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Contact us at:

sunshine.awaking.dreams@gmail.com

769 Robinson Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472

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@hikingorg Thanks for putting us in paint! For those who haven’t bumped into him, @hikingorg puts out some comedic some more serious pieces centered around hiking culture and philosophy...check him out. https://awaking-dreams.com/donate/ @redwood_empire_food_bank @soles4souls @scwildliferescue @appalachianwild @carma4horses @b_radfoundation Thanks to @marmot @probar #awakingdreams #NoBadWeather #TrektheAT #AT2019 #appalachiantrail #getoutside #hikerfeed

We are sharing some stories of our adventure this Friday 9/27 6pm at Sebastopol Community Church...Come over and say hello...it’s also an opportunity to donate to the charities that we’ve been hiking for! Hard to believe we’ve been home about a month...hiding out...our boots sadly have been gathering dust but sit at the ready just in case someone’s able to head out onto a trail... it’s been tough getting rid of the hiker hunger but we’re managing...a huge hug to all our family, friends and acquaintances that have welcomed us back so warmly... another hug to our wonderful neighbor and her fellow @camelbak rockstars for designing and gifting us these great Trailname/AT bottles...they’ve helped keep our adventure with us as we ease back into the world. Visit our blog to donate to the charities! https://awaking-dreams.com/donate/ @redwood_empire_food_bank @soles4souls @scwildliferescue @appalachianwild @carma4horses @b_radfoundation Thanks to @marmot @probar #awakingdreams #NoBadWeather #TrektheAT #AT2019 #appalachiantrail #getoutside #hikerfeed

Yeee-Haaaaw!!! We did it!! We hiked 2192 miles from Springer to Katahdin!! I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of these girls and our family...this was hard-physically, mentally and emotionally...there were a number of days where Sunshine and I had to make hard decisions about continuing this journey...but, along the way we’ve had life changing experiences...we’ve put time into our family (24hrs/day 7days/week for 5 1/2 months)...and we would do it all again...these girls can do anything they want in life...the confidence and perspective they’ve gained is immeasurable...We were nervous the morning of our 2nd summit day...clouds were gathering fast...we told the girls NO blueberry picking, NO gabbing with other hikers - just get up to the top before the rains come...well, when we got above tree line and finished the long rock scramble making it to the ridge the mood changed to pure happiness and joy! We could see the summit and all clouds had vanished...Other hikers (some that we knew and some that we didn’t) cheered us on...after waiting out the bad weather for 4 days and persevering for months we were about to have our ending! Amazing, some hikers greeted us and took pictures for us and then they all left! We had the peak to ourselves for 1/2 an hour...we talked and sang and laughed (and I cried)...we were told that Sister Bunny is officially the youngest female to ever thru hike the AT...she takes 3 steps to cover the same ground I can with 1...these girls helped each other every step of the way and we did this together as a family...thanks to family and friends for making this happen...thanks for everyone’s big love and support...and thanks for donating to all the charities https://awaking-dreams.com/donate/ @redwood_empire_food_bank @soles4souls @scwildliferescue @appalachianwild @carma4horses @b_radfoundation Thanks to @marmot @probar #awakingdreams #NoBadWeather #TrektheAT #AT2019 #appalachiantrail #getoutside #hikerfeed

Ok...I’ve been dreading this post...our summit day left us feeling upset and unfinished...it was supposed to be a dramatic remarkable last hike to end our epic family adventure...instead it was sadness disbelief and disappointment... we started our day as we had started the trail - in the rain! Our spirits were still high and we had some family and friends making the last push with us...as we scrambled above tree line, the same ranger that had told us the thunderstorms would hold out till afternoon caught up with us...he was kicking everyone off the mountain...two rescues were in progress already (another thru hiker had a dislocated shoulder from a fall and 3 other people were lost over night in the storm) we would have to go down less than 2 miles away from our goal... after 5 1/2 months and 2190 miles the Trail humbled us one last time...we were being denied our finish! There were tears and disbelief, we were so close... the ranger said “you did it girls! You finished the AT” but we didn’t...the girls had hiked and toiled sooo well for so long and on this day in terrible weather had been stronger than ever in TERRIBLE conditions on a TOUGH mountain...it was the right decision considering the storm and terrain but on the way down we were already hatching a plan...the weather was going to be the same for the next few days and we were told that there would be a good chance that we’d be pulled off the Mtn again so we decided to leave Baxter and regroup...but now we’re heading back! WE HAVE TO FINISH THE LAST 2 MILES!! We’ve come too far for too long not to complete this thing...so we are encouraged but apprehensive and heading back to the mountain! We will over come this setback like we have all the others...together as a family (and probably with some singing and groaning and laughing)...more soon! Visit our blog to donate to the charities! https://awaking-dreams.com/donate/ @redwood_empire_food_bank @soles4souls @scwildliferescue @appalachianwild @carma4horses @b_radfoundation Thanks to @marmot @probar #awakingdreams #NoBadWeather #TrektheAT #AT2019 #appalachiantrail #getoutside #hikerfeed

So much to share but so little space...catchup post cause of no service....thanks Greg for a fun crossing of the Kennebec River! Then made it to the Caratunk House for amazing milkshakes (pre-purchased anonymously for us...THANKS WHOEVER YOU ARE!!)...we’ve loved the ponds and lakes in Maine for sunsets/sunrises, swimming, loons and serenity...Poet, Hippie Chick and their staff made our stay at Shaw’s fantastic! Sunshine and I stayed there with the original Shaw 20 years ago so it was a “must stop” for us and it was better than ever...our girls loved running with your chillins!! 100 mile wilderness was GREAT but not as wild and isolated as Sunshine and I remember or the sign implies...roads, dayhikers and potential food drop spots almost daily make it less daunting but we carried everything we needed for the whole 100 miles to get that last “backpacking” experience of our adventure...a bunch of mountain peaks lead down to river fords making for some fun and excitement...Sister Bunny’s boots(4th pair)...they definitely don’t make kids gear worthy of this 2192 mile adventure...then we reached Abol Bridge with amazing Katahdin views and Crossed the line into Baxter State Park on Aug. 7th making it up to Katahdin Stream Campground before our big day...another post soon! Please consider donating to the charities through our blog address below!! The adventure is coming to the end!! Visit our blog to donate to the charities! https://awaking-dreams.com/donate/ @redwood_empire_food_bank @soles4souls @scwildliferescue @appalachianwild @carma4horses @b_radfoundation Thanks to @marmot @probar #awakingdreams #NoBadWeather #TrektheAT #AT2019 #appalachiantrail #getoutside #hikerfeed

WE MADE IT TO MAAIIINE!!!! Wow crossing this state line into our 14th and LAST state was huge! Maine has brought us a lot of things (besides 282 miles to the end of the AT)...some of those are tangible, some emotional and some painful...first the bad - we are draggin, beat down and my knees are threatening to mutiny...but we’re sooo close we HAVE to push through... Sunshine saw our first moose!! And we finally have ripe blueberries to devour atop the peaks we cross...it’s brought us continued tough climbs and Mahoosuc Notch a mile or so boulder field you traverse over under and anyway you can(the girls even took off their packs and free climbed for a while) Its brought us pond after pond to play and swim in....its brought us a much needed visit and recharge from some family - Moosie Goosie, Moose Pup, Zippy Moose, Mama Moose and Moose Caboose - all the way from Cali!! It’s also brought us closer to the end of our journey and a lot of thinking about what we’ve been doing, have accomplished and where we’re headed from here....my eyes start to well up when I think about the emotional strength and confidence and courage etc these amazing girls have gained and displayed on this journey...I’m sure when we summit Katahdin at the end soon I’ll be a PROUD weeping sobbing mess - but we’ll save that for a few weeks down the trail (now less than 200 miles to go - we’ve hiked over 2000 miles!!) For now we hike on!!! Visit our blog to donate to the charities! https://awaking-dreams.com/donate/ @redwood_empire_food_bank @soles4souls @scwildliferescue @appalachianwild @carma4horses @b_radfoundation Thanks to @marmot @probar #awakingdreams #NoBadWeather #TrektheAT #AT2019 #appalachiantrail #getoutside #hikerfeed

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