Travel Rabble: On the East Coast!

Makin’ Moves

Since getting to Memphis, we have both felt like we are home. We left Matthew on Tuesday and now that we are in North Carolina, on the East Coast and it would be possible to get home in 17 hours we feel like the trip is over! We’ve still got some stops to make, but by this time next week we’ll be back in MA making plans for our next move.

The past few days have been fun reunions. We left Memphis and detoured down to Atlanta to visit Kernal Angus, a trail friend. We had met Kernal Angus just before the 501 Shelter on the AT. He had left us a Peach to enjoy at the shelter (Shannon ate the whole thing and didn’t share) and when we caught up to him again, we hiked together until Delaware Water Gap. He told us all about Burning Man, we told him all about Korea and we had a great time walking together. Our first 20 mile day was at the encouragement of Kernal Angus-he really pushed us to walk longer and farther. We also really enjoyed his Audio Book Choice: 50 Shades of Gray. He had researched Most Popular book and just downloaded the Number One. It was hilarious to hear his recaps while we were hiking.

We stayed with him for the night, ate lunch the next day and then booked it up to Salisbury to see two more trail friends, The Birds. We really enjoyed reminiscing about our trail experiences. Kernal Angus is a section hiker and goes back every year to do more of the trail. It was awesome to hear about his hikes over the past few years. He’s got a gorgeous house in Atlanta, a super friendly dog, two lovely daughters and a crazy hand held espresso machine! We had forgotten about the time change and so, unfortunately we didn’t get in until 9:45 that night but he took us out to lunch the next day so while it was a quick whirlwind visit, it was great to see him.

After Atlanta, we scooted 5 miles north to Salisbury North Carolina where we stayed with the Birds-two more Hiker Friends. We met the birds coming down the North side of Moosilauke. People had mentioned them to us before so we knew they were around. We heard them walking up the trail behind us and we all kept pace together down the Mountain. At some point we asked them how they got their trail name and LB just yells, “Cuz we’re LOUD!” We loved them instantly. They, too, were doing a flip-flop hike so we ended up summiting Katahdin with them and playing leap-frog through the whole southern half of the trail. We lost them toward the end of our hike and hadn’t seen them since.

It was awesome to see them yesterday! They had spent all their money to walk the AT which meant when they got back they had to go for “cheap” and “fast”. They ended up in this adorable log cabin that, incidentally, both their parents had rented and lived in when they were young. It is set back in the woods and they have lots of land around it. They’ve got a pond, a barn and a shed. We spent the night with them and the next morning, after a Waffle House breakfast, we went out on the river in their boat. With four people in a light little boat meant for two we didn’t get very fast or far but it was fun to just bebop around. After lots of hugs, we left them and made it to Billy and the Kids around 5pm.

The Southern branch of the Lyon family live in Waynesville North Carolina. We had seen everyone last summer when they come up to MA but the last time we were down here was when we were walking the AT. Billy came and picked us up on the other side of the Smokies and we had a little break here. It was super fun then and so far it’s super fun now. We got in and then all went out for dinner before a night of Roller Skating. The girls both participate in Roller Derby so they were, literally, skating circles around us. Billy is excellent too as he grew up skating and then spends 2 nights (or more) a week at the skate rink. I was concentrating on not breaking anything and felt it was an accomplishment to only fall twice! Over all, we had a great night with them and are looking forward to two more days!