Update

My great Podiatrist,  Dr. Healey , is seeing me on Friday and will give me a "for sure" diagnosis.   Stress fracture?  Overuse?  Arthritis?  Imaginary?  Who knows?  Foot feels good in the boot,  stiff and funky out of it.  Looking forward to Friday!

Ai yi yi

Taking a side track here in Chesapeake.  I have a probable stress facture on the top of my foot so we will stay at home for a few days to see if it will heal enough for me to continue.  We are hoping to get back by Monday and start in WV.  Bill will walk some while I drive. 

Thanks

Many, many, many thanks go out to Bill's sister, Liz, for being there for us at every turn!

Also to Missy, my dearest friend, who also was there every time - at the drop of a hat.  Could not have done this without them!!!

We are......

.....not quitting!  We are adapting to the route and obstacles on a daily basis.   Going back to the lead car thing, bypassing the C&O canal (I'd walked it's entirety in 1993 so don't feel bad not doing it again).  Gonna take a day or 2 off my foot then get back on the trail - somewhere in WV.

12 miles in Reverse

Yep, we walked back 12 miles so that Liz could pick us up after finding out that there was no water to be had along the trail.   Feet are so sore. ..thought by now that they would be"broken-in, not broken.

Spent a neat night in tent under oak trees.   The wind was really blowing and the leaves and acorns were making quite a cool sound on the tent.   Woke to cooler temps.   Thank you, Dennis, for the "Hotties."  They were perfect.

Stay tuned for further developments. ...

Another day

Good news:  Another 12 miles today.  Bad news:  We have to walk back those same 12 miles tomorrow.  :( 
We neglected to find out if the water pumps would be working at each campsite (although all the information we read says they aren't stopped until mid November).  We got to our 1st camp and - no water.  Called headquarters and they said all pumps shut down due to govt shutdown.   Now that they are back in business all water has to be tested (2week process) and they may not turn them back on now until next spring.
We are walking back to Great Falls tomorrow, and Liz, bless her, is picking us up.  This is a tough one as my left foot is getting really bad as well.   Stay tuned....

C&O Canal 2

Walked 14.3 miles today from Georgetown to Great Falls.  These 2 photos are part of my journey. ...The green water reminded me of jrr Tolkien and if I threw a rock into it I might awaken some creature.  Threw a rock in - nothing happened.  Phew!

Tomorrow the cart comes back into play with both of us walking the trail for the next couple of weeks.   We actually cross into West Virginia 18 miles before the end of the c&o canal but we've decided to go to the end in Cumberland, MD.   We will have to rent a car from there to get back to our car in Manassas. Expenses add up but it's our only option.   Should anyone feel like walking a day or 2 with us just let us know.

C & O Canal Trail

Started my 1st day at Mile marker 0 on the c&o canal.  Walking solo to the Great Falls Tavern which is 14.3 miles where Bill will meet me.   I am at Mile 7/Lock 7 on a gorgeous autumn day.  

Me.....and my shadow

The picture is from yesterday before all the rigmarole.

It was decided that we will wait out the govt and hope that they get everyone back to work by the end of the week.   Bill's sister graciously let us stay at her house after we showed up on her doorstep today.   Thanks Liz!!!!   :)  If all works out we should be back on track very soon.   We could not have gotten this far without all the help we have received along the way. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

#/!÷$(

What a trying day (Bill says those words are not strong enough)!  Walked 13.1 today but drove more.   Got to Greenbelt Park but couldn't camp because of govt shut down.   Was supposed to go Thru the park to get to next destination and had to figure out how to get to other side of park. Figured that out but next section was thru another closed trail and had to get around that!  Finally got back on trail and went thru some very rough neighborhoods where I was definitely in the minority.   Did not feel very safe but got thru it(this being on the outskirts of D.C.).  Drove through another section only to get to another Closed trail.   I am so discouraged!!  Tomorrow I am walking the trail we drove today and this will take us to the C & O Canal Trail.   If That is closed we just don't know what we will do.   The plan would have been for us both to walk it which would take 2-3 weeks.   Logistics still will need to be worked out -and we would work it out. ...but we need the park to be opened!! Staying in the lovely Windsor Inn in downtown DC;  we just can't afford to be staying in hotels.   Give me patience!

Day off

Had a most relaxing day.   Thank you Missy and Dennis for sharing your home with us!  Feet are rested; recovery time was shorter this time. Taping the feet tonight to get ready for tomorrow's walk. Hope the government gets its act together and re-opens the parks again.   We need them!

Sunday

We're staying with my BFF, Missy (and Dennis) for tonight.   Walked12.4 miles in lovely cool weather and only a few raindrops.   Went thru the town of Bowie,  and had a couple of challenges....off road trails that Bill had to figure out how to find me and really bad directions and mileage to follow.  (Found a $1 bill on the ground-woohoo).   some beautiful countryside,  Fall colors, and hilly roads.   I sure don't mind using some different muscles,tho. Feels gooooood!  :)

MUMS

Rain day#3

9:19am  60°   Rain. Lat 38.99. Lon 76.52

Buzz takes to the road in the rain. By 11:33 Buzz has gone 6.1 miles and checked out 2  7/11's....:) 
12:35pm  Buzz still on track but roads worry me.  So narrow are these roads the scrub grass is out over the white line, enough that you can't see it
1:07. Break time!
1:25. Road closed - flooded!  Took 1.5 hours of driving around to find the walking route again.  Buzz made 9.5 miles today.
4:30.  Sleeping in car tonight. ..hotel too expensive, ground too wet, too much civilization.
The answer to the question is"yes."  The Bears, Buzz, and Chief all do it.

Lat 38.94   Lon 76.72

Rain again

Fun day walking in the rain.   Always raining, sometimes light sometimes heavy, but never ending.   Good raincoat but you still get wet just from sweating.   Some scary moments when there were no shoulders to walk on and going around curves hoping the driver sees you.   Wore my orange backpack in the front to help. I really love walking in the rain so a good 10.5 miles in just 3 hours was a good day. Walked up a high bridge over the Severn River, thru the Naval Academy, into the city of Parole.  Bill is great at keeping me safe and taken care of.

Rain

Glad we're not walking today.   Torrential rain and gusty winds.   Tomorrow we should be walking into Annapolis and the Naval Academy.   We may be sleeping in the car since the rains won't really stop until Sunday.   Feet are a little better, will be even better tomorrow. It's all good.

Over the Bay Bridge

After a great egg breakfast thanks to Maria Estrada Torres (thanks for your kindness) we got on the road at 8am.  Walked country roads,  saw a white squirrel in Queenstown,  went thru nice town of Grayson, ate crab cakes under Kent Narrows bridge, then had a lovely walk on a nature trail with some good company.  After walking 12.7 miles,  Bill drove us over the 5 mile Bay Bridge - and I survived! :)  Every part of me hurts today and I am taking a 2 day break.   We've decided that we'll get to our destination without killing my feet.   Love you all.

We are blessed. ..

.....walked 14.2 miles today. We are in Centerville, Md.    Beautiful, cool temps, overcast.   Passed lots of soy and corn fields as well as pretty neighborhoods.  We are blessed to have stopped by a tree farm managed by Enrique Torres and his wonderful family. They opened their home to us,fed us dinner and gave us their 14 year old daughter's room (thank you, Maria)!  They have been just so kind and welcoming.   This is what this trip is all about!!!  75 miles in 7 days!
Lat 39.00
Lon 76.11.    Bill would love to hear from his geico family.

Still here

Last night's post is not going thru.   We walked 11.5 miles yesterday and spent the night at Tuckahoe State Park.   Got through the storm just fine.   Have walked 6 miles so far this morning.   If this post goes through we will post later tonight.

Day 8

Thank you everyone for supporting our adjustments (a plug for chiropractic!).  As soon as we get ourselves squared away we will let you all know; I should be on the trail again on Monday.   I am itching to get out on the road!!  This is pretty cool stuff. 

Day 7

Yesterday we walked 8.3 miles into Adamsville just 2 miles shy of md.  Today, with the help of a neighbor,  we walked 8.5 miles into Denton, md.  The couple who is helping us has been with their daughter at the hospital waiting for her to deliver their 1st grandchild-a month early! He just arrived and we are trying to stay out of the way.

Thru much deliberation,  we have a change of plans.   I am going to continue to walk but Bill is going to get our car and be my point man.  We will arrange to get back to VA and then back on the trail-asap.  I am a better walker than a hiker and I am feeling very strong. As good as the cart sounded it just won't work out.

Stay tuned. .......

Day 6

What a day!  Got out at our earliest at 830.   Beautiful morning. ..and then,  the HEAT, AGAIN WITH THE HEAT!   We hooked up with Lee and Christine at their house about 1:00 and we were able to leave the cart in the garage and hike with a small pack.   Heaven!! We walked until we were just 2miles from MD. Could have done more if it wasn't 90 degrees !! Bill is having a very rough time with the heat.  Our breaks went from every hour to every 1/2 hour to every 15 minutes and then at 4:00 he was kaput.  Christine picked us up at 530 and we had a delicious dinner with the family.   Took showers (truly, we reeked), did laundry and we are staying in the most beautiful house I have ever seen.   Tomorrow we are walking light again from 7-1230,returning here in the afternoon thanks to Christine again.  Probably repeating this again Friday and then take cart on Saturday.  I could walk 20 miles every day if I didn't have to lug everything. We need this intense heat to go away. So MD,  here we come.   Of course the ADT is now officially closed because of the furlough but we will get around that.  Love to you all!

Dog story

This dog came upon us while we were taking a much needed break.   All we wanted was to just lay down for a while.   He was just there all of a sudden.   Very skittish but would not go away!  We kept telling him to go home.   As we were packing up to leave he came back with his Frisbee!  I could not stop laughing about it all day!:)   Anyway we didn't play for fear he would follow us but , oh my, we will never forget him!!
(Can't get picture of a beautiful german shepherd dog with a blue Frisbee in his mouth to go thru.   Drat!)

Day 4 and 5

Day 4 was a great relaxing day at Redden state park.   Day 5 we got out by 945 because we are like 2 OLD people in the morning.   Still working on lightening the cart (nicknamed Cherry) and playing around with different ways of pulling/pushing it. Made 8.2 miles today-34 total so far.  Camped in a92 year old farmer's front yard thanks to Serinda. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY WISHES AND PHONE CALLS!!  See the ADT sign on the post?  The 2nd pic is me on my 58 birthday morning.   See next post. ....