72 (June 1st) – 0 (zero day). 

Day 73 (June 2nd) – 16.4 miles. We hit the 1/3 way mark today, hard to believe we are 1/3 of the way done! We saw a deer right next to the trail today, and she was not shy at all. We are next to the BRP (Blue Ridge Parkway) that the AT crisscrosses for the next 100 miles, it’s really beautiful here. We found a perfect stealth site just past Harvey’s Knob Lookout. My knee was hurting today, but I’m sure it’ll be better tomorrow. 
Day 74 (June 3) – 16.2 miles. Beautiful weather and not bad terrain. Saw a black snake and several lizards. Passed nice swimming hole (with cold water) and got an ice cold Mountain Dew from Grateful! Saw lots of new (to us) hikers today, we might be in a new bubble. Knee was better by this afternoon (went slower on downhills today), hoping that keeps up!

Day 75 (June 4) – 16.5 miles. Sunny and hot day. Very humid. All uphill today, with some rocks and boulders (total ascent of 4,881 ft!). Saw 3 deer who aren’t afraid of us at all. Saw and survived The Guillotine!!

Day 76 (June 5) – 7.7 miles to Glasgow, VA – Stanimal’s Hostel. Miserable day. Was raining last night and all day today – including when we took the tent down this morning (we tried to wait for a lull, didn’t happen). I (Chica) have decided that I really don’t like hiking in the pouring rain. Bright spots: the terrain was pretty decent (well, except for the huge mud and puddles we had to walk through), we hiked fast (3 mi/hr), we met Subway (Hiker from NY, retired cop), we had a Nero (short hike) day, and are now at a Hostel taking care of business (it’s easy to think of the positives after getting out of the rain and having a hot shower!). This is a great Hostel, they have lots of food and drinks you can buy – all on the honor system, check out the candy selection!

Day 77 (June 6) – 20.0 miles to Brown Mountain Creek Shelter. Hiked most of the day with Subway, beautiful weather with a cool breeze. Passed the 800 mile mark! Saw a snake – Sunsets thinks it’s a Hog Nose Snake (I was in front and this time saw it in time to not step on it!). When Sunsets prodded it to move, it puffed up and hissed at him, we waited as we couldn’t go around (steep decline on one side and very thick underbrush and steep uphill on other side), and finally it slithered off across the trail. 

Day 78 (June 7) – 18.5 miles to Spy Rock Campsite. Very chilly all day, and very cold now at night. Good day hiking! Ran into Subway again and hiked most of the day with him. Tomorrow hiking 19.4 miles to Reed’s Gap and hopefully getting a hitch or ride in to Devil’s Backbone Brewpub, which several people have recommended. They let you tent for free, so that is our plan – eat dinner, tent, have breakfast next morning and head back to the trail. 

Day 79 (June 8) – 19.4 miles to Reed Gap. Killer day – all rocks, boulders, uphill or downhill. Thought this day would never end!! But we made it! I stuck out my thumb for a hitch and we got picked up right away, dropped off at Devil’s Brewpub where we are now dining (it’s a real restaurant!). They let us tent here for free, have ‘a $5 breakfast and will take us back to the trail in the morning. What a great place!!

Day 80 (June 9) – 14.1 miles, Reeds Gap to Paul C. Wolfe Shelter. Started with great breakfast at the Brewpub, then a shuttle back to the trail, so didn’t start hiking till 10:30. Check out my video (when posted) for Devil’s Pub – can’t say enough great things! More boulders today, but definitely easier than yesterday, thankfully! Great weather too. People all around us saw a bear today, and we were looking closely, but did not see. 
Day 81 (June 10th) – 5.0 miles to Rockfish Gap, then to Stanimal’s Hostel in Waynesboro. Nice easy hike today, and enjoying our Nero so far. Chic-fil-A for lunch (oh so good!), showers (oh that feeling of getting clean!) and packages to open!!! Stanimal (thru-hiked in ’04) has a nice Hostel here and the town of Waynesboro has everything you need!