On one of the hottest days of summer 2024, Bob Mahr embarked on a remarkable journey, walking from Richmond to Williamsburg on the Virginia Capital Trail, an astounding 52+ miles. Sporting a “Jamestown or Bust” sign on his pack, Bob, an experienced hiker with multiple Appalachian Trail treks under his belt, was determined to complete the distance. Setting out early to avoid the midday sun, Bob’s mission was more than just a personal endurance; he was walking to raise funds and awareness for the Williamsburg House of Mercy, a cause near and dear to his heart.
The Journey Begins
Bob’s journey kicked off on Friday, June 21st. To acclimate to the heat, he had completed a preparatory walk during the hottest part of the day earlier in the week. Originally planning to walk the entire trail in one day, Bob decided to split the journey into two parts. Armed with a headlamp, he left Richmond at 4:30 pm on Friday, walking until 9:30 pm. Along the way, he encountered the glowing eyes of a baby raccoon coming to cheer him on (possibly)!
The next morning, Bob resumed his trek from Mile Marker 35 around 6:30 am, accompanied by his 70+-year-old neighbor Leo, an avid outdoor adventurer. Leo’s brisk pace kept Bob ahead of schedule, a crucial factor as the day grew hotter.
Reaching the Finish Line
After a grueling 17 hours and 47 minutes, Bob could see his final Williamsburg destination set before him. Motivated by a surprise visit from his wife, who finished the last three miles beside him, and his three-week-old granddaughter cheering him on from an air-conditioned vehicle, Bob completed the 50+ mile trek. As he neared mile marker 1 he let out a symbolic hoot, echoed by an owl in the distance.
Hear from the adventurer himself but be warned, you might be inspired to embark on a journey of your own!
What made you choose the Capital Trail for your charity walk?
I chose the Capital Trail primarily based on its length of 50ish miles based on my knowledge of the RFK 50. Plus, it runs near my house, and I often am on miles 1-3 walking the dog, it is relatively flat, it is accessible - which was huge in getting support from my wife dealing with the heat, it is clean and well maintained.
What do you enjoy most about your experience?
Accomplishing what I set out to do was great. Add in meeting some folks on the trail - I had a couple of what I am calling "Forrest Gump" encounters where people saw about the walk on your social media feeds and were "looking" for me. This includes Jack as the VCTF Ambassador!
How did you feel reaching that last mile?
I got excited as the first digits of the mile markers changed - from 5 to 4, 4 to 3, etc., then single digits and seeing Mile 1 was exciting. Seeing Mile marker 0 was even better.
Do you have a favorite memory from your adventure?
A couple of unique memories - upon seeing mile market 1 as noted above I let out a big and loud "woo hoo" at my wife's suggestion and an owl answered my call with a hoot; seeing the Strawberry full moon rise directly in front of me Friday night; my 3-week-old granddaughter was waiting in an airconditioned car at Mile 3 to cheer me on (my daughter lives right down the street from there); Cul's Courthouse Cafe with its thermos of ice cold water and shaded porch after getting through "the furnace"; the aroma coming from The Original Ronnie's BBQ almost derailed me at the start - I will certainly head back and eat there in the very near future; my wife walking the last 3 miles with me.”
Were there any specific challenges that you had to overcome?
The heat was really the only challenge. I was prepared logistically and mentally, plus had great support from my wife to fight the heat (water, ice bucket for refreshing and lowering body temp).
Any tips, tricks, or lessons learned?
Lessons learned - pick a different time of the year to avoid the heat (original intent was on the greatest amount of daylight); bugs at night attracted by the headlamp (so maybe a fall time frame will have less bugs); walking east with miles going down was a good idea. Might try and figure out if there is a pattern with available shade versus the heat of the day - seemed like I was in shade in the evenings and mornings when not needed as much and in full sun during the peak of the day's heat.
All in all, a great experience!
Bob’s walk raised $5,000+ for the Williamsburg House of Mercy. When asked if he would do it again, Bob said he was truly humbled by the support and mentioned the possibility of making the walk an annual event. However, he shared that while open to a repeat trek he would need to change the date to sometime in the fall when he could take advantage of the cooler weather.
“I am inclined to do it again, but it will not be on the hottest day of the year.”
Thank you, Bob, for sharing your inspiring journey with us!
