </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">up and we started from the road uphill. This was my test. If I could </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">make it to the top I could go on. If I couldn't make it I would have </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">to back track to the road for a shuttle. Thankfully the bandage helped </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">and even though there was still pain I was able to push past it and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">continue with Dreamer and Tex</span></i></div>
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Charlie was thrilled to be back with Dad on the trail!</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">For the last 4 miles on day two we were </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">once again caught in a rainstorm and again got to the shelter soaking </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">wet. Again we were met with friendly faces and embraced the feeling of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">shared suffering.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">On the third day we woke up to a glorious day. The clouds and rain had </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">given way to a cool spring day with sunshine radiating through the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">trees. It seemed the trail had smiled upon us for the remaining 7 </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">miles of our hike. We set out on the trail and my knee was feeling </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">tolerable and the trail was great. We looked at the 4000 ft peak in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">front of us and smiled. We climbed with vigor as we charged the peak, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">carefully placing one foot in front of the other marching onward.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">There was no retreat available, surrender was not an option, we had to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">conquer this mountain. Do or do not, there was no try. The trail had </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">changed us."</span></i></div>
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Communal campfire at Wood's Hole Hostel</div>
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Almost 40 pizzas were build for the hiker guests that night at Wood's Hole</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These boys had hiked for a short three days and felt changed. This trail WILL change you. Good or Bad, this trail will leave you different than you arrived. Our son, Jesse (Tex), keeps saying, "It's life changing." Yes, my son, it is and I am even more determined to return!!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can learn more about Tex and Opie and their company, "First Light Gear" at: <a href="http://www.firstlightgear.com/">www.firstlightgear.com</a> Opie has a bit more to share on their blog!</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-68821881351280511082013-05-07T16:03:00.001-07:002013-05-07T16:03:50.684-07:00Team TNT+C Making Progress- Appalachian Trail Hike 2013The Appalachian Trail never fails to deliver. Weather (the worst in trail history), terrain/ PUDs (pointless ups and downs), and mental challenges (chronic depression due to the previous two items). In all seriousness, this has been a challenging time for Team TNT+C. Dreamer has continued to endure the continuous crappy weather, rain, freezing temps and even hail this past couple weeks. When will spring EVER come to the Appalachians?<br />
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He's produced a couple of new videos with more interviews with random hikers, but he's also tried to show more of 'real life' on trail.... the weather, the deplorable living conditions and some of the mental challenges of doing this hike long term, in these conditions and then add, being separated from the rest of the Team TNT. He's had some rough days...mentally and physically and it's hard on both of us. We are both learning much about ourselves, our relationship and communicating. I know how much we'll enjoy being back together again and being able to lean on each other mentally, physically and emotionally.<br />
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I (Socks) had surgery on April 22, to repair the two meniscus' in my left knee and removal of several chunks of roaming cartilage. Today, stitches were removed and I was given the 'go-ahead' to start physical therapy with the goal of being back on trail by June 17th!! I'll be working with a therapist who knows about our trip, knows the physical demands that await me and will customize my therapy and conditioning to accomplish that goal...building the strength back up in that leg and working to increase my endurance again. (I've gotten a bit like a couch potato since surgery, so I'm a little weak in the legs!)<br />
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Charlie is Charlie. He pretty much goes with the flow and puts up with most things, so relax or play, he's two paws up! I'm sure he'll be very anxious for the walks we'll start to take over at Rose Lake to start building stamina and then begin to carry a little weight in a pack. We'll go slow, but we are very anxious to be back on the BIG trail with Dreamer again!!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-59932976443619408512013-04-25T07:50:00.000-07:002013-04-25T07:51:28.357-07:00Catching up with Dreamer and Socks<div style="text-align: center;">
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TNT has been separated now for THREE weeks....we're surviving, but not without
almost daily phone calls or texts when able and prayers being lifted to Heaven
on behalf of each other. We truly are one and space, time and geography can't
separate us from each other's spirits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Charlie and I have been holding down the fort
at home in Michigan, mostly waiting for surgery to repair the knee. Once it was
diagnosed, the waiting for the actual surgery date was agonizing for the
Team....I'm not a patient person anyway, (something God was helping me to work
on while hiking), so each day, I tried to fill my time doing some projects
around the house, that required TWO legs....cleaning the basement, etc. </span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">While Dreamer, on the other hand, has been
plugging away at the miles on the Appalachian Trail. He continues to average
about 15 miles per day, still enduring all sorts of nasty weather and terrain.
The Smoky Mountains were a real challenge for him physically and probably even
more mentally. Getting back on trail as a solo hiker was tough emotionally and
mentally for him. I struggle from a distance being challenged in different
ways....missing him, being jealous about the fact that he's still their living
'our' dream and keeping myself from being depressed at my situation here.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He's meeting a whole section of new hikers and even catching
up with some that we started with in our first week! He's able to move so much
faster without me and so now is cranking out serious miles! I'm so proud of him
and his perseverance.... Honest revelation: I don't think, were the
roles reversed, that I'd still be out there alone, trying to go on. I'm weak
and would be way too lonely and insecure about my abilities to hike
alone. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">His physical load is a bit more because he has to carry all
the gear himself and his heart is a little heavier too....without the rest of
the Team....</span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The countdown will begin again soon!</span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-50875515132699397082013-04-20T10:05:00.001-07:002013-04-20T17:00:06.408-07:00Team TNT + C: T Solo hikes the Appalachian Trail for a bit....As you know, I, 'Socks' have been home for the past two weeks, discovering the issue with the knee, dealing with being 'off trail', (which amounts to BIG, FAT DEPRESSION), and trying to enjoy my little piece of joy in Lydia Ann.<br />
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Well, the MRI news wasn't good.... I tore both the medial and lateral meniscus in my left knee. Dr. stunned that I'd hiked 60 miles on it, but understood the amount of damage because of it. I will be having surgery day after tomorrow, Monday, April 22 to repair it with some rehab/PT following. NOW, the real countdown can begin. I am prepping for being 'laid up' for a few days.... (for those of you that know me, I'm not a good 'sit still' kind of person), so, I'm gathering up my stuff for "sick bay."<br />
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I'll be staying with Hannah and Nate and our granddaughter, Lydia for a few days, till I can ditch the crutches and be mobile again. I'll be heading back home to resume some sort of exercise and rehab to get moving back towards the trail! Hoping to work with a trainer to regain some strength in this leg and learn what I can do to protect it from further injury once I get hiking again. The word I'm hanging onto is: BELIEVE! It's my new mantra. I believe I WILL be back out there hiking by mid-June. Charlie and I will be taking a field trip to visit Dreamer as soon as I'm able to drive.<br />
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Charlie is getting pretty out of shape and needs to get hiking again! He lives a pretty LAZY life here as evidenced in these pictures.<br />
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Charlie sleeping in his bed with his 'friend', Mr. Fluffy</div>
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Charlie sleeping on the couch in the family room. </div>
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We've been able to catch up with Dream over the past couple days as he 'zero'ed in Erwin, Tennessee. He was able to upload and mail several videos that I'll be posting over the next couple days to catch everyone up. He's doing great, is putting in BIG miles and is missing us both. He did create the best video for me... It's just scenery, but the song and the trail speak to my heart, when he is unable to verbalize how much he misses us. Thank you sweetheart. We miss you too.</div>
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<a href="http://youtu.be/btK7N-aStb4">A MESSAGE FOR MY SWEETHEART</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-73073617439431738712013-04-10T08:23:00.001-07:002013-04-10T08:23:28.186-07:00TNT will be on the mend!!!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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It’s literally been a roller coaster of emotions over the
past couple of weeks, since returning to Michigan and Tom (Dreamer) returning
to the trail without the rest of Team TNT. We are both struggling in similar,
yet very different ways.</div>
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We are a couple. We are a team. We are partners. </div>
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And we
don’t do well apart…. So the first issue is just the physical separation. I’m
lonesome and I miss him. He’s expressing much the same and more. “The hike just
isn’t the same without you”, he says. We just enjoy being together…. most of
the time. So, this geographical separation is very disconcerting for us. So
too, is the separation of the ‘dream.’ He’s moving on down the trail,
experiencing things I’ll miss, meeting other hikers I’ll never know and
accumulating the total mileage that I won’t have or will have to make up at
some other time.</div>
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We had grown adept at trail life. We knew who carried what
gear, who did what when we got into camp, who packed up what when we broke down
camp and which one of us was documenting what events. We had ‘become’ part of
the trail. Dreamer, Socks and Charlie. We were well known on the trail, mainly
because of Charlie. </div>
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(He’s a real charmer!) Many times, we’d be hiking down the
trail, in the middle of nowhere and someone would come up and say, “Hey, you
must be Charlie!” And then, we’d introduce ourselves as, “Charlie’s parents”,
which we were better known as. </div>
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Our daily life ran pretty much the same…. Get up, pack up,
hike, eat, sleep and start all over again the next day. Moving in tandem with
many other hikers, driven by the same inner compass, moving northbound. Up and
down mountains, through mud, slush and snow, to get to that next shelter, where
we’d pitch our tent amongst the other colorful nylon domes and rest our weary
and tired bones.</div>
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Tom says it’s been tough hiking through the Smoky Mountain
National Park, literally. The terrain is very different from what we’d
experienced thus far. Apparently, the trail groomers/builders in this section
thought switchbacks were for sissies, because everything is either straight up
or straight down. And, it’s been tough mentally for him. Even though he’s
hiking along with many others, he still feels alone and isolated without us.
And that’s even tougher than the physical part.</div>
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BUT, after a visit with the orthopedic surgeon yesterday, we
have reason to celebrate!! Team TNT will be back together! I learned from the
MRI that I had torn both the medial and lateral meniscus in my left knee. It’s
no wonder it hurt and it’s quite amazing that I managed to hike almost 60 miles
with that injury, up some of the toughest assents and descents we’d hiked over
the 175 miles that I was able to hike. Guess I’m one tough hiker chick, have a
very high pain threshold or was just simple determined to hike!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF68uW60FE_Sw0qaVIY_M20jwHIW6Bhe_jC_AAIumqOepOKIIBBVNtxrg62eaQECwv4EtopvuT0c5dDF-bPOOfq_-hpJvFSIrKKEALgHtOeaqkqNm9DFQlA_c1RMTsWO_hnK1s9svcXQQ/s1600/photo-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF68uW60FE_Sw0qaVIY_M20jwHIW6Bhe_jC_AAIumqOepOKIIBBVNtxrg62eaQECwv4EtopvuT0c5dDF-bPOOfq_-hpJvFSIrKKEALgHtOeaqkqNm9DFQlA_c1RMTsWO_hnK1s9svcXQQ/s1600/photo-4.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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Surgery is scheduled at this time for April 22<sup>nd</sup> and
with a bit of rehab and strength training, I should be back on trail the first
week of June! Making my countdown calendar look like this!</div>
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I’ve got my gear all ready to pack and Charlie is ready too!
As soon as we get the go-ahead after surgery, Charlie and I will start just
walking flat ground, gaining strength and putting some miles together. After a
bit longer, we can add our packs and start putting down even more miles. Even though we
know that we won’t be able to keep up with the 20 miles that Tom is now doing,
we’ll be there and doing our best. It won’t be long before Team TNT is cranking
out some good miles TOGETHER!!</div>
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We are so thankful for all the love; support and prayers
that we’ve been shown over this past couple weeks. The outpouring has been
simply overwhelming. We are humbled and honored to have such wonderful family
and friends… some of which we don’t even know, but are part of the bigger
hiking community. We are profoundly grateful and blessed.<br />
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If you haven't seen this video that some dear friends created, check this out. I am so humbled with this much love.<br />
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/4M7H_lEoHvk/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/4M7H_lEoHvk&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/4M7H_lEoHvk&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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We will continue to keep you updated with information from
the rehab to the places and miles Tom is covering! Stay tuned. Things are about
to get exciting! </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-51283554420163029792013-04-03T10:14:00.002-07:002013-04-03T10:14:35.052-07:00This is the saddest story of all....As many of you know, we have gotten 175 miles into our hike, made it to Fontana Dam and were just a day away from heading into the Smoky Mountain National Park, another huge geographical milestone for Team TNT. We assumed we'd be celebrating our next victory and anticipating the excitement of heading into the Smokies.... heavy with supplies, anticipating deep snow and much more of the same weather that we've had. It didn't matter though. It's all part of the experience! (As we frequently say....)<br />
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Instead, we are in Michigan, repacking packs and supply boxes to eliminate mine and Charlies supplies from them. I will not be continuing on the trail at this time....<br />
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It makes me cry to even think about tomorrow, when Dreamer (Tom), will return to Fontana Dam and continue on into the Smoky Mountains without us. This isn't how it was supposed to happen. This wasn't part of the 'dream'.<br />
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After the initial injury to my left knee on March 15, descending Albert Mountain, into Rock Gap.... things just never improved enough to make the pain tolerable for any length of time. I stoically continued, trying not to complain, praying for a miracle, hoping for the best. We spent the week in "cell #19" as we lovingly referred to it, nursing it with ice, Motrin and pain pills. The trail angels came out of the woodwork to help us "slack-pack" so that I didn't have to carry much weight and hopefully rest the knee. But, all of that just didn't work and the last couple days on trail were sheer agony. Wincing with every footfall, I painfully made my way down into Fontana Dam to end my through hike of the AT.<br />
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We tearfully admitted that I was done and needed to come home for further evaluation by my own orthopedic surgeon....so, Easter Sunday, we made the long drive to Michigan to surprise our kids and tell them about the change in our plans.<br />
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Monday, I was able to see the surgeon for evaluation, Tuesday had an MRI and will be following up next Tuesday for probably surgery recommendation. He suspects a torn meniscus, which would be an easy repair and rehab. But with the arthritic condition of the knee, more could be in store. We are holding our breath till next week and the final answers come.<br />
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In the meantime, I am icing, resting and eating antiinflammatory medications, dreading tomorrow, when Tom heads back to the trail to resume his thru hike. My hope now is that I will be able to rehab quickly and rejoin Tom later down the trail... for day hikes, slack packing or maybe even be able to continue to finish the trail with him. We are praying for this ending to our story.<br />
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My last photo of me... taken on trail.<br />
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I made a video to explain how I feel and you can watch it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNoz60LU-k4">HERE</a>.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-37061640604839790672013-04-01T17:11:00.002-07:002013-04-01T17:15:34.760-07:00Team TNT....Off the Grid....Out of Touch...Team TNT has taken a quick hiatus to Michigan to visit kids for Easter and more... we'll update with details hopefully tomorrow.<br />
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We have a new video available on YouTube with snippits from some of our last days on trail... suffice it to say, it's been a very difficult week, made so much better with lots of love from MANY trail angels who have helped us make a very uncomfortable situation, much more tolerable.<br />
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Stay tuned.... we have more video to come over the next 48 hours.<br />
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Watch the newest <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcEsip1zdxw">HERE</a>!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-14550645142300528172013-03-26T10:37:00.000-07:002013-03-26T11:40:56.283-07:00Winter Storm Virgil in North Carolina!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, in this short first month of our adventure, we find ourselves in a forced zero situation. The crappy weather that has plagued us for the past three weeks is continuing and we are currently in the middle of 'Winter Storm Virgil' near the Nantahala Outdoor Center, in Bryson City, NC.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The past two days, we hiked 20 miles in the most ridiculous weather, rain, misting, walking in and through clouds, slogging through ankle deep mud and yesterday, hiking 7 miles DOWNHILL in a blizzard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Not your ordinary snowstorm. I mean, 55 mph winds, determined to push us off the side of the mountain and whip our faces raw with snow, like ground glass. We slid on our butts, down switchbacks made of giant boulders, hanging on for dear life to tree branches that hung by our sides. My knees feel the pain of every footfall going downhill. Most people are thrilled at the prospect of not doing huge climbs and dread the days of 3000' climbs. BUT, I'd rather climb uphill every day, all day, than go downhill.... Any day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We (5 of us) are 'stuck' in a tiny cabin made for 2, along with all our gear, AND Charlie, because the shuttle driver cannot make it up the mountain to get us. 8" more of fresh snow fell last night. Even our things on the enclosed porch were snow covered this morning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">So, here's where we'll sit today, going over gear, packing things we'll bump ahead to continue our quest to eliminate weight and work on various tasks.... Two of which are a jigsaw puzzle and another taking a nap on a couch made for humans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">I'm going to rest my knee and enjoy the day of not pounding it. In just two short days, we'll have to turn Charlie over to the kennel that will watch him while we 'cruise' through the Smoky Mountains, (dogs are not allowed in the park). It will be a tough 6 days for us.... Highest elevations for us thus far, longer distances between shelters, (tenting not allowed, must stay in shelters), no Charlie AND the Smoky's have just received a fresh couple of feet of snow! Weather is predicted to improve, but it's still going to be tough going.</span></div>
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I'm remaining confident that if I can get this knee through the Smokies.... I can make it all the way! </div>
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We've endured the worst AT winter weather in history, people are leaving the trail due to the weather and injuries due to the weather and were still here. We're strong and it can't stay winter forever!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Whether you think you can or can't, you're right." Henry Ford</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">watch the newest video from TNT on the Trail <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUU42YjtV68">here!!!!!</a></span></div>
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-22789462971335121462013-03-21T12:20:00.000-07:002013-03-21T12:25:03.693-07:00Our Week Long Vacation in Room #19<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Little did we know when I descended downhill from our night at Long Branch Shelter and the 'tilt-o-whirl' campsite, that we'd soon be winning a week long luxury, vacation at The Budget Inn, in Franklin, NC!! Whoo, Hoo!!</span></div>
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Descending down into Wallace Gap, just a few short miles from our scheduled shuttle ride, I (Socks), stepped down the 'step' on the trail and twisted by knee and body to make quick work of the switch-back. Shooting pain immediately stabbed my left knee and almost made me vomit, the pain was so intense. I didn't fall, I didn't hit anything, I just twisted my knee.... Nothing earth shattering. But, boy oh boy, has it caused some serious grief and subsequently got us awarded this week long stay with the staff at The Budget Inn. </div>
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After catching an earlier shuttle, we came into Franklin, got our room and immediately applied ice, but it was obvious I wasn't getting much relief from the pain. Mr. Ron Haven's, owner of the motel, quickly delivered me to the local urgent care where it was totally undetermined what I did, but they did splint it, give me pain meds and oral steroids for the swelling, which was now becoming considerable.</div>
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I faithfully did all the offered instructions, but my Monday, was seeing no improvement. Mind you, we intended to breeze in here, snag a shower, eat a good meal and be back on our way. </div>
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Still enjoying a couple remaining friends who zeroed here with us, we went to dinner, celebrated Escargot's 55th birthday and watched more TV than I'd like to admit. (Not much happening here in Franklin, especially when the weather is 35-45 degrees during the day.)</div>
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Monday, I hobbled across the street to the Emergency Department of the Franklin hospital and was pretty much told the same thing...rest, ice, splint and take more time off. (The term Emergency Room is used loosely here.... we see a lot of helicopters moving in and out daily, taking people elsewhere that really need treatment). Not acceptable to two thru-hikers, anxious to get moving and exit Room #19!! They did, however get me an appointment with a sports medicine Dr. who could see me Wednesday afternoon. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Again, we settled into our Room #19, which had we known now, we couldn't have gotten a 'weekly' rate... We've got a warm room, albeit, decorated in early 1950's original tile, heat and furnishings. The sweetest housekeeping women who daily smile with us, ask us how we're doing and provide us clean, see-through towels, and the front desk clerk who has mostly cheerfully replenished our 6L Platypus water bag, with ice for my knee. </span></div>
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If we have to be stuck, sure it's not a 5 star hotel, but we're warm, dry, clean and now with hopes of being trail-bound again <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1363891143_0">on Saturday</span>! We've been able to use the on-site laundry room, which we've nicknamed, the leprechaun room....it's more like an underground cellar, with a couple of washers and dryers and a door so short, that even I need to duck to enter. It's provided a bit of entertainment watching some of the taller hikers enter and use the facilities. (Do you see the lengths we've gone to to find what might be called entertainment.)</div>
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Team TNT should own at least half of this pop machine! At only $.65/ can, it's a great deal and I've consumed more Sierra Mist than I want to admit!</div>
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Trying to stay mobile, we limped down to the local Piggly Wiggly to obtain a few more groceries to sustain ourselves for another couple days....as we'd already eaten our initial rations intended for this 'ZERO' day! Mobility certainly improving, although it s not right. Swelling down considerably. Once given a definitive answer about the nature of the injury, we'll make the tough decision about returning to Michigan to be seen by my Dr. and resting or returning to the trail, disregarding any further potential injury. (Having already undergone a right knee replacement, I don't relish the procedure again).</div>
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Dateline: Wednesday, March 20, 2013; Dr. Jeffery Kessler, an obvious conservative in terms of his treatment and philosophy of joint replacement, indicated to us right off the bat, that he thought I was crazy for being out here with an artificial joint. Well, that's his opinion. He obviously doesn't know who he's dealing with! After examination he pretty much concurred with two options. I'd either exacerbated the already present arthritis so badly as to make me lame, but probably more likely, that I'd torn something, which was then pretty much confirmed when he aspirated a good amount of bloody fluid from the knee before injecting it with pain meds and steroids. We plan to lay low today....stress it tomorrow with a hike around town and head back to the trail on Saturday. If its a tear injury, it will return and we'll know that I'm likely finished on the trail. If I can keep going....I'm in this for the long haul!</div>
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Daily we see other hikers coming and going, hear of tales from the trail and today are rejoicing at the warm 'nest' of Room #19, we find ourselves in....it snowed in town last night here in town, so we know what happened up on the mountain to the current hikers. </div>
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We have been inundated with constant notes of support, encouragement and the gates of Heaven have been stormed with prayers on our behalf this week. Thank you so much. It means so much to us as we sit here, painfully aware of how much farther behind we fall each day, but acutely aware that God has us where He wants us for some reason... Maybe which we'll never know, bit we trust Him with this trip, our health and our lives. He is in control. We want to thank other hiker friends like Dane and Connie, who have offered to come and retrieve us to recuperate at their home about three hours from here! We are so thankful for all the friends this hike has brought into our lives. Little did we know all this hike would bring, good and bad.</div>
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****We initially thought of making this a satirical post like "The Escape From Room #19" and liken it to the Bates's Motel in Psycho.... But can't in all good conscience. These people have kind and welcoming to us and very helpful!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Looking forward to posting again from the trail this weekend!! More snow predicted through Wednesday!! Team TNT WILL be back on the trail!!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-59549859271478636882013-03-16T12:44:00.001-07:002013-03-16T12:56:37.805-07:00A Week of Trials and Tribulations- Hiking the Appalachian Trail <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The weather still is our biggest obstacle, and not really an obstacle as much as a nuisance. Freezing water every morning, frozen toothpaste and the ever frozen butt wipes. (As referred to by Tom in a previous video). We rely on those wipes for more than wiping our hands! If you know what I mean....and those are pretty chilly on the nether regions in the early morning!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The list of companion hikers we've met or have spent time hiking with is growing daily.... So very many interesting people! Kids of all ages and the older group with which we find ourselves most often. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Leaving our zero time at Hiawassee was exciting...zero days are nice, but it's nice to get back out. We've been separated from the 'real world' long enough, that its a bit of sensory overload going into town for too long. The noise, the people, the smoke. It's stunning how many people in the south smoke!!!! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Two notable things happened this week.... Our first day back out, late into the day, we crossed our first state line into North Carolina!! It was a pretty tough hike for most of the day OUT of Georgia and then all of a sudden, we walk upon this very unpretentious sign bolted to a tree announcing our arrival in North Carolina. Simple sign. Simple proclamation. But for us, monumentous and for me personally, worth shedding a few tears. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">It's been an emotional week for me ( Socks), not sure why. The reality of what we've taken on sometimes hits me like a thunderbolt and it scares the snot out of me. The grueling and non-stop cold weather is getting old and the terrain in North Carolina only exceeds that of Georgia. The climbs are getting more difficult and more rocky....like scrambling over boulders, hand over hand. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">In fact I had the first major meltdown coming over Albert Mountain a couple of days ago. It was the hardest to date, climb for me physically. My short legs couldn't make the climb, from one foothold to the next and using the trekking poles was proving useless, so I literally had to crawl on my hands and already very sore knees to the next boulder, all the while terrified that I'd fall backwards down the mountain if I lost my balance. One half way up the 300 ft. scramble, I just fell apart and sobbed against the nearest tree. I was overcome with fear. Fear of falling, fear of not being able to scale the mountain, fear of what worse might be ahead..... But I pulled myself together, pulled up my big girl panties and crawled up that sucker. Dirty handed and scraped kneed, I found some strength somewhere and by God, didn't fall off the mountain. Everyday, a small victory is to be found!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Late this week, we've met a new group of young hikers from all over and are getting quite an education! Hermes, Detour, Hollywood, Clever Girl and Dump Truck. The little recreational time we have together is mostly talking about why we're here and dreams of life after "the trail." Yesterday I got an informative lesson on Crust Punks and their lifestyle..... And I thought we were nomads? Or some would say, 'Gypsy's with money.'</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Today is a zero, with an unplanned extra day here in Franklin, NC. Yesterday, I stumbled down a corner on a switchback and torqued my 'good' left knee. Had to make a trip into the local Urgent Care for a check. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Thankfully nothing structural, but soft tissue swelling and lots of discomfort. Steroids, pain pills, a brace and an extra day off will do the trick. In the meantime, I'm doing laundry, of which I'm drying in the parking lot of the motel along with all the other hiker trash perched outside here doing various things from reading maps to catching some sun for a change! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Till further down the trail, Dreamer, Socks and Charlie!</span></div>
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<a href="http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=relmfu&v=uswgbcAu9Mk">Check out the newest video of a couple of old farts taking their time along the trail.</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-15803607098178985932013-03-11T09:53:00.001-07:002013-03-11T12:26:52.699-07:00Learning from the Trail<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week two.... Or is it? We've begun to refer to time on the trail as "Trail Time", much like 'dog years'.... it seems to move sometimes at a snail's pace and other times, we can't remember the day of the week. I recall this week, a group of us standing in the middle of the trail, and nobody being able to figure out what day it was. We all can only remember the day we started and that's about it. The miles and the shelters begin to blur together in some mental and emotional fugue, sometimes difficult to discern more than just the day of the week! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">We're almost 80 miles down, or should I say UP, the trail....and we're becoming part of the trail community, being absorbed into trail life. Waking, eating, hiking and sleeping. Mot much time or room for much else. We determined, based on the wise advice of others who've hiked this trail, to take it easy, move slowly to start and don't kill yourself for the first several weeks. "It's a marathon, not a sprint." So, we are taking </span><span style="background-color: white;">advantage of each opportunity to stay in a motel when it presents itself to either 'zero' or 'Nero"...</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">I'm personally being challenged with how weak I am. If any of you reading this ever think about doing this hike, let me tell you to get in shape first! Although, it's not making it impossible, it's just making it much more uncomfortable than it needs to be.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">This section started off with the temps still below freezing every night....we slogged through snow, ice and mud....all in one day to do our first 11 mile day. Tough to do when every step has to be calculated and carefully placed to keep from falling and breaking your neck. I really don't want to face plant on these rocks!! The forest was gorgeous our first day back out....covered in ice and frost that blew sideways onto the trees! So cool looking!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Climbing Tray Mountain had been the first 'known' mental obstacle....a really tough climb in this section, but we did it. I had many conversations with God going up that mountain, begging for help and strength. But what He gave me were two revelations about myself that weren't too pretty and brought me to tears. One of my goals being here is that God would show me more of myself and the parts of me that needed work would be re-furbished. He is faithful to give us what we ask for... My faith is being strengthened and I'm learning more about the 'real' me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Success feels so good. Ascending a big hill and finally making it to the top is exhausting, but the sense of accomplishment feels so good. It's not the completion of a masters thesis or anything like that, but the feeling of success is still so sweet and so simple.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">We've made so many friends already and are currently moving at a similar pace as some other 60's....'Snowman', 'Escargot', 'Dixie Grits', 'Silverfox' and 'Prayer Walker' are the names of the people we're currently moving along with. Excitement is building today as we anticipate moving into our next state tomorrow!! We'll be moving into North Carolina!!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Until next time, Happy Trails from Dreamer, Socks and Charlie.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are the two most recent youtube videos from TNT on the Trail:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Our Adventure Begins: "Home to Springer Mountain, GA"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Springer Mountain to Neels Gap"</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-42527735087703468672013-03-05T12:50:00.001-08:002013-03-05T12:53:33.632-08:00Our First Zero Day - Appalachian Trail <br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1362515890893_2275">This adventure has been even more than that! Starting from the approach trail at Amicolola Falls on February 28, 2013 till today, Tuesday, March 5th, it's been ALL adventure! We've experienced unprecedented cold weather, wind and SNOW! We anticipated and planned for some of this, but not 5 straight days of bone chilling wind, snow and cold. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">STARTING THE APPROACH TRAIL AT AMICALOLA FALLS</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1362515890893_2955" style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">We're enjoying our first zero day near Neel's Gap, near Blairsville, GA, in the warmth of a well appropriated mountain cabin as we catch up on communication, do laundry and enjoy food from civilization.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1362515890893_2919" style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">Our climb to the summit of Springer Mountain, and the southern terminus of the</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1362515890_2" style="text-align: center;">Appalachian Trail</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">was pretty physically challenging for this pair of oldsters. The 604 steps to the top of the falls almost finished me, but we pressed on! How could we quit before we officially started?? We were rewarded with a magical, fairyland of glistening frost covering everything.... And then, sitting there very unpretentiously was the bronze plaque announcing the arrival at the official START of the Appalachian Trail. Both of us crying at both the successful trek up the approach trail AND the realization of the actual beginning of this adventure, we stopped to snap a few photos and we were off, clicking off the first white blaze!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span>REALIZING THE DREAM, THE SUMMIT OF SPRINGER MOUNTAIN</div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1362515890893_2963" style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">It's been rough hiking, this first section being some of the toughest on trail, especially considering the weather, but we've managed to enjoy some time meeting some hiker friends at the shelters, taking lots of pictures and video and being physically challenged like never before. Some of the shelters are full of hikers and most times look like a gear store exploded inside them. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">We generally stay in our little tent to keep warmer and avoid the chaos of the shelter life. I'm sure things will get less chaotic and full as the crowd thins out onward down the trail. But for now, the shelters are happening places where hikers catch up on trail gossip, eat, regroup and get some much needed sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">ALL THE FOOD BAGS HANGING FROM THE BEAR CABLES</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1362515890893_3005" style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">All the preparation hiking we did was at Rose Lake and was FLAT. This has posed quite a different challenge a pond we're using muscles that haven't been stressed in a long time. Charlie is even being stretched and now spends any available down time sleeping.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1362515890893_3006" style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">We'd heard horror stories about the climb up Blood Mountain and were dreading this last day of this stretch, but we never considered the hike DOWN Blood Mountain. We climbed for what seemed like hours up a nicely graded, albeit snow covered trail to summit the mountain, thinking to ourselves, "that wasn't that bad at all."</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> AT THE SUMMIT OF BLOOD MOUNTAIN</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1362515890893_3014" style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">BUT, the real hike came in coming DOWN the mountain.... Good Lord, talk about a killer downhill. (we later heard that the day before it was ice covered and several hikers crashed down it, badly injuring themselves). Here, I'd like to send a shout out to Dr. Jason Cochran who injected my knee days before we left, so that these downhills would be a little less painful!</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span> NEEL'S GAP AND MOUNTAIN CROSSING OUTFITTERS</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1362515890893_3029" style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">Soaking up some rest on our zero day, now near Neel's Gap, still anxious to get back out tomorrow, even though we've been through the ringer the past couple days....we've got to keep heading north!</span></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-37009390027350143942013-02-27T18:12:00.001-08:002013-02-27T18:12:46.673-08:00We start the Approach Trail Tomorrow!Team TNT+C (Charlie),
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<br>After a year of planning and dreaming, tomorrow (Feb. 28th) morning we will out on the unofficial beginning of the Appalachian Trail!!! I am so excited I am having a hard time eating and sleeping! I have never felt this way before. Uncharted territory here...
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<br>Thanks to our shuttle driver Wes Wissom who drove us from Gaingsville, GA to the base of Springer Mountain. Great guy! Highly recommend him!
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<br>We are staying in Cabin #2 at Forrest Hills Resort (Just down the road from the Approach Trail). What a fantastic place! We have our own cabin with a Great Room, bedroom with Hot Tub and a sweet back porch with a swing and view! Could not recommend it more highly!
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<br>Tomorrow, our first Trail Magic will happen. Can you believe it, we haven't even started hiking and a Trail Angel contacted us on Twitter to offer us a ride in the morning from the resort to Amacalola Falls State Park to begin our adventure!
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<br>Tomorrow we finally start hiking!
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<br>-Dreamer
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<br>Sent from my iPhoneUnknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-16542200421961443332013-02-25T14:47:00.000-08:002013-02-25T14:47:22.902-08:00Local PRESS coverage for Team TNT- Appalachian TrailTeam TNT will have the local press here in Lansing, Michigan following our Appalachian Trail journey. Today, the first installment hit the newsstands in the "Greater Lansing Woman" magazine, published by the Lansing State Journal.<br />
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This introductory story highlights the top 5 reasons we're each embarking on this journey as well as a few statistics about the trail. Each month, we'll do an update article from the trail, keeping our supporters up to date on our progress, trials and tribulations along the way and perhaps even a story or two about some of the other hikers we meet.<br />
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I'm sure that Charlie will provide a bit of fodder for some interesting tales too!<br />
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Tomorrow morning, bright and early, we'll start the trek southbound to Springer Mountain. Let the adventure begin!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961459567762437774.post-30242495588735706402013-02-23T20:13:00.000-08:002013-02-24T19:22:20.592-08:00Team TNT's Final Blog Post & Video from Home!<style>
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Dreamer here,</div>
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It has been almost exactly one year since our first Blog
post announcing our intentions to attempt a thru-hike of the Appalachian
Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe this is Blog post
number 72.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terri & I have tried our
best to describe: our intentions, our feelings, planning and logistics,
clothing and gear, as well as all things Charlie our dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully, if you are considering a journey
like this, our Blog posts will be of benefit to you.</div>
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We now have 168 “likes” on our Facebook page at:
facebook.com/tntonthetrail, mostly friends and family trying to keep up with
the adventures of Team TNT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terri has
had lots of fun connecting with so many of you and she will be all things
Facebook, as our trek continues.</div>
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We are approaching 200 “followers” on Twitter!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply amazing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five months ago, I did not even know what a
tweet was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now we have people from
all over the world, most of which I have no idea who they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I know is they are interested in two old
farts planning for and soon to be attempting thru-hike of the A.T.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Team TNT, I will be all things
Twitter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will do my best to upload
photos and video as we move North from Springer Mountain.</div>
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Until last summer, I really had never seriously taken an
interest in shooting or working with video on a computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I find it my delight using my video
camera and working with Final Cut X in order to produce fun and hopefully
informative videos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I write this we
have had over 1,700 views on 17 videos at: youtube.com/tntonthetrail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, amazing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot begin to tell you how much I am
looking forward to capturing as much as possible as Terri, Charlie & I move
up the trail towards Mt. Katahdin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
plan is to send my computer to places along the trail where we will be taking a
break and during those down times, work on creating some short videos for
YouTube.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will then mail the SD Cards
with the finished projects to my son-in-law Nate to upload them for me from
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nate, I cannot begin to tell you
how much I appreciate your willingness to take this on for me!</div>
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Our last video can be found here: <a href="http://youtu.be/wFc_5dwzvWE">http://youtu.be/wFc_5dwzvWE</a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Terri & I are attempting to do our
best at showing our appreciation for all of you that have played such an
important role in our lives and this great adventure we are standing on the
threshold of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our next post will be from
the Appalachian Trail!!!</div>
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~Team TNT</div>
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PS Thanks to Jason Gray “Good to be Alive” and “Remind me who I am in You”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your music helps the pictures and video come to life!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1