It has been a while since we were able to do a blog post. We have so much to catch you up on that it is impossible to say in one blog but I will try to narrow it down. We will have to continue to put small post on face book from the phone daily so please watch for those short post as well.
Starting with April 12 Th, We hiked 18.5 miles this day along the
C & O canal and ended at Calico Rocks camp ground on the canal. Along the canal we have met a variety of people biking, walking, hiking with their dogs, bird watching or just out for a stroll in the woods. We have seen some beautiful flowers along our walk , some of them we have never seen before like the Virginia blue bonnets, they are very dainty and pretty. We also have seen stinging nettle, blood root, trillium's, trout lilies, and columbines and much more. Along with the king snakes, alligator snapping turtles, geese, wood ducks, mallards, cranes, fox squirrels and much more. The wildlife has been plentiful.
While at the camp site we camp with Pilgrim another hiker on the ADT. We also camped with two cyclist named Ethan and David who were out enjoying the weather. We stayed up and shared our faith with them as well as theirs with us. It is such a blessing out here. Those two got up and off early to bike back for church this morning 35 to 40 miles away. They were of the Brethren in Christ and Plymouth Brethren belief . On this night , the trains and owls kept us up most of the night. The sounds coming from the owls in the camp site were amazing. We think there was three of them calling and nearly laughing at each other all night until sunup. We were not able to see them but we will never forget the sounds they made all night.
Starting a new day on the canal....April 13th , We hiked from our camp site to Harpers Ferry, W.V. for a total of 16.5 miles today. We have our first mail drop here to pick up, Thanks Anna Marie and Dr. Rush. We were in need of some things left at home.
On this day, is where the ADT crosses and intersects with the AT and we hiked on the AT for several miles here and it was tempting to turn on it and hike towards GA, then home. We are really not going to hike back towards home though. We have truly been blessed by the kindness of others we have met along our journey thus far. We started this day hiking with Pilgrim until breakfast, then we parted ways and met up again in town. We were able to spend several hours this morning sharing our faith with Waqar a Muslim man, what a blessing it was to be able to share our faith without strife or negativity. He was genuine and interested in what we believed and had to say. God is so good. We then hiked on the canal towards Harpers Ferry where we ended the day with much needed rest. At the end of our journey today, we were able to meet a trail angel and his family. Barry and his children were wonderful to us. They ordered us a pizza at the hotel and stay up and visited with us. We were able to end the day sharing our faith with him and his family, they are of the Jewish faith. What a blessing to be able to share and fellowship with so many people out here in the world. We have found that we have been able to let down the walls of pride and to truly humble ourselves and to openly share ourselves with so many people, it has truly been amazing. The people we have had in depth conversations with started out as complete strangers and in the end, have become friends. I feel that is what it is all about, to show love unconditionally and share faith and GOD with all we meet. God has truly been helping us along this journey.
Though, we are in pain now from many injuries that have come from our journey thus far, it has all been beyond worth it . We will rest and doctor our wounds, sprains, nerve damages, and others hurts and then proceed on our mission journey to the next adventure and see what God has in front of us. It is exciting to see whom we will meet and whom we will be able to share with or they with us. We have been truly blessed thus far. Thank you for your prayers.
Happy Hiking
God Bless,
Gentle Fir
Backpacking Believers
