Date: 2012-06-14
From: I-70 footbridge near Greenbrier State Park

To: Pen Mar road crossing in Waynesboro,PA
Miles today: 18.7

We decided to move on north so took down the tent and checked out of Greenbrier State Park. This was an excellent stay in a very nice park! I drove SOS a mile to his start spot which was the same as yesterday only he was going the other way. I went back to the State Park to the visitor center to find a postcard of the park¢¦they have none but I did have a nice conversation with the park ranger who lives close by ¢¦ the trail goes through her yard. I went the 4.5 miles to a McDonald¢s so I could catch up the journal. 3 hours later I was done with the computer and my cup of senior coffee had turned into iced coffee with the addition of some ice cubes!I started out for Waynesboro which is our next stop. On the way, I stopped in Smithsburg to see Debbie at the store, Village Emporium, where she works. Hi Debbie¢¦write me a note on the guest sign in¢¦? Unfortunately it was her day off so on I went down the road. I saw a sign saying pick your own blueberries and I decided to try and buy some for dinner or breakfast since they are one of SOS¢s favorite berries (mine too). After driving on a number 3 road and over a shaky small bridge, I found the berry farm. However it was closed until tomorrow! So no berries for dinner¢¦?When I arrived in Waynesboro, I drove to the Days Inn and checked in for the next two days. The rest of the day was spent in the room relaxing until time to drive to the edge of town and pick up SOS. He called earlier to happily tell me that he ate lunch with Headnout and Tagnalong at a shelter on the trail. They had been off the trail for many days while he dealt with medical problems. WELCOME BACK, you two!! They told SOS that they had eaten at the Dixie Diner and the ladies there told them we were in the area since I ate there yesterday.When I went to pick up SOS, there were 4 hikers looking for a ride to pizza. Trail Mama finally got to do something! I gave them food and drink and drove them to Brother¢s Pizza. Then I went back to pick up SOS. ANOTHER STATE DONE!!! FINISHED WITH MARYLAND AND IN PENNSYLVANIA!! I walked to meet him and got to see the Mason-Dixon Line. I took his picture standing with one foot in Maryland and one in Pennslyvania. SOS wanted pizza so we went to Brother¢s Pizza also and had a good pizza. The four, Daystar, BeBop, Gribley, and Pants on Fire were still there so when we finished eating we took them back to the trail so they could hike on to a shelter for the night. SOS and I went to Walmart for some supplies and then back to the room to finish putting pictures on the journal. ROAD NAME OF THE DAY: GRANT DRIVE This is not unusual but SOS commented that you can tell we are now back in the north¢¦no more Stonewall and Lee roads!SOS here:Today was the roughest day on the Appalachian Trail since three years ago when I hiked in the Presidential Range in the White Mountains. It was rocks and more rocks and my feet were aching at the end of the day. It took me nearly 11 hours to hike 18.7 miles - I would typically hike nearly 22 miles in an 11 hour. It helped being back in my Lowa Boots.I was very happy to see Trail Mama at the end of the day. I made it to PA and the North when I crossed the Mason Dixon Line at exactly 7:30 PM.As Trail Mama has already said above - the best part of the day was seeing Headnout and Tagnalong at lunch time. It was great to know they were back on the trail.Two more days and I will be eating 1/2 gallon of ice cream for reaching the half-way point.