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Virginia
Northern Virginia – The Trek
The next thing on the trail is the norovirus… Who got hit, where did they go, how did they behave… I replace the hand sanitizer in my little containers with some liquid, biodegradable hand soap. People get scared of people, of shelters, of hostels. I try to continue hiking and behaving normally, sleeping in my tent when the weather collaborates, otherwise I keep using shelters but I was my hands obsessively. I stop using my filter, preferring to boil or chemically treat my water.
Of course, this is the moment when Dame Nature decides to give us water… a lot of it! At some point I lose my courage, even zeroing in a shelter.
The next section of the trail is a dream coming through for me. The ” Triple Crown of Virginia” was one of the first images to come to my mind when I didn’t know much of the entire Appalachian Trail adventure, in particular the famous image everybody posts on McAfee knob. Actually, last year, when I was hiking a section of the Mountain to Sea with my daughter, she asked me what section of the AT I was the most excited about and this is the one I mentioned to her. I was going to get my own picture on McAfee knob! Now that it is done, without wanting to deny the undeniable beauty of it, I realize there are WAY more to the AT than this very popular and touristic spot.
The whole Triple Crown for me starts from a hostel situated just north of Dragon’s Tooth. I slackpack this section, going southbound from the hostel, since I had heard of its technical difficulty. Later on, I admit I could have done it with my pack since I end up to be too much of a wimp to actually climb the whole thing! There is still some rock climbing to get there, but I think I could have managed with my backpack. Nonetheless, a day without 35 pounds on one’s back is always appreciated!
The view from the top of the mountain is impressive, sometimes in a Jurassic Parc way, but what impresses me the most is the abundance of rhododendron and mountain laurel.
The next day, I finally go up to MacAfee knob. I am not disappointed. This place is impressive and makes you feel so small!
Afterwards, Tinker Cliffs shows to be some kind of a repeat of MacAfee to me, but in more remote, less touristic setting. There is a bear nearby the shelter where I set my tent up later on. Of course, I did not happen to see it.
The next day starts slow. I am all mixed up with my maps. Distances don’t match. It is Mothers’ Day and I miss my family. I want a treat. I decide to go down to Dalesville, it seems there is a Kroger nearby. I think it is a mile from me, but it happens to be 3! Instead, I end up in a gas station and I get a pint of Ben&Jerry’s. I eat it with my spork, in the front of the gas station, sitting on a plastic box. Total homeless look. Afterward I fly my last 5 miles. I sleep in my tent, alone at the shelter. Thankfully this day is over.
The next day, I wake up at 2:45 am. Rain is supposed to start at 3 am so I decide to pack my tent and walk. I reach the shelter at 1:45pm and norovirus or not, I am going to sleep in it tonight. I unroll a tarp that is in the corner and set-up on top of it. It’s going to work. Time for a nap.
Days continue to roll. It rains a lot. My socks smell horribly, and so do my feet.
I see some wildlife.
I cross a giant bridge on the James and arrive to Glasgow.
Right after Glasgow I climb the majestic Punchbowl. Views of the mountains and the James river are spectacular.
And then comes the Shenandohah.
I have mixed feelings about the Shenandohah. There are a lot of people, a lot of facilities, thankfully a lot of bear accomodations. Shelters are called huts and are made of stones.
We have a wonderful picnic where Truck Stop serves us venison, drinks and snacks. Bear and deer were hunted here, just down the hill.
Nature is beautiful in the Shenandoah. Wildlife is visible. Almost tame. And of course it rains.
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In this world of college football, with the transfer portal and recruiting battles, bad blood is present more than ever before between head coaches.
That’s not the case between the Virginia Tech head coach and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, however. In fact, Franklin revealed at ACC Kickoff on Thursday that the two are actually close friends, dating back to their time at the Nike trip that various coaches take over the summer.
“Dabo’s my guy,” Franklin said on Thursday. “We go way back. We’ve been on the Nike trip for a long time. His wife and my wife are friends.”
The long-time Penn State head coach is making the move to the ACC after being fired from the Nittany Lions in October. 12 seasons of being with the program had Franklin hold a 44-21 record against top 10 opponents, an impressive record for a new conference foe of Swinney’s.
But when that trip comes around, there’s a camaraderie between Swinney and Franklin and both of their wives. In fact, the two hang out with each other instead of the other coaches at times. It simply comes to an “edgy” time in college athletics that raises tempers.
“I’m going to be honest, I wouldn’t say we’re necessarily like the type of people that love a lot of other coaches and a lot of other programs,” Franklin said. “It’s hard when you just compete year-round.”
On Swinney’s end, there are a few who could immediately come to mind among Clemson fans. Perhaps the most recent would be Ole Miss coach Pete Golding, who played the most significant role in the tampering of former linebacker Luke Ferrelli.
It’s a select list of coaches who make the good side of the Tigers’ head coach, and Franklin is certainly on that list. On the other hand, Hokies’ head coach has Swinney on his own shortlist.
“Obviously, tremendous respect for what he has built at Clemson and what he’s done at Clemson, and what he’s done for the ACC,” he said.
The two will see that close relationship face off at Memorial Stadium this upcoming season. Clemson will host the Hokies on Oct. 24 in what could be a potential title-eliminator for the ACC Championship.
Of course, the last game that we’ve seen the Tigers play in was against Franklin’s former team in Penn State at the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. That game ended in a 22-10 contest that saw a foundation of Franklin players end Clemson’s season in disappointment.
Swinney will see many of those players once again in October, including starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, in that contest. The anticipated Hokie starter recorded 260 yards and two passing touchdowns on the Tigers in the Bronx that day.
Although friends become foes, another ACC coach has given Swinney his flowers for what he’s been able to do for the conference. In the upcoming moments, Franklin will look to prepare his team to prove itself on one of the biggest stages in the ACC, while Swinney looks to put his team back at the top of a conference he’s dominated for over 15 years.
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MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WSET) — Extreme drought conditions in parts of Virginia have prompted an emergency drought warning for a wide swath of the region, including Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Roanoke counties, along with the cities of Danville, Roanoke, Salem and Martinsville.
The governor has warned that if conditions worsen, she will activate mandatory nonessential water-use restrictions.
In Martinsville, city leaders have issued a voluntary water conservation notice and are urging residents and businesses to cut back where they can. The request comes as local businesses that rely heavily on water say the drought is already affecting day-to-day operations.
SEE ALSO: Botetourt County residents adjust daily routines as voluntary water restriction continues
John Hughes, owner of John’s Car Wash, said the dry conditions have hit his business hard in recent weeks. “For the last 3 weeks, it’s been hitting pretty hard. We done three yesterday and haven’t done anything today with the drought and hot weather. Yeah, I’m really concerned about it,” Hughes said.
Restaurants are also feeling the strain. David Kitzmiller, an owner of Be Wiched, said water is essential for routine tasks such as washing dishes and preparing some menu items.
“We use a lot of water for washing dishes and some of our recipes if they limit us in anyway defiently can’t produce and its a scary aspect,” Kitzmiller said.
Kitzmiller added that cutting back is not always realistic for businesses that must meet sanitation needs. “Not really feasible for a business that depends solely relies on water to wash their dishes, so that can’t definitely be an impact there,” he said.
City leaders emphasized that the conservation request is voluntary for now, but they are encouraging everyone to do their part by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet when it is not in use, washing only full loads of laundry, and limiting outdoor watering whenever possible.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Five people were charged after Virginia Beach Police conducted a two-day human trafficking and vice operation on July 3, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.
The department’s Special Investigations Bureau conducted the operation, which was aimed at identifiying human trafficking victims, reducing the demand for commercial sex and targeting individuals seeking to exploit or recruit children for prostitution.
Detectives used many investigative techniques to proactively identify individuals involved in criminal activity related to prostitution, human trafficking and offenses against children. The operation was conducted in Virginia Beach, involving personnel from all of the bureau’s squads.
As a result of the operation, five people were identified and charged with offenses ranging from solicitation of prostitution to sex trafficking and crimes involving minors. Two vehicles and U.S. currency were seized during the operation. Other people were connected to victim services through Samaritan House.
The operation led to the following people being charged:
- Shane Carter, 28, of Norfolk, was charged with solicitation of prostitution.
- Robert Harris, 64, of Virginia Beach, was charged with solicitation of prostitution and assault and battery.
- Larry Pittman, 53, of Portsmouth, was charged with sex trafficking and use of electronic devices to facilitaate certain offenses involving minors.
- Kenric Frazier, 46, of Portsmouth, was charged with sex trafficking, use of electronic devices to facilitate certain offenses involving minors and solicitation of child pornography.
- Cameron Lewis, 24, of Norfolk, was charged with solicitation of prostitution.
Investigators also developed leads about people who are suspected of trafficking and exploiting others for commercial sex. Those are now active and ongoing investigations. There may be more charges and arrests pending further investigation and consultation with the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
If you’re a human trafficking victim or know someone who is, you can report it to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
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