Just a quick addition today as it is late and I have walked 22 miles today! I am in Virginia now and have walked about 650 miles, up more mountains than I can remember! I have now seen bears, snakes and hillbillies - and i am not sure which were more scary! The first bear I saw was a cub and it was quickly followed by its mother - this is not good! Luckily the two heard me and disappeared into the woods. The snakes were not rattlers or copperheads - this was good - just big black snakes that lay on the trail, were about three foot long and dared me to step over them! It has started getting pretty hot over here now, and that does not exactly help with the hiking! Am getting fitter and the blisters have finally stopped! I have met loads of people on the trail and there are even a few other Brits over here.
