Date: 2007-06-25
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 160.4
Weather: few clouds

This entry has to be fast... made it to a computer at the library, but what I was not informed is that they shut their computers down 15 min prior to closing, giving me about 10 min to update the past few weeks; Ill come back and add the juicy details at my next stop.First stop, the Shenandaoh Nat. Park. She was easy miles... real easy miles, but the humidity was killer. Quite nerveracking was the fact the trail crossing skyline drive, the extension of the blue ridge parkway which allow tourists to drive directly through the park, allowing them to enjoy all of the beautiful vistas. Since a road ran thru the park, crossing it something like 26 times, you see way too many people, and after not seeing more than a dozen people a day in months, I began to feel claustrophobic. A few huge thunderstorms treated us with some disturbing cloud formations and dangerous ammounts of fog, making the view from Marys Rock, which I was looking forward to, pointless. Saw my first bear, after 950 miles, actually 6 of them.. on my last day in the park. The mothers are very protective of their cubs and are quick to rush them up the trees, then guard the tree by waiting at the base.Picked up a book in Front Royal, Va. Stevensons "Treasure Island".. I remeber reading it years ago and not being able to put it down, and I needed a break from thinking about the trail, so, why not pirates? Past week after that was just mundane ups and downs, way too hot and way too humid. Made it into Harpers Ferry! but more importantly... OUT OF VIRGINIA! but not for good...Good friends, 6-2 and E-Minor from DC came to pick us up in Harpers and show us a good time in the City. Those guys rock, we had some Ethiopian food on U Street, paddled in the basin next to the Jefferson Memorial, visited Abey Baby, our country's fallic monument, and the new WWII monument which is very well done and beautiful. David took us for a ride in the miata, and both me and Uturn took spins around the city on the Honda Ruckus, a scooter to say the least. Strange to navigate traffic after not driving for months. Took the AMTRAK train back to town here.. Union station in DC, as well as the metro, both very clean, suprising, metro is the rolls royce next to the T.Back in Harpers now. Beautiful City, very historic, many markers along the street telling of the events occuring right where you are standing in relevance to the Civil War. Had a Union Burger at the Secret Six Tavern.. couldn't pull myself to get the confederate burger.. and it had ham on it. Love this town, could see myself back here again, spend some more time in the historical park down the road. Real hot and humid here again, trying to keep the fluids going, but feeling pretty good. Stealth camping by the river tonight, hopefully the geese don't bother us too much.Can't wait for PA! 4 State challenge is upon us, starting around 3am or sooner and hiking 24hrs thru 4 states and finishing by crossing the Mason Dixon line, see ya later south, north, here I come! Shooting to be in MASS around July 11th, got this determination going now, and easy miles ahead, so I'll do it, which will make for an estimated Katahdin summit around August 15th, wish me luck!Oh, looks like I ended up speed writing and getting it all in, ha!PEACE, drink water