HALF WAY THERE! So it's all downhill from here...right?

Hooray, everyone! We have lots of exciting news to share! Since our last blog, we have covered lots of ground....making me extremely proud to say that we are now in...(drum roll please)...Pennsylvania! Yep, we actually made it to the "land where boots go to die". Looking back, Pennsylvania seemed like a figment of our overeager imaginations, a rocky, faraway land that we'd reach only in our wildest dreams. Well, wildest dreams they must be, because we finally made it.

Once we crossed the famous Mason-Dixon line into PA, we knew we had another hurdle to overcome besides tons of rocks and rattlesnakes; the Pine Grove General Store Half Gallon Challenge. Unfortunately for us, the implications are exactly what you might think. Pick your favorite flavor of ice cream, purchase it in the absurdly large half gallon size, and see how quickly you can devour it at the picnic benches out front. Now let me be clear from the start: I, in no way, shape or form, not even for a second, not even for intense bragging rights, not even because I love ice cream, even for one millisecond felt the need to consume over 3,000 calories and 480% of my daily value of saturated fat (not to mention the obvious and unintended side effects of brain freezes and stomach aches) in one sitting. Now also keep in mind, even as all these thoughts of repulsion are running through my head (ew, who DOES this anyway?!) Jordan is looking at me with some sort of a death/imploring stare because he so desperately wants to take part in this Half Gallon Challenge....and since clearly only idiots succumb to the peer pressure of actually eating 2 liters of ice cream, he so desperately wants me to do it too.

So what the heck! I told him, hey, if you want me to partake, then you're wasting your $5.50, not mine, buddy. So he did, and I tried...but after about 10 bites I gave up. (don't act so shocked, I already told you I didn't want to do it!) Jordan made a slightly better showing, but still a disappointment to all of our other, apparently more speed-ice-cream-eating adept friends. (Shutterbug, don't you know girls aren't supposed to eat that much ice cream in TWENTY FIVE MINUTES?!?) Sorry guys!

On a final, more triumphant note, we hit the OFFICIAL halfway point today! Whoo hoo! We took about a million pictures that will posted soon and reveled there in our glory for about an hour. Then we realized we still had over a thousand miles to hike and sitting there on our butts wasn't getting us any closer to Maine. Oh well! One more time, whoo hoo! Halfway there!!!!

Coming up, Boiling Springs, Bob Evans, and a much needed day off in Duncannon!

Goodbye VA and WV, hello Maryland!

Hey everyone! We are back on the Trail after some much needed R&R for Jordan's birthday celebration and what an exciting few days it's been. In the span of the past week we've hit 1,000 miles, gotten our picture taken at the ATC in Harper's Ferry, and managed to make it in AND out of West Virginia. (okay, so it's only like 15 miles through the state, but still!) West Virginia wasn't the only thing we said goodbye to yesterday....the pinky toenail on my left foot finally called it quits. It was iffy there for awhile, but she just couldn't hang on.

The wildlife has been amazing since we hopped back on the trail; deer, rabbits, and butterflies are everywhere! It's no wonder really, with it being such a beautiful and green environment along the Trail. We've been finding plenty of streams and rivers along the way to stay hydrated, but apparently it's some pretty dry territory here within the next week or so, so that is something we'll have to be extra careful about, especially in this heat.

It was amazing to reach 1,000 miles, although what we're super excited about is the official halfway point, which is in Pennsylvania. Don't worry, we'll get there soon!

Happy Birthday Bearfoot!

Hooray for Jordan! He turns 25 this very day and what a better way to spend it than relaxing at the beach with friends and family? We will be taking a few days off in my hometown of Bethany to rest up, eat lots of good food, and play around on the beach. It will certainly be nice to have a break from the wilderness, but don't worry....it's back to the grind again next week!

We have an upcoming interview with National Grographic and we couldn't be more excited and honored! Once we hit the Trail, we'll be almost out of that lengthy state of Virginia and then it's on to West Virginia, Maryland, and beyond!

Now all together: HAPPY BIRTHDAY JORDAN! WE LOVE YOU!

Back in action!

Hey Everyone! I know, I know, you must have all thought that we disappeared off the face of the Earth. Luckily for all of us, we're still going strong...we were just too hot to type. :) Not surprisingly, we are fairly far from where we left you...having successfully completed the Shenandoah's and almost the last leg of the Virginia portion. HOORAY! One of the highlights of the past week or so has been the views from the Shenandoah's and the Blue Ridge Parkway. They are amazing! Also now that it's officially warm, we've been seeing lots more wildlife...yes, bears!...but mainly deer, rabbits, and birds that we can't identify but are enjoying nonetheless. Right up there with seeing a bear are the blackberry milkshakes that they serve at the waysides along the way! Talk about a little piece of heaven on the Trail! I was thinking about just stopping and camping at a wayside for a few months so I could have one every single day...but we figured we'd never get to Katahdin like that. :) We've been LOVING our Earth-friendly Mountainsmith packs and have gotten lots of questions about the Trek from people we've met along the way. We hope we leave them with the excitement and passion that we have not only for our journey, but for the cause as well. Thanks again for EVERYONE'S continued support!
 
On some housekeeping issues, I was having lots of trouble with my shoes (too small, I think) and had to stop in Waynesboro to test out some different ones at the outfitter there. Boy were we glad we stopped! We absolutely fell in LOVE with the store, the owner, and all the gear. Way to go Rockfish Gap Outiftters! They had any and everything we would ever need...not to mention their staff REALLY knew what they were talking about. Also we were EXTREMELY happy to see that they carried a men's and women's Mountainsmith recycled pack right there in the store. We made sure to get all gushy about how much we absolutely love ours and couldn't think of a better pack to travel the Trail with. They were excited to get that feedback! So they rocked! And thanks to them, I got some new shoes that actually fit and feel like I could run to Maine! Hmmm, maybe ALMOST run to Maine. :) Now if we could just get them to follow us and carry our packs....
 
Coming up in the next edition: the halfway point (wow!), Harper's Ferry, and the northern portions...