TNT on the Farm: Thanksgiving

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....

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. 

BUT, we are thankful. Thankful for so much.... 

• 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.
• Thankful that we have such an amazing family, that supported that dream and prayed for us and encouraged us along the tough road.
• 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!)
• 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.
• 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!

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.

Life in the winter here will be comprised of mostly Dreamer working outside.... 

 BEFORE

AFTER

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!)

WEST ORCHARD- apples, peaches and pears

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.

He's clearing some dead trees and creating lots of brush pile for the bunnies to enjoy all winter long!

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. 

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.

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.  

Until then.... all is quiet and we are thankful. So VERY thankful.

Team TNT is BACK! Livin' like there's no tomorrow!

'

The Appalachian Trail should come with a warning label, much like a pack of cigarettes. It will change your life THAT much.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

So, where is Team TNT now? What is life like for us? What has changed?
We are still "LIVIN' THE DREAM". 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.

We surmised all of our goals to:
1. SIMPLIFY (and all that entails)
2. Spend time with those we love and care about
3. Make the most of the time we have left.

#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.
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.
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.)

#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.
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.

#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.

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 Wood's Hole Hostel.
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.
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!

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!

Hang on for a wild ride next time!

Team TNT re-joins the Appalachian Trail!

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!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2quFqRZKqQ8&feature=share&list=UUgOzPcZE-EQzBWn75CAm8wA

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!

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 

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.

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.... 

I want to thank my sweet friend Margaret Ross (www.margaretrossjewelry.com) 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.

I think that pretty much sums it up.

Team 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!!

Wood's Hole Hostel, Pearisburg, VA

A small part of the animal menagerie at Wood's Hole!

Neville and I had such a fun time together. We are very much 'kindred' spirits....

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!!

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.

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.

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. (www.facebook.com/tntonthetrail)

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!

http://youtu.be/-n_Oz_rJhbs

We took several days over Memorial Weekend to 'work' some trail magic for many fellow hikers!
http://youtu.be/VBkdbxq38LA

And another stretch coming into Waynesboro, VA.... just before going into Shenandoah National Park.
http://youtu.be/i6t2pmblkss

Dreamer and Charlie reunite.... Visitors from Home- Appalachian Trail

Last 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.

The boys got to experience weather changes, varied terrain and experience, first hand, the importance of limiting the weight in your pack. 

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.

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. 

Opie recaps their trip for us here:

My thoughts after 36 miles on the trail with Dreamer.

"Tex and I met up with Dreamer Friday morning for what I thought wasgoing to be a fun 3 day hike on the Appalachian trail. The trail had other thoughts in mind and I was humbled very quickly. To say I was grossly unprepared for the way the trail tests you mentally,physically and emotionally would be a fair statement.  We met up in Bland with dreamer to begin our hike which started with a short mile walk down a road and across a highway overpass. But as soon as our feet met the soft Virginian mud and we started our first ascent we met the trail for the first time. The sheer beauty of the surroundings were breathtaking as the rhododendron groves enveloped us. But the steep grade and narrow trail soon required all of our attention. It was almost as if it was saying "I will determine what you see as beautiful".

That first 10 miles were grueling. We had packed entirely too much food and not nearly enough water. Nothing could be prettier than coming to the first stream after carrying dry water bottles for the past 3 miles in the hot spring day. I was elated and felt that now I was prepared to tackle the trail...and then the downpour started.We finished the last 2 miles of day one in the rain and arrived soaking wet at the shelter for the night. We were met by other hikers who had battled the trail that day. Everyone was bruised and broken yet optimistic and resilient. They all seemed to acknowledge that there had been a battle and they may have been defeated but they didn't mind, this is a war and they are determined to prevail. We spent the evening huddled in the shelter out of the rain with quiet laughs and short stories in a similar fashion to how I imagine soldiers interact after a long battle. For the first time I realized how significant the resolve of a thru-hiker really is.

On day two after a quick breakfast we hit the trail in the cool morning air on a trail that was soggy from the nights rain. Our 14mile route for the day took us on a long downhill followed by a steep uphill and then "flat" ground for the last 6 miles. We had lightened our loads the night before at the shelter and despite some sore muscles we were in high spirits.Shortly after beginning the big downhill section the trail struck me with a lightning bolt of humility as I slipped on a rock and "tweaked" my knee. It's been years since I've sustained an injury and I figured this was no different and I could just walk it off. The trail had other plans though and as the steep downhill miles wore on they became increasingly more painful and at points unbearable. I found two sticks from beside the trail to help bear some of my weight but the pain kept growing. I felt broken and disheartened as Dreamer increasingly had to wait for me. It was a stark realization of the pain and heartbreak that Socks had experienced just a month before. My goal of 36 miles was a drop in the bucket compared to her goal of thru-hiking but was my trip over too? Could I struggle through this? Am I jeopardizing the goals of Dreamer and Tex? Am I selfish for needing their help? The questions raced through my mind. We stopped at the bottom of the hill for lunch and with tape and an ace bandage from Tex I wrapped my knee up and we started from the road uphill. This was my test. If I could make it to the top I could go on. If I couldn't make it I would have to back track to the road for a shuttle. Thankfully the bandage helped and even though there was still pain I was able to push past it and continue with Dreamer and Tex

Charlie was thrilled to be back with Dad on the trail!

For the last 4 miles on day two we were once again caught in a rainstorm and again got to the shelter soaking wet. Again we were met with friendly faces and embraced the feeling of shared suffering.On the third day we woke up to a glorious day. The clouds and rain had given way to a cool spring day with sunshine radiating through the trees. It seemed the trail had smiled upon us for the remaining 7 miles of our hike. We set out on the trail and my knee was feeling tolerable and the trail was great. We looked at the 4000 ft peak in front of us and smiled. We climbed with vigor as we charged the peak, carefully placing one foot in front of the other marching onward.There was no retreat available, surrender was not an option, we had to conquer this mountain. Do or do not, there was no try. The trail had changed us."

Communal campfire at Wood's Hole Hostel

Almost 40 pizzas were build for the hiker guests that night at Wood's Hole

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!!
You can learn more about Tex and Opie and their company, "First Light Gear" at: www.firstlightgear.com Opie has a bit more to share on their blog!

Catching up with Dreamer and Socks

Team 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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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....

The countdown will begin again soon!

Team 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.

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."

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.

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.

Charlie sleeping in his bed with his 'friend', Mr. Fluffy

Charlie sleeping on the couch in the family room. 

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.

A MESSAGE FOR MY SWEETHEART

This 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....)

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....

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'.

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.

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.

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.

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.


My last photo of me... taken on trail.

I made a video to explain how I feel and you can watch it HERE.

Team 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.

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.

Stay tuned.... we have more video to come over the next 48 hours.

Watch the newest HERE!

Winter Storm Virgil in North Carolina!

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

I'm remaining confident that if I can get this knee through the Smokies.... I can make it all the way! 

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!

"Whether you think you can or can't, you're right." Henry Ford

watch the newest video from TNT on the Trail here!!!!!

Our Week Long Vacation in Room #19

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!!

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. 

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.

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.  

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.)

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.  

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. 

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 on Saturday! 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.)

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!

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).

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!

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. 

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.

****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!

Looking forward to posting again from the trail this weekend!! More snow predicted through Wednesday!! Team TNT WILL be back on the trail!!