Hiker Signs with Some Fun Pictures ~ SOOC

I saw the first two plates last weekend when I dropped off some fellows from Philly who needed a shuttle ride.  The last one is Bud’s prized bumper sticker which I think it is pretty cute.


Here are the fellows I gave the ride to last Saturday. They were so much fun. Note the one that carries a Masters sized umbrella and an inflated cushion to sit on. He works construction, but is also a baseball umpire. I could not believe my eyes when he pulled those two items out of the car. He was a hoot and a half. His reasoning was he did not like to get up in the night in a rainstorm, crawl out of the tent to relieve himself, and then be sopping wet when he crawled back in. They are going to come back next summer, spend the night here, and then leave their car with us while they do another section. Umbrella Mike is a construction worker, but he also works as a baseball umpire. When I drove through Buena Vista on my way to the drop off point, he saw the sign saying Buena Vista, Home of Charlie Manual, manager of the 2008 World Series Philadelphia Phillies. He went bonkers with excitement saying, “He’s my man!”  Next year we will take him to see the house where Charlie grew up.

This is the traditional Appalachian Trail sign.

 Getting their stuff out of car ~ assembling the hiking sticks.

Mike tightening up the straps so his pack sits and fits comfortably on his back.

 This has to be at least a 40 pound pack...

the umbrella and the inflatable cushion 
crack me up. They are definitely a first!

Final shot before they hit the trail.

Here they go on their 10 day hike.

Please forgive me for setting off of the sign topic. I thought the story was so cool and fit in with the signs so well, I just had to include them.

This post is linked with Lesley’s “Signs, Signs.”

Reflections at The James River

This spot on the James River is a favorite place for Bud or me to drop off or pick up AT thru hikers. We shuttle the ones who call and need pick-ups and drop-offs. They will park their car at Point A. We will meet them there and shuttle them to point B. Then they will hike from B back to A and have their car waiting. These are what we call section hikers. If you have a full time job, this is about the only way you can do it. Ten years it took Bud to do the whole thing!  It has been a new experience for me. Sometimes the car smells so awful I can hardly stand it, but they, both guys and dolls, are always full of interesting stories. When I pick them up, I have water and snacks for them and a CLEAN car. I will leave unsaid what it is when my dearly beloved gets them. It’s is a guy thing, I guess. Can’t have that car too clean :-)  I have finally gotten him to take water and snacks which is great.

This post is linked with Weekend Reflections.