Georgia to Maine - - Please join me from start (4/1) to finish (8/10) - 132 days!!!!!

Bethlehem, NH
I have completed my thru-hike of the AT from Georgia to Maine; I started 4/1 and completed 8/10/10. I decided to do this thru-hike in memory of my brother Michael and in turn decided to turn it into a fundraiser. All money raised went to the Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country which gives year-round opportunities in sports and recreation to people with physical or developmental disabilities. My wife Pam and I got involved with this program because it allows us to help people with disabilities enjoy the outdoors like we do and my brother Michael did. Michael was born mentally challenged, and he loved to visit us in the North Country of NH and go hiking. He also loved the outdoors and did many other sports. So, to help others do this and other outdoor activities is a TRIBUTE to him, and an HONOR to us. Many of you have helped me along my journey and donated (follow donation link) directly to a secure website. All donations have gone and WILL CONTINUE to go to ASPNC – nonprofit org to help assist others to hike, ski, kayak, snow shoe..etc… Thank you all in advance for your kindness & generosity, Dave & Pam Smith

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Monday 5/24

Ponytail and the Flying Scotsman called for a shuttle ride from the trail head to the Dutch Haus in Montebello, VA. It is a gorgeous B&B The only reason for this stop was while having lunch today at the Seeley-Woodworth Shelter PTD noticed an entry from Bulldog the blind hiker. Says he will be at the Dutch Haus getting some much needed rest. Ponytail wants to meet him so to town he went.

When they got to the B&B he was sleeping. So, they got all checked in, dried off and waited till dinner to see him. PTD was then able to speak to him and Hitchcock (the person who is traveling w/Bulldog and filming the documentary - a blind person thru-hiking the AT using a GPS). They talked all about different adaptive programs, the trail, the weather and small talk. Dave mentioned the Ski for Light program that comes to the north country several times a year. He told him that we have XC skied and kayaked w/the group over the past year.  Great bunch of people.

The Dutch Haus put on a fantastic dinner for all the Thru-hikers. Homemade meat loaf, baked potato - says it was the biggest potato that he ever saw. He had all the fixings and some greens. Then there was ice cream and chocolate cake.

Lois and Earl are super nice people and run a lovely B&B. Only about 7 miles of 81 for those that travel by car. THANK YOU for a wonderful stay. PTD says they made him feel as though he was in his own house.

Well, later that night he was sitting in the living room at the B&B just chatting with the other hikers and relaxing. Think there were about 12 staying there that night. When he heard voices in the other room. Thought they sounded familiar but really wasn’t paying too much attention. All of a sudden our friends Betty & Mikey walked in. Dave was in shock! A complete SURPRISE visit. They all gave each other the biggest hugs. They were traveling up from Florida and they knew he was somewhere in the area. They called me and I led the right to him. So, it was a good idea for him to go to town and not be in the woods tonight. He would have missed their visit. They stayed for a bit and talked. There was no rooms available at the B&B so they needed to go and stay down the road. PTD thought that was the greatest! Just out of the clear blue visitors. 1st friends from up north that he has seen other than family. While being on the trail.  He says it was such an uplift to see them.

1 comment:

  1. gingersnap26/5/10

    Hey, glad to hear your hike is going well. Wasn't the Tinkerton cliffs amazing. Congrats on the 800 mile mark, keep hiking happy hiker. WE are still in CT, I'm sure we will hike out eventually. Hope to see you along the way.

    Gingersnap

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