Date: 2004-06-26
From: Washington, D.C.

To: Harper's Ferry, W.V.
Miles today: 0.0

Start Washington DcDestination Harper's Ferry, W.VirginiaI have to admit that while I was eating I thought back to a hiking seminar I had attended last year. One of the speakers told us to always check out the leftover menu before ordering when we were at a restaurant. He explained that while walking through the tables to find a seat, always check out the food on plates left behind by others. As awful and uncivilized as that sounds to the majority of us, there are those that would be grateful to clean that leftover food off someone else's plate. There are those that it would be a matter of life and death to eat. I wonder how many starving people we could feed with just the food we throw away. The next time we order, can we say,¢ Give us a smaller portion would you?" It won't help the world's hungry, but it won't be wasted food either. From the looks of a lot of people we could surely do with smaller serving portions. But I am meddling now, I better move on. I unpacked most of my pack, digging my camera from the center where I had packed it for safe travel. Outside I took pictures of a young family in front of the Union Station Bell, in exchange for them taking my picture. "Where is your family?" the woman asked. I pointed to myself and said "It is just me." I wondered then, where was the rest of my family? For a moment I questioned what I was doing here. All alone in the big city, me, a country bumpkin who has lived a fairly sheltered life until last year. Here I was, all alone in a strange city. And I mean strange. Strange looking food, strange acting people, strange prices, and well you get the idea. Pictures taken I wandered back inside. I love to watch people, and there were plenty of people here to watch. Before long I was bored and restless. There were no comfortable places to sit. I found the pay phone and called home... again...letting Jerry know I had landed safely, and let him know, that to my delight, my pack had made it here also, with everything still attached to it. The tape that the attendant had wrapped around it in Pensacola, tape that she said would come off pretty easily when you pulled it off, but stayed put until then, was hanging by a thread. I still had several hours to kill, the movie theater here had nothing I wanted to see, so back outside I went, still dazed by the sights and knowledge that I was in Washington DC. I had hoped to be on the trail tonight, but the closest shelter was 5 miles from town. There was no way I was going to be able to hike 5 miles before dark. I would stay in town and head out in the morning. Later I went back inside and ordered me a Mocha Crush, a pure caffeine buzz drink, covered with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. There would be no sleeping for me tonight I knew, but my will power was weak, and the smells overpowering.I enjoyed every single drop. Finally it was time to board Amtrak for the ride to Harper's Ferry. This is another first for me. I met my first thru hiker waiting to board. A young man who was getting back on the trail after being off for a few weeks due to catching Lyme's disease. The disease is spread by the bite of infected deer ticks, so one really doesn't catch it, rather it catches you. His trail name is Chef. We had a great visit to Harper's Ferry, talking about the trail we had both hiked south of here. I stepped of the train in Harper's Ferry and was at a loss for words. It finally dawned on me that I was really here. I was really going back on the trail. I did a miniature dance of the real woman and started crying. Coming into view of the town, with it' tiny narrow streets and shops put in the most improbable places brought a flood of memories back to me. It was here last year that Mudbutt rejoined me on the trail after breaking her foot and being home for 8 weeks. It was here that I fell to the ground last year and literally kissed my feet at the one thousand mile mark. At the Outfitters, who did I spy hanging over the upstairs porch rail, but Baltimore Jack? We caught up on each other's news, and then I was off to find me a room for the night. Walking down the main street of town, sounds of music caught my attention just as I came across a sign advertising a jazz festival. Here I am, not even on the trail yet and I have already started blue blazing. A big tent setup in the park was a stage and music was resounding for blocks. People were scattered everywhere, some with chairs, some with blankets, and all with attentiveness towards the stage. I bought a bottle of water and settled back under an old tree. The music went on until sunset. What a nice way to end the day. Music in the park, West Virginia style. It seemed that there was a big tour group in town, and there were no rooms available. Sweet Ashley at the famous Hilltop House Hotel called around and found me a room 15 miles away. Not too bad, unless you have no wheels. She was going to drive me herself after I finished eating. That¢s howling it took for my guardian angel to step in and lend a hand. It was a basement room right at the Hilltop Hotel; the air conditioner didn't work so they wouldn't rent it. I smiled broadly as I said" I¢ll take it." I ate dinner while watching a beautiful sunset over the Potomac River. Back in my room I ran a tub full of hot water and climbed in. I probably had not hiked two miles but I wasn¢t about to waste a bathtub opportunity. I had said goodbye to Chef at the outfitters. He was going 20 miles south to pick up the trail. I am sure he will catch up with me in a few days. My oh my, it sure is good to be back on the trail.