Date: 2007-09-23
From: .1 Short of PA state line ( Mason Dixon Line)

To: VA State Line
Miles today: 43.6

Day 96 43.6mi VA State LineToday I hike for Snacktime, He is getting back on the trail at Bear MTN on Tues. I hope that he'll make it all the way. He has been positive through all of this. It says a lot to me about who he is.I woke up this morning at 3:30 am, headed out at 4. It was too early for me to eat. I walked directly into Maryland. It was just as rocky as PA. I was sweating a climbing in my light bubble. I was about 3 miles in, a guy 15 feet to my left sat up and said "Mitch", I said "No, but to scared me to death". He said "No, you're Mitch", I told him I wasn't who he thought I was. Appearantly him and his buddies had got drunk and he got lost, laid down and went to sleep. I told him to have a good one and moved on. I sat down befor dawn and took a 15 minute nap. I spent all day walking, filling up on water, and eating. Just feeding the machine. Later I ran into another SOBO named CAT. She was hiking with some friends, she was pretty quiet and did not let go of too much info. I crossed highway 77 and danced and shook for the cars driving under. A few honked and gave a wave. An hour before dark I stopped at Crampton Gap, 30.9 mi. I met a section hiker who was waiting on a taxi because of stomach problems. I met two other SOBO's, Skeeter and Puck, now Johnny Appleseed and Puck. I haven't seen these guys since ME. I can't believe they're still out here. I figured they'd quit because they are from ME and walking so far away from home. They've been walking the last few days with a group of women who are raising money for breast cancer research, "hiking for Ta-Ta's" these women will tell you. Their husbands bring food to the road crossing every night. So Puck and Appleseed take advantage. As for me I hiked on, 12 mi to go. It soon got dark and I was in my light bubble again. I saw my first fox while on the way. The deer, fox, and even spider eyes reflect brightly with the LED headlamp. The moon rose just short of full. I walked the flat 3 miles on the C&O towpath by moonlight into Harper's Ferry, WV along the Potomac River. By that time my ankles hurt, my body was near the end. I crossed the railroad bridge into Harper's Ferry. My first impression was that I had been transported back in time. Cobble stone streets, no cars, and the building were of the civil war period. Not a person around. I followed the AT signs up the hill, I had had enough and sat down in front of the church. I had been walking for 18.5 hours. A guy walked around the corner, asked if I was hiking, then asked if I wanted to sit at his place to take a break. I said no at first, as to keep with my 4 state challenge. Then I thought to my self, that not going was crazy. I told him "let's go" He lived about 500 feet from where we were in a loft apartment in the historic district. I found out his name was Brice. Around his apartment were photographs of old blues players, himself, a girl, and a few artistic shots. He was packing his pack to go hike a few days on the AT. He is planning a thru hike in 2009. "Money" has it on hold. We swapped hiker stories, NPR, music, and good vibes. He ended up playing solo blues guitar over pre recorded rhythm tracks he had laid. At that moment I decided everything was perfect with this day. I felt good about everything. We he was finished playing I told him that I could not have written a better story than what just happened here tonight. We talked more and then about 12:45 a.m. I headed back out to complete my goal. I went up to the Appalachian Trail Headquarters to register. I left a not I the door to sign me in, I found out later I would be #45 on the SOBO list. I headed out of town by moonlight, realizing that Brice was the only living person I had seen in Harper's Ferry. I climbed up 900 feet to the Stateline of WV, VA. I set my tent on the ridge, I of course slept on the VA side. It was 2:30 a.m. I had accomplished my goal.