Day 97: Marion, VA. 1658 miles from Katahdin, 530 miles from Springer.

We got off the trail early! It's a Christmas miracle! The Greer Christmas celebration got moved up, so we are called from the rocks, roots & rain a couple days earlier than planned. 

We tromped, in the rain, of course, to the Mt. Rogers Visitor Center, about 40 miles shy of Tennessee, and laid down our trekking poles to travel to Florida like more reasonable people-- in a car.

We averaged over 17 miles a day, including our days off. Forrest took less than 6 days off from hiking. (I took a few more.) At our current pace, we need about 3 more weeks to reach the southern terminus. That's just not time we have right now. 

I'm heartbroken, as you can imagine, to start eating solid foods, and sleep in comfortable beds, and have more stimulus than rain on my face and leaves crunching underfoot.

I've learned lots of lessons over the past months, like: If you walk uphill for 6 straight miles, you won't be in Heaven, you'll just be tired. I imagine we'll be back to the last 500 or so miles, because you can't turn your back on this kind of education.

Meanwhile, Merry Christmas, God Bless, and keep your feet dry!