The imaginary Meeting Place of Babbling Campers

Following up on @Dancer's idea of us all meeting together some day, i thought of a fun game. I am providing a camping site complete with a lakeside view. Now we need to decide where it is and everyone needs to bring their camping gear, as well as, things we would need and do on site. This is either a good idea or the dumbest one I have come up with yet. So my fellow Babbler's, care to stop on by and add to this........... bright idea.

 

With everything loaded on my back I am beginning a hike to an unknown destination.

 

Well I am off looking for a place we can all meet at and I don't know where that is?? We got folks from the United states and Canada, Germany and the UK, and many more places. I could be gone for days at a time. First off I thought I would map out a route. leaving Pennsylvania and heading west.

But it is getting late so I better make camp. Where do you all want to meet up? In the wilderness spot or in a busy campground? Hey, I think I am being followed, it's a a man and a , or is it a ?

 

Got my tent set up, just in time it's getting dark. Supper is almost ready, but does not smell as good as that Yukon Stew odor on the breeze.

 

Made a pot of coffee and lots of bacon and eggs. A friendly black lab came to share my breakfast with me. Would have shared with his master had he come over too, but guess he wasn't up yet. I think @ MacGyver, lives around here somewhere's. I hope he gets the message and joins me on this journey. Maybe he can read this darn map better than I can. Hard to tell which direction I am going.

 

As you can tell my map was terrible, made no sense at all. so i bought a new map and now my compass and I are no longer spinning in big circles. This map is easy to follow and all downhill by the looks of it. Since I was near the Maryland line decided to follow the main trail that leads south then branch off out west at some point. gosh, i am glad this is imaginary trip, cause I hear we have a blizzard going on at home.







If your following along here is a great link to a map so you know where I think I am going.
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/hiking/find-a-hike/interactive-map

 

It is night time again, but I got my tent set up early. I think I will stay a day or two, to give @MacGyver, a chance to catch up. I hope others join in along the trail. The woods is quiet and saw a few deer and a bobcat cross the path ahead of me.

 

There is a real pretty view looking down the valley from here and I am enjoying this campsite. Last night I cooked myself up a fish I caught in the river. Think i will stay a few more days. I sure wish someone would come meet me on this trail.

 

It would seem that interest has faded and those we started following have gone back home. Alas, good thing i have a sign to point the way. Either north to Maine or south to Georgia. I am setting out again and hope I do not get lost. This area is very steep and lots of rocks in my path. Wish now I had taken a route up along the Great Lakes or by use of Amtrak. But here I am hiking along looking for the ideal camping and meeting site for babbling campers.

 

I have been laying here in my tent thinking about counting sheep, but my mind is on rocks. To be more exact, the many uses rocks while camping. The first one is of course around the camp fire. The next is for cooking, using a flat rock. And of course for keeping warm by reflecting the fire off a overhanging rock face. And then of course is the handy big rock for doing away with a snake that wanders into your campsite. And YAWN the next is of course is...........................

 

As I pack up my gear to hit the trail again I wanted to mention some information I have received from other hikers on this trail. Seems everyone I meet is headed in the Maine direction, which is uphill and I of course am headed downhill toward Georgia. That said many talked about the restocking of supplies, including the best stores and towns, and of course the mail drops. Mail drops, I inquired?? O" yes, on this trail it is a good idea to send yourself packages of food or other supplies you will or might need on the trip. In the long run it is cheaper as many town stores along this trail have higher than the norm prices due to the hikers and tourist trade.

So I am including some links that will give someone hiking the Appalachian Trail some much needed information, and to those planning other long distance hikes some ideas on their own restocking.
http://mymeanderingtrail.com/2013/11/05/a-paper-trail-worth-of-mail-drops-and-daily-hiking-mileage/
http://planetanimals.com/logue/resupply.html
https://backpackingvegan.wordpress.com/resupply-guide/
http://www.laughingdog.com/p/mail-drops.html

 

As I was following the trail up the valley I thought I saw someone on the hillside across the valley. I gave out a loud shout "Hello @Happyflowerlady," and was dismayed when my voice echoed and bounced, up and down the valley. Far off to the north I heard someone singing "If your happy and you know it clap your hands."
I groaned and continued down the trail thinking about that section of trail with all its loose rocks and thick brush. I decided to step off the trail and set up camp, and put up an arrow sign so @happyflowerlady, could find me. The sign read HAPPY 2 SWEED YOU! I knew she would be happy to sit down and have some coffee or something good to eat after she arrived.