Date: 2005-06-21
From: Mason-Divon Line

To: PA Route 16
Miles today: 2.6

DAY 102I awoke to a warm morning. This was going to be a scorcher of a day. As is normal for me on the Trail, I had to answer nature¢s call upon arising. Rather than find a place in the woods, that was probably tick infested, I walked the 0.2 miles back to Penn-Mar Park to use the restroom. Unfortunately I found the restroom locked so I had to use the woods after all.The short walk back from the Park restroom was painful. I was feeling quite discouraged this morning. I knew it was time to face the inevitable and get off the Trail before I destroyed my knee. I had to break the news to Rocky and I knew this would be painful for both of us. Rocky came out of her tent this morning with excitement. She was looking forward to Naked Hiking Day and photographing the young people we were camped with. As we sat down next to our tents for breakfast, I said quietly, ¢Rocky, I¢m going home¢. She burst into tears and sobbed. I teared up as well. I was going to have to leave my best friend ever. And I was going to have to end a dream of many years. We got through breakfast somehow and pack for the day¢s hike. I planned to walk with her to PA Route 16 and then hitchhike west into Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, where I expected to find a bus station. Rocky cheered up when the Naked Hiking Day foursome showed up to have their pictures taken at the Mason-Dixon Line sign. Rocky took photos of them in their relative nudity. She first took a frontal picture and then a rear picture. Then the Naked Foursome was on their way. We could not have kept up with them even if my knee were healthy. And we were not going to hike naked.As we walked toward PA Route 16, we were both in tears. Rocky told me she loved me. I told her I loved her also and I mean it. This was our last mile together. When we reached the road I gave her my extra food that I will not be using. I also gave her maps of the next Trail segment, my pen knife, and the water bag we had bought together in Waynesboro, Virginia. We hugged at the road and said our last goodbyes. It hurt so bad. Then she was on her way, sobbing, heading northward on the Trail and perhaps out of my life forever. It was the worst feeling ever to see her disappear into the woods. The only thing I can think of that was worse was being with my mother 32 years ago when she breathed her last breath.Shortly after Rocky disappeared from my sight, a young hiking couple came across the road. Through my tears I asked them if they would keep an eye out for my Rocky as I knew she was going to have a difficult day.Suddenly as I stood by the side of the road, I realized I was alone for the first time in 54 days and over 600 miles of Appalachian Trail. I had to compose myself as I have a long day ahead of me to get back to my home in New Jersey. I was able to quickly get a ride into Waynesboro from a man who was a motor cyclist. I had him drop me off at the first little restaurant I saw on the east side of the town. I went into the restaurant and had an early lunch. After finishing my meal I asked the owner where the bus station was. Surprise! He told me there was no bus stop in town, and perhaps the nearest one was in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, about 25 miles away and on the other side of South Mountain. The man was very kind to me and offered to give me my meal for free, as he realized I was in difficulty. I thanked him and told him that it was unnecessary as money was not a problem for me. He said he would call some one who could take me part way to Gettysburg. I thanked him for his help and said I would try to hitch a ride back the way I came rather than wait.I walked across the road from the restaurant and soon hitched a ride from a nice man going east over South Mountain. He was able to take me as far as Emmetsburg, Maryland, about 15 miles south of Gettysburg. I had to walk some distance to get into a good position on the divided highway, US Route 15, to hitch my next ride north toward Gettysburg.Getting the next ride took quite some time, as the day got hotter. An older man eventually picked me up. He had to drop me off at an exit ramp about four miles south of Gettysburg. Then I got lucky as I was soon picked up by a young man who was also a hiker. He took me to the town square in the center of Gettysburg. Before he let me out of his car, he asked if I would like a cold beer. On this hot, humid morning, that sounded great and I gratefully accepted his offer. I sat on a bench in the town square sipping my cold beer while contemplating my next move. All around me was activity as tourists milled about. I located the town¢s information center and inquired about bus service. I was disappointed again to learn that Gettysburg has no bus service. The nearest bus station is York, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles further east.I walked the better part of a mile east from the Gettysburg town square to the fork in the road where US Route 30 to York branches off from PA Route 116. There was a Wawa convenience store at this location. My thought was that I would attract the attention of someone leaving the store who would be heading in the direction of York. It didn¢t work out that way and I stood in the sun for over an hour trying to hitch a ride. All this while Rocky is constantly on my mind. I missed her terribly and hoped she was okay.To try something different, I went into the store¢s dumpster and pulled out a piece of cardboard. I wrote ¢YORK PA¢ on it. I barely got back to my hitchhiking station when a man in a van who was pulling out of the store told me he could take me part way to York. Well, I figured, part way is better that just standing here so I got in his van. It turned out he was a roto-rooter type plumber who cleaned out sewer blockages. His van was a mess, but at least I was sitting after standing out in the sun. He told me he had a job to do, and then he could take me to York. I said, ¢Fine, I¢ll give you a hand¢. We drove around Adams County for what seemed to be hours looking for the house with the sewer blockage. He was on the radio several times with his dispatcher trying to find the job location. Eventually he found the correct house. He didn¢t need any help from me to clear the blockage. Then finally we headed for York, Pennsylvania.He ended up doing much better than taking me towards York. He took me directly to the Greyhound bus station. I got there after 6 pm, and found out the next bus leaving toward Philadelphia didn¢t leave until 9:30 pm. I would also have to change buses in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, around midnight. I bought my ticket and at least I was another step closer to getting home.I thought I had problems until I started talking with another man waiting for the same bus. He had no luggage; only the clothes on his back. He was from someplace in the Caribbean. He had lived and worked in New York for many years. However, he never bothered to apply for US citizenship. He had been arrested as a result of a minor bar room brawl over a year ago. Since he wasn¢t a US citizen and had technically committed a crime, he was eligible to be deported. He was put in prison in York while his case went through the process. Apparently, the York prison is where illegal immigrants are held. After nine months in prison, the judge ruled that he could remain in the US. However, the US government attorney appealed the judge¢s decision and he went back to prison in York. The government appeal was eventually denied and he was released today. He had no money left. And I thought I had problems!Greyhound has no competition in the intercity bus business and doesn¢t try very hard to provide decent service. The bus station office closed at 8 pm, and the passengers have to wait outside for the bus. It is obvious that the bulk of the waiting passengers are of lower economic classes. Eventually the bus to Harrisburg arrived and I boarded the bus for the next leg of my trip home. I am now sitting outside the bus station in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. After I have waited several hours for the midnight bus to Philadelphia, I have found out that the bus has broken down enroute to Harrisburg. There is no telling when it will arrive in Harrisburg. This has been a bad and endless day.Rocky, where ever you are, I hope you are okay.