You're not in Kansas anymore Kenny....Part 2.

Well it's been funky two weeks. Still trying to get used to being in a new town. Right now it's hard because we don't know anything about Roanoke....or anyone and since we aren't in school and other routines we just kind of do our own thing. Kind of weird...but mostly fine. I think Ike is the one who feels it the most. He misses Winston and his friends and cousins. Maya on the other hand could be on the moon all alone stacking rocks and she would be having the time of her life. Actually sometimes I think mentally she probably is on the moon. And Ezra well as long as he is eating he is pretty much happy. I guess it will take time to see how it all works out.

The training volume isn't huge these days but that's okay. I'm trying to help the kids get settled and figuring all the other stuff out. Andrea is working now and so I just train when I can. Basically I am just trying to get used to running hills all the time and then when Sept comes I will be ready to go! Maybe...

But I have had some adventures this week....or misadventures you could say.

Training this week:

Mon: J's finally took her boards....great they are over.

Tues: 8 mile trail run. Went back to Roanoke/Mill Mtn to do the loop by my house and the ridge line trail. the ridgline trail is the 1.5 mile up that has been kicking my booty every time I have run there. Today as I was running along...before I even got to that part of the trail....I was already making excuses as to why I was going to walk it. "It's hot...I didn't carry water...my legs are tired." Then I realized what I was doing and got mad at myself....yes that's right....and I was like "you know what I am running this whole trail....AND the ridgline trail even if I red line...pass out...and fall over in the trail.  And I ran it. First time I did the whole 8 miles without walking this one steep hill.

As I was running back to the car I was thinking how often people (me) do that in life. We end up not trying something or not doing something...because before we even try it/do it....we have made up excuses as to why we shouldn't do it...or can't do it. More often than not we just need go and just do it. We limit ourselves so much just because mentally we aren't strong enough to force ourselves....our push ourselves to do things. And yet once we do them (usually) we are glad we did. I'm guessing I am going to need a lot of mental strength in the months ahead.

Wed: can't remember...but don't think I did anything

Thurs: 8 mile trail run. Yes back at Roanoke/Mill Mtn. When I am short on time that's what it's going to be.

Fri: Off.

Sat: 20 mile trail run at Carvin's Cove. Oh boy....where do I start. So I finally went out to the much ballyhooed Carvin's Cove. Here are the details on it.  http://www.roanokeoutside.com/carvinscove

And I must say it didn't disappoint. It was a legit trail and outdoor mecca and it felt pretty wild and rugged considering it's 15 min outside of town. There are around 40 miles of trails there and they have put a ton of work into maintaining them...pretty impressive.

So I knew I was probably going to be in for a long morning....I brought a map but really had no idea what I was doing or how the trails all worked. I figured it would be a work in progress until I learn more about the place.

The trails were good....not too technical except on the the hard stuff....though like all the trails here it was pretty rocky in places. The climbs were no joke. 2 miles straight up to the ridge...and then 2 mile bombs straight back down. Every trail I was on I was imagining myself mtn biking it because really more people mtn bike out there than anything. But between the hills/stream crossings/rock sections/hairpoint turns with drop offs on the side....it is going to be a wild place to mtn bike and I will need to get stronger on the bike before I can handle it all.

But none of that was the interesting part of my run....that would be....the Freaking BEARs!

I have read a lot about carvin's cove...like I nerd I even read all the signs at the trail head check in. And not once...not even in one place...do they every say "oh and watch out for bears." So call it naive because yes I am in the mountains of virginia but bears never once crossed my mind.

Well that changed quickly when about 30 minutes into my run I come up on a mama bear and her cub right off the side of the trail. Obviously I slam the breaks on. It caught me by surprise for sure but it didn't freak me out...I have been around bears in the woods in all my travels so I am not scared of them or anything. (Grizzly Bears? Different Story...)

So I'm standing there and she is checking me out....and I'm just talking to her reassuring her that I was just passing through. And so she and the cub turn and walk off into the woods a bit.  So I think... "maybe its fine if I just mosey up the trail a bit and try and pass by." Which is what I do. I'm walking up the trail a bit when I hear a crashing to my left (mama bear is on my right) and here comes another bear cub running for his mom. And that's when I think, "oh....sugar" Between her and the cub wasn't where I should have been and immediately mamma bear turns around and starts walking back towards me. So I retreated quickly back down the trail still trying to reassure her that I didn't mean any harm. And it turned out fine. The cub caught up and the 3 of them walked off into the woods. So I started running again and though I was a little skittish from the encounter....mostly I was thinking "how cool and wild out here!"

But my bear encounters for the day weren't through. Later that morning...maybe an hour and a half later I am running on a trail and come up on another bear off to the left of the trail and see her cub nearby too. Once again I slam on the breaks. I'm thinking that's pretty weird to seem more bears on the same run....and I'm wondering if this is the same bear. That would seem pretty crazy considering I had probably covered at least 8 or 9 miles from the time I had seen the last one. I waited for her to move on...off to the left of the trail and I started down the trail again.

Now naturally I kept turning my head and looking back because she had stopped and was just looking at me for awhile when I had run off. So I'm running maybe 30 seconds down the trail...with the trail moving off to right....and I had turned back to look one more time...and when I turn my head back I go around a corner and right in the middle of the trail (not off to the side) is another bear! This one bigger than the last one. I slam on the breaks and I'm like....okay won't say what I was like....but now this is starting to get crazy.

This bear has two cubs with her too...and they immediately scurry up a tree...and mama stares me down and starts making a little bit of a growling/barking/huffing noise at me.  At one point even standing up for a second on her legs. She is definitely bigger that the bear I just saw 30 seconds ago....but what I'm wondering is if this the same bear from earlier or still another bear?

Anyway now I'm starting to wonder what's going on. Is this bear's nickname the flash? Is there a family of bears out here that saw me get out of the car this morning and decided "hey let's really mess with this guy today he must be new." Well regardless is was pretty crazy...and I never saw another trail runner all morning that I could ask about it. I was like that's okay you take the trail....I'll take the woods...and I after she walked off a bit I cut out into the woods a ways and went around them.

As I worked my way up the mountain later that day...walking because it was steep and my legs felt like jello I was thinking that there must be some daddy bears out here with all these babies...right? At one point I was running next to a lake and up from the bushes came a....deer. Yeah not a bear but I hadn't seen it so of course I nearly came out of my trail running shoes.

But anyway I made it back to the car. Besides the bears the run was a bit rough. My legs and body are struggling to adapt to all the hills and the up and down running. I feel sluggish and heavy. I know I just need to keep at it and slowly I will get stronger...but at times it's a bit tough to keep pushing.

As for the bears...just weird. At some point I would like to ask someone if this is normal out there. I saw more bears in a 3 and a half hour run than I have in the last 10 years combined and I just spent 3 days in great smoky mountain national park which is supposedly overrun with bears. I guess it definitely brought some adventure into the run though. I will see when I go back out there next sat what happens.

I was thinking too that I need to back up until I get stronger. I had planned on making some big jumps up in mileage in the next few weeks in hope of being ready for a marathon in a month...but its a tough trail marathon in the mtns and I am struggling to run even 18 miles now with all the hills the way I want.

I always give people who I am helping with their training the advice that if you aren't strong in a lesser amount of miles then don't jump up. Go back down until you can run that distance strong and then move up when you are ready. I am thinking I am going to have to take my own advice. Boo.

And that's probably good life advice too. All too often we are tempted to "jump up" or do more or add more to our lives when we are struggling to handle what we already have...or what we are already doing. It would be much better I would guess to back up and get stronger/better at what you are already doing and then add more and do more when you are ready. Both physically and mentally. That takes patience...which isn't always easy to have. Especially for Olson's! Anyway...I will try and remember that.

Sun: 7 mile  "road run"

Maybe I should rename this blog the misadventures of David Olson.

So Sunday night I was feeling restless and decided after everyone went to bed to go for a run. It was about 9:30 or 10 maybe. There is a golf course in the community we are renting our house in and so I figured I would go out with a headlamp and just run the cart path throughout the course. No I had never been on the course but I had seen a few holes from the road...and how hard could it be to follow a cart path in the dark?  Well it turns out it's pretty hard.  Especially when your headlamp batteries are low and you don't realize it until you are gone and so you can't see that well.

So you know where this is going. I basically spent the next hour and a half lost in the dark running up and down...wait for it....you'll never guess....steep hills! that's right! more steep hills! In fact I passed lots of signs that said.... "caution steep hill".

So yeah I got all turned around and couldn't figure out where I was. At one point I somehow ran by the same hole 2 times. And I know there was one short but nasty hill that I must have been on at least 3 times. But the highlight of the nights festivities came when I was running along and came up on a skunk right in front of me. It took me a second to realize what it is....enough time for it to turn around and lift it's tale. I was like "nooooo" and darted out into the fairway of the hole I was running along....only to jump/trip over a low rope that was right there and land in a bunch of mud. Oh yeah. So obviously the rope was there to keep people out of the mud but that doesn't help me because again....it's dark...my headlamp is going out....and I'm dodging a skunk who is trying to spray me. Awesome. Saw 2 more skunks and lots of deer. One buck who looked to be about 6 points.

Anyway I finally came out on a road I recognized and just ran that back to my house. Just another run....

Totals for the week: 43 Miles running and 0 biking.

Training Week 7/15 - 7/21

Well I basically missed an entire week of training with our move which was to be expected. But it's not like I didn't get an workouts in. Lots of squats and dead lifts with all the moving of boxes and other stuff! But I got back at it a bit this past week.

Mon: Off

Tues: 5.5 mile trail run. So I went to this trail right by my house. It is part of the Roanoke Mtn State campground. I am guessing it will be my "hobby park" which is the close to home trail I head to for a quick run. It was pretty good....not very technical....but it did have some hills. I went in the afternoon and it was brutally hot...but I didn't walk any of the hills which was a victory I feel like.

Wed: 8 mile trail run. I went back to the Roanoke Mtn Loop but this time added on an out and back trail that connects over to Mill Mtn. It was called the ridgeline trail. It was even hotter today and my run was brutal. I felt okay until I got to the ridgeline trail but that wiped me out...it was pretty steep uphill (for me at least) and my body was like "no way" had to walk it which hurt my pride a bit.  I stumbled back to the car...rough.

Thurs: 6 mile (I think) trail run. Went to a place called Explore Park. I can get on the Parkway right by my house and just took it all the way to this park. It was kind of an interesting/weird place and I will check it out more in the future. My run again was brutal...and was again in the hottest part of the afternoon. I got turned around (aka semi-lost) a few times and my body wasn't feeling great. I am going to have to adjust to the fact that every run here in Roanoke is pretty much a hill run compared to what I'm used to. It is hard on my legs...but I guess if I can keep going it will make me stronger in the long run. I will probably mtn bike more here than run since they have some great mtn bike trails.

Fri: Off

Sat: 24 mile trail run. So my friend Abran told me when I left Winston Salem that we needed one more "proper" trail run together before I left NC. Proper meaning...not on an easy local hill with tame trails but some serious singletrack and adventure in the mtns. That....is a "proper" trail run.

We decided to hit one of our favorite trails in Boone which is up Calloway Peak and then a ridge traverse over to Grandfather Mtn. This is an epic run and has it all. Trail running....rock climbing and scrambling...ladders....cable...exposure...and amazing views.

I came down and stayed with my mom and then met Abran and my friend Darrian at the Price Park trailhead Sat morning. What a day we had. It was epic and an amazing time. I was worried about how I would do considering I had struggled so much with my running the week prior but the weird things was I felt pretty good. It's amazing what good company and amazing trails will do for your body/mind. At one point we had about 3 miles of straight uphill and I just got into a great rhythm and just cranked it out. It gives me hope that I can do these kind of runs. And that the old man/married/3 kids guy can hang with these younger/single/run lots of miles in the mtns dudes.

Good news! More stairs! (Inside joke for Matty, Yimmy, and Dougie 

Calloway peak was pretty cloudy on top and so was our initial crossing of the ridge but it is such an amazing trail I didn't even care. We did some great climbing and scrambling....and just running and traversing that kind of terrain is so much fun. 

(Abran and Darian scrambling up some different ladder sections)

(Darian snapped this pic of me climbing up above him)

The terrain was awesome...and I loved the climbing. Occasionally as I would jump from rock to rock I would let out these whoops of joy.

We ended up popping out by the swinging bridge on top of grandfather mtn which was pretty weird. We went from all alone in the woods to this mass of tourists cramming themselves into the visitor center. 

At this point we had been out 12 miles or so and we were VERY muddy...like head to toe....and soaking wet from sweat. I walked into the visitor center to refill my water bottle in the drinking fountain and man I got some strange looks. The guy standing next to me at the water fountain just kept glancing at me and finally said, "man you alright? you look like you been through it." I was like "yeah I'm great! Just out for a little run" He waddled off to get back into his massive SUV his "wilderness experience" over and we headed back out on the trail.

(A little mud on the tires....)

One thing that was amazing was the temperature change. On thurs it was 91 when I ran. The temperature on top of grandfather mtn according to their gauge? 61! Yes 61...a full 30 degrees cooler than my run 2 days before in roanoke. No wonder I felt better.

The clouds actually blew off for a bit so we could see more going back across the ridge but a good sized storm was rolling in from the distance. We could already hear the thunder and see some lightning from it so we had to pick up the pace a bit so we didn't get caught up high in it.

Finally got back to the car after being out there most of the day. What a great day and I had a blast being out their for an epic adventure with two friends.

There was only one thing left to do after getting off the mountain and after a day long adventure like that....

You're not in Kansas anymore Kenny...

Okay so I'm back. After all the craziness of the move and then not having internet for a few weeks or so I haven't been able to blog. Lots to say and record so I'm not really even sure where to start. Still feels weird to not be in NC and to be living here in Roanoke. I'm sure I will have more to say about it as time goes on.

Training Week 7/1 - 7/7

Mon: 6.5 Mile trail run (in the rain)

Tues: 7 mile run at tanglewood greenway (in the rain) Was moving at 49.45 for the run.

Wed: Tempo Intervals on Road 6 miles. (in the rain) Warmed up with 1 mile. Ran next one at 6:15 pace then next one at 6:45 pace...then next one at 6:15 pace then next one at 6:45. 1 mile cool down.

Thurs: 11 Mile trail run. Got out to Salem Lake to run with Matty. Probably last one we will do before I move. I have really enjoyed these SL runs with him over the last few years. One of the few times we get to just be together and talk or just run silently next to each other. Sad I won't get to do them as much but we have lots more trail runs together to go still.

Fri: To Durham to work on some project for my sister at her new house. Had a great 4th of July cookout after a full day of yard work and projects.

Sat/Sun: Going through stuff and Packing like crazy at home. One week to go!

Well I started out this week strong with four days of runs but then ran out of time/energy/motivation towards the weekend. Missed my long run which isn't good but there isn't much I can do about it. I'm in a race to the finish and crunched for time and the training is going to have to take a back seat for a bit here. And the rain! It rains every day basically! Time to re-evaluate any adventure plans that require a bike because I haven't been able to get on one at all basically.  The next week or two is going to be hit or miss with things but I'll train when I can and we'll see what happens.  

Training week 6/24 - 6/30

Well I had kind of a "down" week this week meaning I didn't train as much which was fine. The body needed a little less load on it and I was busy doing other things. Sometimes you need to just enjoy life...do some other things...and let training take a backseat. Did a bit of that this week which was nice mentally. Oh and the rain didn't help either. Lots of rain and more coming everyday this week. Hopefully I can have a strong week coming up regardless. But I'm worried about my bike legs (and planned off road triathalons) since I can't seem to get out on my mtn bike much. Anyway my week.

Mon: 7 mile road run. Hill workout.

Tues: Off. I met up with my old roomate from college Michael Yelton who is a fly fishing guide in the Lake Lure area. Went out early and had a great time fly fishing for white bass and catching some smallies. Nice weather and a beautiful morning to be outside. The Broad river and the Lake itself are both really nice. Was a little rusty with my fly fishing but remembered how much I enjoy it. Going to get back into fly fishing more when I get to VA.

It was funny to talk about the "good ol days" a bit and hear about people. He always kept up with people better than me and I admit that some of the people he kept telling me about I couldn't remember who they were or what they looked like. Has it really been that long? Almost 15 years....so I guess yes it has.

Wed: off (rain rain)

Thurs: 11 mile trail run at Salem lake. Considering I hadn't run much this week I thought I would have felt better on this but for some reason the opposite seems to be the case a lot for me. The more I run the better I feel for some reason. Really humid...but an okay run.

Fri: Off. Headed back up to the mtns to get my kids from my Mom's.

Sat: 20-22 (don't know exactly) trail run on the Mountains to Sea Trail. So right near my mom's house you can access the mountains to sea trail which basically follows along the blue ridge parkway for this section. It's an interesting trail...still a work in progress so "piecemealed" together meaning one minute you are running a nice trail...the next you are out running on the parkway...the next running through a cow pasture. Kind of funny but it was still a good run.

Had some animal encounters too...
Early in the run I actually was cruising a downhill section...turned a corner and came up on a bobcat. I'm glad I had just recently gone to the bathroom or I might have peed my running shorts because it scared the mess out of me. I slammed the brakes on in time to see him raise up his back shoulders...make some kind of weird hissing/spitting sound and then take off so fast it was like he had been shot out of a cannon. Crazy how fast he moved and was gone. Also saw no joke 25 deer standing together in a field at one point...weird to see so many together in one place. If it had been sunday I would have assumed they were having church. Also I was climbing a ladder to go over a fence at one point and came down right into a group of turkeys who weren't happy to see me either. (sensing a theme?) Oh and I got a big kick out of the cows who were standing all along the trail at one point....don't normally trail run with cows though the cow pasture section was my least favorite part of the run. It's tough to run in cow pastures....and smelly too.  

Early morning on the MST trail....not a bad view from the trail. 

Ran out onto thunderhill lookout and snapped this pic a little later.

Beautiful stream that I followed up on one of my climbs up the mountain. 

After my run we headed out to a place called Blue Bear Mountain to go camping with the kids. Matty and Ames and their fam went with us. It was nice and cool up there and a beautiful day. Had a great time. Trout fishing (Ike caught a nice sized rainbow trout)...hiking in the woods (Maya was a beast out there! she may be my trail runner)...relaxing and hanging out (Ezra James loved the freedom of being able to roam around)....cooked dinner over the fire....and then all piled into the tents. Fun to let the kids all play together and then sit by the fire with my bro sharing a Deviant Dale's IPA.

Now that's a good day!

Sun: Off. had a lazy day getting up from camping....packing things up and headed back to Winston Salem. Too tired and too much gear to clean up to train.

Had a crazy last week or so with all my wanderings but have had some great runs and done some fun things. But we move to Roanoke in two weeks so it's time to stop messing around...get down to business and get some packing done.

Totals: Running 39 miles. Biking 0 miles (not good) 

Wilson Creek sWEaTfest

Every now and then you have a run/adventure that reminds you why it is exactly you spend so much time outside and training too. I had one of those runs this past Saturday.

I have been doing a few runs here or there with a group called the WNC trailrunners. I kind of got hooked up with the group through my friend Brandon who puts on a ton of their runs. I like the group a lot because they do some tough but great runs in places and on trails that I don't normally go on in the mtns. These aren't races and they don't cost anything....both of which I like a lot. I don't always love races and rarely like the location they are or the trails they use....but getting together with a great group of people to do a long run on trails in the mountains....that I love.

There is a group in Virginia similar to this one called the Virginia Happy Trails Club and they do something similar with these group runs or "fat ass events" as they are called up there. The plan is to do some of their runs this year as well but we'll see how that works out.

Anyway back to the run. So Sat was an absolutely gorgeous day.  I got up early to drive to wilson creek rec area from my moms. Beautiful drive down this long dirt road along the river....made me with I had both a kayak and a fly fishing rod with me. Stopped for a few pics.

The premise for this adventure was basically just to have a fun easy 17 mile or so run that crosses through tons of streams....(so get really wet)...swim in waterfalls...see some views and basically just enjoy the day being outside in beautiful pisgah forest. And that's exactly what we did.

Met up at the trailhead with about 8 people. Brandon gave an overview of the run route and told us where he stashed a jug of water about halfway so we could refill our bottles and we were off.

Right out of the parking lot we basically climbed straight up. The trail was rough here but it felt good to be outside and moving quickly through the woods. I found myself out in front when a few people stopped and I kept going and for the next few miles basically just knocked down about 500 spiderwebs with my face. I stopped at a trail intersection and made the comment to Brandon and 2 other guys who caught up to me that I shouldn't have bothered with breakfast since I had been eating spiderwebs all morning. To which someone else jokingly said, "funny I haven't felt any." I actually fell in with this group of 4 (never saw the other 4 who started the run) and we ran the rest of the day together which was cool. Great group of guys. Brandon, a guy John who I climbed Tanawana with this past winter, and another dude named David who I hadn't met before (but who had an awesome dog).

So we hit some overlooks on the way up the mtn. Basically we climbed the first 6-7 miles so we could cruise mostly downhill through the streams section for the last 10 miles which was nice. Got the work out of the way early and then could just enjoy the rest of the day and play.

The boys....grandfather mountain in background. 

Anyway I know I already said this....but what a day. Conditions were perfect and we spent the day running rhodie tunnels....scampering up and down rocks....and hitting side trails to go through streams and find waterfalls to look at and swim in.

Basically my feet were wet the whole day....

Refreshing! 

My friend Brandon getting a little dip in....

Roping down a steep section of Rocks to a big waterfall/swimming hole...

What a blast. It's those kinds of days that are what being outside is all about. Something almost just natural about running through the woods...nothing but shoes and a pair of shorts....swimming or wading across streams as you come to them and just exploring the woods. Soaking wet and happy. Felt like I could just run forever. Days like that make all the endless trail laps at Hobby Park worth it. Gotta put in the time to be able to really enjoy a day like that when I get one.

Hopefully after I move to Roanoke I will still be able to get down to NC for some of these runs. They told me they would still include me even though I will be a VA trailrunner and not a NC one! 

All in all a great day in the mountains!

Training Week 6/17 - 6/23

Mon: 8 mile run. Ran my usual trail/road mix from the Y. Felt pretty good. Ran 55:25 so just under 7 min miles.

Tues: 6 mile run. Rain and kids all day so waited to train till night when everyone was asleep. Ran at Tanglewood park which was nice. Full body functional lift at the Y after.

Wed: 8 mile hill tempo workout. Took it fairly easyfor this workout.

Thur: 7 mile trail run at Hobby Park

Fri: Off. Hung out in Boone with my mom and went to a really nice park with the kids. Nice Day.

Sat: 18 mile (or so) trail run with WNC Trailrunner group (see post)

Sun: Off. Busy Day with Mom and kids in Boone so no time for training.

So I headed up to the mtns this weekend with the kids and will do a bit of wandering this week coming up...spending some time in the mtns. I had a great weekend in Boone with my mom who is keeping Isaac and Maya for the upcoming week! Nice!

Totals: running 47 miles,  biking 0 miles (rain rain go away)

Dude Fest 2013

Though it's been a few weeks I finally have some time to blog about our annual man weekend. How,  you may wonder do we typically spend this glorious 3 days of dude time? Las Vegas and gambling? Golf and Cigars? New York City and clubs? Well...no. When Olson males get together we go out of our way to be in nature, avoid other people, and suffer as much as possible while still having a great time. So our dude fest weekends are typically backpacking trips.

This year we decided to head to Great Smoky Mtn National Park. We pretty much knew before we went it was going to be a bit soggy but as this was the only weekend we could go we would just make it work. It was me, my Dad, my bro Matty and my old friend Doug. He and I have been on more adventures than I can count in the 16 or so years I have known him and a lot of them have involved trails and backpacks.

We got to Hendersonville to stay with my Dad on Thursday night. Went to this outdoor music fest downtown that had a great band from Asheville and some good beer on draft. It was quite a scene...lots of people having a great time. I spent most of my time thinking, "how is this the same city I grew up in?"

Finally making our way back to my Dad's we started to get some of our gear together and look at a map of where we were going for the first time in detail. No I'm not joking about this...and yes we probably should have done this before drinking a few beers.

Friday morning we were off early and headed to the trail. I was excited to be backpacking for the first time in awhile and we hit the trail knowing we had a full 12 or so miles that day. Of course right off the bat we had 4 straight miles of tough uphill. Nothing like jumping right in! I'm not sure why but for the first 3 hours or so I was out of sorts. I felt anxious and restless and finally it dawned on me that my body and mind were trying to figure out why we weren't running.

I spend so much time running and mtn biking down trails as fast as I can that I am just not used to slow hiking/walking anymore. It sounds weird I know but it was almost hard to do at first. When I finally realized what my issue was I just focused on losing myself in the slow deliberate pace and soon enough I settled in.  And then the cool thing was that once I finally relaxed I began to really enjoy myself. I would just look around at things...enjoy looking at something I would normally miss because I was zooming by or looking down at the trail trying not to fall/wreck as I ran by.

This is probably a good metaphor for life. Every day is a rush...from one thing to the next. Head down...running along...caught up in the schedule..checking stuff off the list....and really when we do that think about how much we miss. Sometimes in my life I think I need to just walk instead of run...check out what's going on around me and just enjoy where I am at that moment and what I am doing. That's a big reason I called my blog "enjoy the journey" because I am trying hard to live my life this way. Not be so goal oriented but just enjoy where I am and what I am doing. Wherever that is and whatever it is.

Finally got up to the intersection and got to hike on the Appalachian Trail for awhile which is always cool.

Spent most of that day hiking and the rain managed to stay away. We actually hiked out of our way a bit to go and check out this old fire tower.

It was very cool. I was reading on some plaque that the people spend about a month out there in this thing before coming back to civilization for a bit. Can you imagine that? If these walls could talk I bet they have seen some real craziness from people out there alone for a month. If I spend 10 hours in the car by myself I start talking to the steering wheel, making faces in the rear view mirror, and singing strange and loud songs. could you imagine me out in this things for a month alone? Yikes. They would find me sitting talking with my best friend Timmy...who was actually just a pine cone.

Anyway it was a bit cloudy but the view from the tower was beautiful.

We spent some time up there eating lunch and just hanging out. It was really nice.

Tell me this lineup of confident, rugged and strong (not to mention handsome) outdoors-men doesn't shock and amaze you. I know...you can't. 

After about 6 more hours of hiking we finally got to camp that night and set up by a nice river. Long day on the trail but damn it felt good to just be out there.  

So we are standing right here by this river and there is another trail headed off a different direction than we came. Dougie casually asks Matt what that is and he tells him that is another trail to where we parked the car. What I wish he had left out is that it was a flat trail of 5 miles. But instead of taking that trail we had opted for the brutal straight up and down trail and 14 butt busting miles to get to the same spot. I saw this look come over Dougie's face...and it wasn't a happy look...quietly he began to search for a large stick to beat me with so I decided it would be a good time to go look around for a campsite. Love you Dougie! Later Dougie said he should have known when coming on a David Olson adventure that we would be doing it the hardest way possible. Glad I didn't disappoint! Got a good campsite....ate some ramen noodles (the best on the trail!) hung the bear bags and got to bed. 

The next day we had two choices....we could hike a short 5 miles to our next campsite....or we could hike all the way around a different direction on a tough trail that had tons of bushwacking, rough terrain and lots of elevation gain and loss for another 12 miles or more. Hmm....well you know which one I'm choosing! Bring on the suffering. It was raining this morning as we set off down the trail and it had rained a good amount the night before too so things were pretty wet. After hiking down the trail a ways we came to the trail intersection of the trail we were planning on taking and ran smack into this sign. 

Hmm....it had been raining a ton for weeks, all night AND at the moment we were standing there reading this. Impassable....interesting. Okay let's go! This was quite a trail...well when there was one. Basically it turned into us crossing about 15 streams and rivers....I know this because Yimmy counted them out loud.

We had many many moments like this one. Including the time I was helping my Dad cross something and he pushed me in the river. Thanks a lot Dad. Wet feet the whole day. And yes Dougie's pack looks huge in this picture....that's because it...well....was. He was not going to be caught unprepared on this trip that's for sure. He had everything in there....and then a few more things on top of that. 

But actually I had a really good time this day. I thought the river crossings were cool and added a fun element to the hike...and we hiked on some really rough but neat trails. Passed a beautiful waterfall. Even for a spring weekend we hardly saw anyone which was really nice. Seemed "out there" a bit which was perfect.

As I walked along this day I was thinking about how I feel so comfortable when I am way out in the woods somewhere in the mountains. It's funny in a way that I was born in Florida. People are always surprised by that when I tell them. I guess because I am mostly in the mountains and do mountain things. I still love the beach and Florida...I love going there and visiting and they will always be a part of who I am...but at my core I think I am a mountain soul. 

Life never goes how you expect...things change...people change....stuff happens. But I am grateful that somehow we as a family ended up in the mountains of North Carolina. That I was raised to love being outside and that when we were little we were brought into the mountains to enjoy them. Now I think that a large part of who I am is being outside and doing things outside. It's where I feel the most comfortable and I am grateful this is the case. 

I supposed that is just the way it is when you have a connection with something. I have been out west quite a bit and the mountains out there are more beautiful in a physical sense. But my connection to the mountains of NC/VA is more spiritual and emotional so ultimately that is where I always feel at home. (Though to be honest I would love to move out West!)  

I think that is usually the case though no matter where you are from. I think one of the most beautiful places in the world is our Ranch in Florida. But when I show pictures of it to people they see flat and plain land. But then I'm like, "well you should see the sunsets out over a pasture...or the outback on a evening walk..or a citrus grove before picking." To which they just look at me with non-understanding eyes. But again my connection to Circle O is spiritual/emotional...not just physical...so that make it all the more special. 

Anyway....that was a long way of saying....I like mountains. Okay moving on...

We had another long day of hiking and basically we were in the clouds the whole time because we were up around 6000 feet. Lots of this view. 

     

But it was still very cool and I enjoyed the hiking and just getting to talk with my Dad or Matty or Dougie. 

We got to the summit of Mt.Sterling around 6 which was our camping spot for the night. There were no views really but there was another tall (and shaky) fire tower there that you could climb and see out. 

Our campsite the second night.

It was kind of a rainy night but we had a nice time sitting out and talking while we ate and the sun went down. We realized at this point that we would need to get a pretty early start since we had 6-8 miles to go in the morning and I had to be at Elon for work by 5:00 pm. I like to pack it all in!

The next morning we woke up and there was actually a little break in the clouds....enough for us to climb the tower and see out a bit. The wind was really whipping so definitely had to hold on a bit. 

But the view was worth it and there was this incredible full rainbow too. 

We had to hit the trail though so after enjoying the view for a bit...we started down the mountain to the car. The trail down the mountain was nice...but a mess. There were tons of down trees so every few minutes we found ourselves climbing trees and working to get around fallen ones. 

Finally hit the river and followed it back to the car. Man we hit the miles! 32 miles or maybe a bit more in 2 and a half days. Love to crank it out. 

All good things must come to an end I guess. I really enjoyed getting away for a few days. There are definitely times where I feel like a caged animal when I am in my routine day in and day out....living in suburbia...always trying to figure things out. I get restless and anxious to wander and just get out there doing something. So when I can get away and do these things it helps a lot. Especially when it involves being outside and some effort/adventure/struggle. I go home content and relaxed which is a good thing. 

And it makes it even better doing it with the dudes closest to me. I think half the fun is just being with my Dad and my bro and Dougie....talking...laughing...making fun of each other....farting...saying things we wouldn't normally say around others....lots more laughing....or just walking in silence together. It doesn't really even matter. 

The boys at the end of the trip....still smiling! 

So that's it. Dude Fest 2013 is officially in the bag. I would like to thank all of our sponsors for this years adventure. Blue ridge brewery....Messaluna's....sierra designs tents...osprey packs.....Ben-gay ....Steripen....the company that made the can opener that Dougie carried. I would like to thank my agent...my publicist....and my hairdresser. And most of all we would like to thank our wives for letting us go...and then lettings us back in the house when we returned. Until next time....PEACE!