Date: 2014-06-03
From: Annapolis Rocks

To: Deer Licks Shelter
Miles today: 21.1

I slept real good again tonight. It was nice to sleep with the tent fly off. Lots and lots of rocks along the ridge for a couple of miles then down to Wolfsville Road that led into Smithsburg, MD where there were several stores to buy food and get a sandwich or a meal to eat. Now it was only a mile and half into town but when you are hiking that is a long ways. I had hoped to hitch a ride and thought that since I was so close to town some local would stop. Wasn't going to happen. Several cars passed me as I made my way down hill telling myself that its not too bad and that I should be able to get a ride back up hill when I leave town. I finally made it into town and was lucky enough to come out to a shopping center that had a Dollar General and a Sub Shop. I got a whole sub and had them wrap up half for my dinner that night. I then went to Dollar General where I got some mega stuffed Oreo cookies that I had been craving. It's crazy what we crave at time while hiking. I continually looked to see if I could spot someone who might be receptive to giving me a ride back to the trail head but it was not meant to be. With my shopping done it was time to get going so I headed out of town UPHILL in the peak of the afternoon heat and humidity. I continued to put my thumb out but it was in vain and it took me 40 minutes to get back. This trip had added another 3 miles to a 21 mile day, but had been worth it as I needed to get any additional calories I could when I could. I then made the climb to an overlook that use to be used as a launching area for hand gliders. Once on top you could see the launching step bolted to the side of the boulder. You could also see 4 portions of 4 states and the view was incredible. From there it was only a few more miles to the Pen Mar County park and a possible concession stand or vending machine. Once there I could not locate either but saw a group of people at a pavilion and thought I would ask them. They were having a cookout and I asked them if they knew about the concession stand but they did not and I thanked them and proceeded to walk away thinking I would eat the other half of the sub now, when 2 guys from the group I had spoken with me inviting me to join them. Apparantly they were a group of military personnel from a local Naval Station (Thurmond?) and had been participating in a 2 day 50 K Warrior Challenge where they run or hike the 50 K from Michaux State Park to the Pen Mar Park and finish with a cook out and trophies for the participants. Kevin, who had invited me asked me where I was from stated he was from Rochester and I told him I went to RIT and he said he had done his ROTC there and lived in Webster and then we shared similar stories of the area. We bantered about different places on and off campus and how things have changed so much over the years.I also shared my hiking experience with him and several others while having a hamburger, hot dog, potato salad, cheetos and 2 drinks. Kevin also gave me a clif bar and a package of power shot gels. I also put ice in my water bladder which was nice to have in the heat of the afternoon. I then took pics of Chief Jim Diaz and some of the others. With my belly full - nice to have those calories - I crossed over into my 7th state - PA. 5 miles later I got to camp and had the place to myself. I ate the sub, set up my gear and caught up on journaling. Now I have to figure out where I will go tomorrow and if I can coordinate meeting up with Gray Ghost. The rain came around 8 and I slept like a baby.