Zeros and town Stays while on AT

 Seems the current AT hiker stays off the trail more often than I did.

During my Georgia to Maryland trip I had town and PO stops at

Wesser, NC, Motel

Hot Springs, NC, Henderson Court Motel (I think this is now Alpine Court Motel, streetview 2008)

Elk Park, NC, Trivett House (1974)

Damascus, VA, Sportsman Motel, 2 nights (no longer there?)

Pearisburg, VA. Father Charles' Church, 3 nights due to stomach flu

Cloverdale, VA, Howard Johnson

Waynesboro, VA, Howard Johnson

For about 900 miles.

I'll talk about the north later.

still looking for postcard pics of the HoJo.

Clingmans Dome Observation Tower

 Clingmans Dome Observation Tower

Many NOBO (northbound AT hikers) have crossed this summit or will do so shortly.

But did you know that it is a now part of the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES?

I found a NPS site with the details but can't find that one now, so I share one from North Carolina.

And for the record, here is a photo from 1974.

Could see maybe 30 feet that day.

Easter 1975

 Easter 1975 was held on Sunday March 30th. On that date I was hiking south on the AT and did 18 miles arriving at Outerbridge LT at 430 PM.  I don't have a picture of this LT, but you can see one here.  And another here.

I wrote in my journal... "Great spring here a (sic) shelter last time I saw anything like this was in N.H. or Maine.   Snowed a little at nite."

"Left Leroy Smith LT at 8:30 am." I think this shelter has been replaced since 1975.

Crossed Lehigh Gap that day shown on this topo from the period/

and an airphoto from 1976.

Stecoah Gap and the AT

 After a night in Wesser, NC, we climbed UP the mountains.  

Looking back to Wesser, we got this view.

A drop in elevation got us to Stecoah Gap as seen in the topo from 1941.

Today, using Google Street View, we get these shots of the trail crossing.  But from my memory, I think they were paving and grading the road through the Gap in 1974.  Both pics are from June 2016.

The air photo from 1976 seems to confirm the construction we saw.

Standing Indian, NC and AT

 You get some nice views from Standing Indian Mtn, in North Carolina.  View East.

And even a shot of framed backpacks from the 70s.

And a view from Google Earth.

Annual April Fools

 well, there will be no National Park at Mira-a-lago.  But it will likely be flooded.

too bad!

Mar-a-Lago to become National Park

 Mar-a-Lago is currently a National Historic Landmark. But there is a proposal to make it National Park, to showcase not just the historic role in American History, but its scenic beauty and a more recent history of celebrities.  Despite some bad news, there appears to be little opposition in Florida to support the replacement of Disney as the State's contribution to family fun.

"It is clear the ex-president's summer home should become a national treasure" a spokesperson reports from Florida.  Even Gov. DeSantis appears to want to replace Disney.

But get on the Tennis Courts soon, the University of Florida predicts they will be under water in 80 years.