Rollercoaster Ride

Well it's been over 24 hours now since Ron left home headed for Virginia and the Appalachian Trail once again. I tried not to get too comfortable with Ron's presence these past two months knowing he would be leaving again, but it didn't work. He fell right back into place as if he never left, and time went by pretty quickly. Now, almost quite suddenly despite the anticipation, I find myself one more time, trying to adjust to the change and to being home alone. Even the expected can be unexpected.

But, this entire adventure has been a wild emotional rollercoaster ride from day one! We're just heading into another loop in the track! It's been a crazy unexpected ride full of ups and downs, spills, turns, laughs, screams and the occasional crash! But, that's what adventure is all about, right? Would it be as memorable if it was a slow moving train ride with no bumps or bruises?

So once again, we climb aboard the coaster but sit in different cars. Though we each travel alone, we hold on tight, keep on smiling and look forward to the ride. We'll scream if the going gets rough, laugh and enjoy when it's smooth sailing and breathe deep when it catches us off guard, 'cause even though the ride may seem long at times, it always comes to an end, and it always leaves you wanting more....well, sometimes anyway!

Riding alone isn't all that bad, but riding shotgun is always more fun!

Some things I've learned....

...or needed to be reminded of this year.


Every moment with someone, good or bad, is precious and should not be taken for granted.
It is easier to keep order when you're the only one you have to pick up after.
So often we don't see the mountain until we decide to climb it.
A true friend is never far away.
It's easy to get lost in someone else's life.
Anyone can do it (whatever it may be) if they really try.
All strength comes from within.
One person generates fewer dirty dishes than two.
A mind IS a terrible thing to waste.
We all have a secret self that only comes out when we are alone.
Be grateful for rainy days and cool breezes.
There is always someone worse off than you.
Expect the unexpected.
If you don't want to forget, pay attention.
There are no strangers, just friends you haven't met yet.
Which way the toilet paper unravels does make a difference.
One step at a time still gets you there.
Money isn't everything, but it sure helps a lot.
Escape is easy, coming back is a different story.
Don't forget to say "I love you."
You don't have to be in the woods to hear the bears snoring.
To thine ownself be true.
A hug and a smile go a long way.
Honor your partner, honor yourself.
Oatmeal is not just for breakfast anymore.
Despite it all, life is good.

Where is Ron now?

As of today, Ron is back in Damascus, VA after a week long stay in Orlando. And once again, I find myself trying to adjust to life alone. It's like starting all over again, and I'm sure Ron feels the same way with his own situation. I'm not complaining mind you, nothing could have been better than having him home for a week, except maybe having him home for longer than a week, but it was an unexpected turn of events that left me with that "here we go again" feeling.
The time flew by, of course, so it feels like I've just participated in one of those "now you see him, now you don't" magic tricks that leave you wondering, "Did that really happen?"

But, he is back where he needs to be and he sets off on the trail again tomorrow - renewed, refreshed and hopefully a lot better physically and mentally than he was the day he stepped off the trail.

While here at home, Ron was able to get his health checkups all with good results, talk to a nutritionist, visit with friends, take care of family business, and even attend the Russell Home's monthly dance party, and boy, were they surprised. In the span of a few days, we got to meet some of the nicest folks a person could ever meet, and they all gave so much to Ron, without question or hesitation, in order to do their part in making the rest of his trip more enjoyable. Truly amazing folks!

This past week was very unexpected, a bit of a whirlwind, but very much needed by both of us. I'm grateful for every minute of it, melancholy that it couldn't have been longer, a bit weary at the once again sudden changes, yet thankful and happy that Ron is back on the trail. Yes, despite whatever other feelings I have, I can honestly say that I'm very glad he's back on the trail.

A photographic journey

You know, I've really come to enjoy being webmaster after 2 1/2 months. I guess because I now have the hang of it...the map update, news update, donation tally. But I must say that what I really enjoy the most is posting Ron's photos, and sharing them with all of you.

He sends me hundreds of them, literally, and I carefully download them and back them up for safekeeping. Once I have them in IPhoto, then my favorite task begins. I love sitting back and previewing from the first photo to the last. It's my own private slide show of life for Ron on the trail. He sends a short description for each photo, and it's quite interesting comparing what I see to what he saw as he describes it. It's like getting to follow his footsteps through his own eyes, and it has become such a comfort to me.

Now for the webpage, I do my best to select the ones I feel will give everyone a good sense of his everyday. I try to tell his story via his photos. I hope I'm doing a good job. The trail is more than a dirt path...it's flowers and trees, rocks, towers, shelters, people, mountain views, signs and much more. And of course, the trail is Ron. I wish I could share them all with you.

An added pleasure for me are the short movies Ron sometimes films with his camera. They are quick little clips, moving pictures narrated in his own voice. For those of you that know Ron, you can only imagine how many of them make me laugh! One of my favorites so far has been Ron at the peak of Rocky Top Mountain in TN singing his own rendition of the popular song. A real treasure!

Well, I have lots more photos to sort and post, and I do look forward to the task. I hope everyone looks forward to seeing them as much as I do sharing them with you.

A Trail Days Update

Well I made it back from Trail Days in Damascus, VA. All the stress leading up to it aside, it was a wonderful break indeed! Ron had left the trail earlier than planned on 5/17, hitched a ride to Erwin, TN, and spent the night there. Erwin is where I picked him up on 5/18 after arriving at the Tri-Cities Regional Airport not quite an hour away. After doing some of our own trail magic shuttling hikers around here and there, we headed off to Damascus, VA. Our residence for the weekend was a small home about 11 miles from town via a winding mountain road in an area called Konnarock. Our hosts were quite friendly, very sweet and trail angels themselves in fixing up the place just so we could stay there for Trail Days! They even baked us a cake!

Our stay in Damascus was quite interesting and fun! Although we had some rain, and some stormy nights, we also had sunshine and nice temperatures. We spent most of Friday and Saturday taking in most of what Trail Days had to offer. There was a vendor area in the local park with lots of vendors of every kind, music, speakers, games, freebies, and more! We visited the local outfitter a few times as Ron debated getting new shoes and listened to advice from the experts. The local Baptist church was sponsoring a medical area providing free foot checks and health screenings. They were measuring body fat, giving out freebies, and they even were doing full blood work testing for everything from diabetes to cholesterol. This was all for free! We both got blood tests done - Ron because he wanted to get a good assessment of his overall health so far, and me because it was free to anyone, and I don't have insurance at the moment so I took advantage of it! Our results were both good in all respects, although Ron was strongly encouraged to cut back on the sodium and drink more water. Hikers tend to have higher blood pressures in part because of all the packaged foods they eat!
We visited tent city where many of the hikers bunked for the weekend. With all the rain, we were glad we weren't there! Tent city was not the place to be if you expected to get any sleep either! We ate at a small local Italian restaurant, ate hotdogs sold by the local mission group, and had a spaghetti dinner put on by the fire dept.
In addition, Ron got to meet up with, and introduce me, to lots of the hikers he's met and/or hiked with since starting, and that was fun for both of us! We also got to meet a former thru-hiker and fellow Floridian, Awol (aka David Miller) who had contacted us prior to Trail Days and who was there promoting his book, "Awol on the Appalachian Trail." It was very enjoyable meeting him, and talking about the similarities between him and Ron.

Saturday was the BIG hiker parade, the highlight of the weekend! A few local groups, Trail Days queens, one local school band, all of the volunteer fire department, and then......hundreds of hikers past, present and future! What we didn't know until parade time was that traditionally, the parade is actually an excuse for a huge water battle between the spectators and the hikers! The locals lined up to see the parade were armed with water guns, water balloons, buckets, etc. The hikers in the know were armed as well. Once they hit town, the parade was one big water fight its entire length (which wasn't very long), but long enough to get everyone around soaked! It was unexpected and lots of fun!

Sunday was our recoup and relax day. We hung around the house, ran a few last minute errands, got packed for leaving the next day and spent much needed time alone together. It was a nice end to a great weekend!

On Monday, I drove Ron back to Erwin to pick up (and drop off) a resupply box at one of the local hostels which he planned to stay at when he arrived again on foot, then I took him and another hiker, Rainbow Brite, back to the point where they had left the trail. This was at Devils Fork Gap about 20 miles south of Erwin at the TN/NC border (305.8 miles from Springer Mtn, GA).

Of course, it was bittersweet to see him head out again, but he did look 10x better heading out than he did coming in! He was rested, relaxed and ready to go. His melancholy mood from before Trail Days seemed to have disappeared at least for the time being.

I must say that despite the financial hardship, it was the best decision we could have made to take the time off and meet at Trail Days. I don't regret it at all. It was well worth the lemonade sales!

Off to Virginia

Well, as some of you may know already, I'm off to Trail Days in Damascus, VA. I'll be meeting up with Ron and hopefully it will be a much needed, relaxing respite for both of us. As it turns out, he has stepped of the trail early and hitched a ride to Erwin, TN. Tomorrow he'll hitch another ride to Damascus. Lucky for me that means I don't have to try to find my way 2 hours south from Damascus to try and find him.
If you have read Ron's most recent post, you know that the trail is starting to take its toll. You know it has been a true challenge when one of such determination and conviction confesses to almost giving up. My heart aches for him. Challenges here at home have taken their toll on me, but they are in no comparison to the daily challenges Ron faces.
I look forward to this time away, and even more so, to seeing Ron. I only hope that several days away from the grueling challenges of the trail will bring him a renewed strength and energy - a strong sense once again of that determination and conviction.
We'll keep you posted. Happy Trail Days!

Thanks and thanks

It's been pretty amazing the number of people we've heard from since Ron started his hike. Media exposure does have its merits. Getting radio time on the Philips Phile has been fantastic! We've had folks from all over the place email with words of encouragement and support. Many have hiked or attempted to hike the trail and can relate to Ron's situation. Others just send well wishes, and express their interest in following his adventures, and others share stories. Many offer Ron places to stay when he reaches certain points, or a meal and a hot shower. It's just amazing how generous folks can be! We love the exposure especially in getting the word out about the Russell Home and in generating donations. It's been very special so far.

Just recently, I've even been trying to coordinate an interview for a gentleman wanting to talk to Ron for a book he's writing on living rich! He thinks Ron would make a good interview...I agree. And just today I heard from a gentleman in NC whose own story parallels Ron's pretty close. He is from Orlando, and he hiked the AT a few years ago in support of a charity just like Ron. Now he lives in NC, saw Ron's web page, and has offered him a meal and a place to stay when he's in the area! So many kind people out there!

And let's not forget the story on Ron in the local paper. An equally amazing response! And I must say it's pretty cool to get a write up in the paper. I'm sure Ron will cherish that news clipping as much as he has the clipping from when he was a small boy and a picture of him and his pet duck made the paper! The paper brings that small town feel to a really big adventure! People like that!

But the nicest thing about all of this has been all the "old" friends we've heard from. Friends we've lost track of over the years, friends from past Disney days and friends that moved away. All have heard of Ron's adventure via the radio or the newspaper or via the "grapevine", and have taken time to drop a line to say hello and good luck! That's been fun...finding out where everyone finally ended up, and hearing everyone's reactions to Ron's hike and our mutual challenges.

The show of support and encouragement has been tremendous! It comes from friends old and new, folks across the country, hikers, friends of friends, co-workers, interested peoples that can relate and many that can't but are interested nonetheless, many that are living vicariously through Ron, many with hopes of doing the same some day, and from all of our other sponsors and supporters.

Ron and I are both thankful for all the kind words and notes of support and encouragement. It's those simple words of encouragement, and the shows of support to the Russell Home, that helps keep Ron going. Helps keep me going too.

So, as William Shakespeare once said, " I can no other answer make, but thanks and thanks." You all are the best!