Wild, Wild Horses🐴

Amidst our efforts to dry off from a rain storm yesterday, it’s time for an update. We have officially hiked 1/4 of the Appalachian Trail! And in that time have also hit our 500 mile mark, we hit 600 tomorrow. The miles seem to have started flying by! But with no shortage of sights and memories to be shared.

Undeniably, the best part of our last week has been seeing the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands. What a delight it was to wake up to a little pony nuzzling the outside of our tent! They were feeling the cool morning air as they galloped and whinnied through the open fields. These little guys were certainly living their best lives! And with Spring came all of their adorable, newborn foals just learning to hustle around with mom.

A few days after passing through the Highlands, we cruised through one of the tiniest towns I’ve ever seen called Glenclose. One amazing thing about Glenclose though? Is after an epically long day of hiking we treated ourselves to some amazing Mexican food at a restaurant connected to a Sunoco. But let me tell you, it did not disappoint! Pair that with a bottled margarita from the gas station and life was just peachy.

Later in the week, we stopped at Quarter Way Inn to grab showers, a quick laundry load and get some resupply for our last days out. My goodness were we pleasantly surprised by this hostel and it’s host, Tina. Not only does she run the sweetest little hostel with a host of cats and dogs to greet you, but in the off season she tends to her beehives! Last year they bottled over 2,000lbs of honey, talk about sweet! Tina had, by far, the most beautiful and welcoming retreat we had encountered yet and it is certainly a stop I would make again to spend the night. But alas, the trail was calling and we had to make it to Bland, Virginia by Sunday to meet up with a high school friend of mine, Kirena. She will be joining us for the next 5 days or so and we are certainly looking forward to her arrival!

A little wildlife update as well! Besides wild ponies, we’ve seen countless red spotted newts, a myriad of gorgeous birds, a handful of deer, a very round marmot and a baby bear! Although he ran off before we could get a good picture. And Spring continues to pepper the landscape with beautiful flowers everywhere as well!! So that’s all folks! Until next time! 💙