Living a blessed life

Before setting out on this adventure we heard about the Virginia Blues. This is when hikers get to Virginia and feel like the state is lasting forever and they get depressed about it. We have decided that those people must be pretty dumb because this state has been so incredible. If you get too caught up in the big picture there's no doubt that it will be depressing. It is the little things that are important. It is getting excited about small accomplishments and sites. Like we passed the biggest oak tree in the southeast the other day. How cool is that? It is called the Keffer Oak. Or passing 700 miles. We keep ourselves happy by appreciating everything and knowing how much we are achieving everyday. 

One cool thing that happened to us is seeing our first bear! We were quietly walking along this 14 mile ridge top when Marly calls from behind me "what's that?". Well it was a baby bear running across the trail about 200 yards in front of us. We stood there and watched it run from the right side of the trail to the left and then back where it came from. It was actually really adorable, but just as you are probably wondering we wanted to know where mama bear was. In trying to figure out what to do Marly says we should make noise and walk quickly by and that I should start singing. The first thing that came to mind was "the sun will come out tomorrow." So there we were nervously walking by singing "tomorrow" at the top of our lungs. Some of the lyrics might have changed to "the bear won't eat us tomorrow!" It was pretty funny we thought at least. Our first bear encounter was perfect!

Whenever a moment comes when we don't know what we are going to do next exactly or how we are going to get somewhere it always works out. The most recent of these times being that we heard great things about this restaurant called The Home Place Restaurant. It was 1.5 off the trail so we needed a ride there. We walk into the parking lot set our packs down and not 1 minuet a lady pulls up to us and asks if we need a ride. Turns out she is a former thru hiker and loves helping out in any ways she can. She also didn't mind that we were soaking wet from it raining all day. 

The people out here are so amazing and the kindness we have received has been magical. Sitting eating a bunch of amazing southern food, dirty and wet in this nice restaurant a woman and her daughter come up to our table. She lays a bill slip on our table and says "your meal has been paid for because you are thru hikers". We were in such shock we didn't know what to do but say thank you over and over. We took a picture with her and gave her our blog info. When she walked away we just sat there staring at each other and might have teared up a bit because we couldn't believe it. This woman just paid for our meal for no reason. Her son thru hiked the year before and they just enjoyed helping out hikers. How could you ever get the Virginia Blues when people in this state our so generous? Not to mention how beautiful it is out here. 

We feel so blessed to be out here. A few days ago we decided to wake up at 3:30 am to hike 2.5 miles up to McAfee's Knob to watch the sunrise. It was one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen or experienced. A true once in a lifetime experience that I feel so honored to have done. When was the last time you watched the sunrise? Get outside and see one because they are worth the little sleep the night before. 

Love to all :)