Date: 2009-05-02
From: Albany,NY

To: Harpers Ferry,WV
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: broken clouds

Sat.May 2,2009Day#1"...My Momma told me...there'd be Days Like This"-Van Morrison3:45a.m.....The PHONE RINGGGGGGGGGS...its my WAKE UP call from "Jigsaw"...he picks me up from the motel & we hit the road South!(I'm still sleepy w/ only 3 hours sleep)...we catch up on whats been happening in our lives over the past year as we drive to Lebanon,PA...We get to the DAYS INN in Swatara Gap near Lebanon...where we'll END our 13 day hike this year...make sure they have a reservation for us (the following friday)& we're allowed to park the car there for 13 days...we have time for breakfast before our shuttle guy (Michael Cervais) picks us up abt 10:30am or so...we hit a local Mom & Pop diner...straight outta the 1950s....all farmer-types of "good ol'boys" & wives (or girlfiends) & the one & only waitress was a PA version of FLO on that TV sitcom: "Mel's Diner"... remember her???? ...."You can KISS my Grits!"Anyway...I order scrambled Eggs & FLO brought me 2 sunny-side up eggs, a piece of toast & something called "SCRAPPLE"??????Can someone explain SCRAPPLE to me?????(I find out later...in the South...we call it SOWSMEAT...that is basically pig parts that cant be used for anything else....uggggh)It looked horrible...I had hashbrown potatoes that I DID eat & toast.(they dont believe in biscuits this far North...but, I hear a Cracker Barrel is on its way!)We get back to the motel just as our shuttle guy is pulling into the parking lot...we jump in his truck & head out... It's @ this very moment (as we are loading our gear into our shuttle) that I realize I have left my FOOD BAG in my ALBANY MOTEL ROOM! Have you ever had a "PUNCH IN THE STOMACH" feeling????Insert LARGE ONE here...So, we have to, along the way South,...stop by an OUTFITTER store in Harrisburg,PA & I buy 6 days of food, a cook pot (MSR .9 litre)& MSR "Pocket Rocket" stove, abt 8 energy bars for breakfast & lunch..&...$142 later...we're back on the road again....(i'm still feeling SICK abt leaving my food bag & contents behind)we make a side stop @ the Regional Appalachian Trail Conference HQ to pick up "Model-T" (he'll only be hiking the first 7 days with us to here in Boiling Springs,PA...where he has left his car)Everyone (especially "Model-T" gets a BIG CHUCKLE outta my food bag MISSING IN ACTION story...hahahahahahaha :0(We ride down to Harpers Ferry,WV & Michael lets us out in OLDE TOWN part of the city where we begin our hike...takes a photo or two of us...& we're on the trail by 1pm.As we start our hike...its Cloudy...but, nice...abt 70 degrees...lots of tourists & day hikers here on the trail as we head outta town & over the foot bridge leading over the Railroad tracks & outta West Virginia & into the state of Maryland!We then hike along a Greenway path...more walkers & day hikers...lots of pebbles on the Greenway...for abt a mile or two...then its trail...I lead us outta town...then Jigsaw hikes ahead.(he's a much faster hiker than I)"Model-T" passes me as I now pull up the rear of our hiking gang...As we make our way up the trail...we notice several RUNNERS...we later find out that the runners are competing in a LONG DISTANCE run from the PA state line all the way back to HARPERS FERRY....WOW!...thats abt 40 miles!....weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeWe hike on...Up & Up...& then on top of a ridge & a few more miles we arrive at the Ed Garvey shelter (named for the very first Thru-hiker back in 1948).After I take off my backpack...I call my "sweetie", Donna Fay, & talk for a few minutes..then stake my claim to a spot in the shelter...write in my journal for a few minutes...I'm sleepy...that 3 hours of sleep didnt last me long.6:30pm....Hikers go to bed EARLY!(not that I need an excuse)Good 1st day of hiking...Good Night!                              7 miles today!