In Tennessee

We made it to Damascus, VA on Friday. I tweaked my knee and made the tough decision to rest for a few days while Christian continues South. He and fellow SOBOs Pete, Kirtley, Josey, and Pork will join me for Thanksgiving in Boone, NC, where Josey's parents, Bob and Roni, are cooking up enough food for the impending thru-hiker stampede. I plan to rejoin the SOBO gang on Friday. --Priya

Josey's father, Bob; Pete; Josey; Kirtley; Christian; Pete's friend, Brian; Josey's mother, Roni

Priya atop Tinker Cliffs





Christian hugging the great Keffer Oak












Sunrise from our campsite on the front lawn of The Homeplace in Catawba - site of the previous night's long-awaited, family style, Southern dinner.
















James River Foot Bridge in the morning












Our favorite winter berry -- the M berry.















An old school house museum on the Trail...








... with "Rules for Teachers" that would make Priya rethink her profession.









intense focus at lunchtime















beautiful Virginia pastures












The crisp fall days we've enjoyed... most of the time.

3/4 Complete

Got a quick update from the hikers on Monday evening. They passed the 3/4 AT mark, plan to stop in Damascus on Friday, and should hit the Tennessee border by this weekend. They have met a group (three people plus a dog) of Southbounders who they have been walking with for the last several days, and are enjoying the new company. Chris and Priya will spend Thanksgiving with the family of one of their new friends at their farm in Boone, NC.

Pearisburg, VA

Priya and Christian reached Pearisburg, VA today. They are doing well, but are expecting Ida to bring them some rain in the next few days. They met up with a few other southbound hikers and are looking forward to the additional company as they move further south.

They are 624 miles from Springer.