Date: 2012-05-05
From: Harper's Ferry, WV

To: Rocky Run Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

This was a nice short day. Works well because I just bought a new pair of shoes and they need some low mileage kindness to break in. Vasquez Velocities. I like them so far. Very stiff rubber to deal with the PA rocks to come. Incredible turtle sightings along the C&O canal leaving Harper's Ferry. I saw around 20 or so. Pa Bert and I will be staying at a hostel opened by a '06 thru hiker friend of his tomorrow night after another pretty short day. The name of the place is FreeStateHiker. I'll let you know how it goes. I'd like to take some time to talk about the two guys I've been hiking with since the Smokies, Gold Bond and Drop. I've been mentioning them in my posts but haven't really told you anything about them. Gold Bond. GB is a very interesting character. He is a chemical engineer by profession and recently was working in the environmental protection business as a smokestack tester. He was the guy corporations feared when they saw him coming. GB went to school for chemical engineering in California, and finished up his degree at Northeastern, in Boston. He considers himself a Californian. This, needless to say, is tragic. Bond is one of the most self-aware cats I know. He is acutely involved in his own mental ministrations and has indexed and cataloged all strengths and perceived weaknesses. His mind is deft, aggressive, tenacious, and his curiosity knows no limits. Gold Bond can move with ease from discussing the sexual behavior of bonobos, to shamanic practices in Peru, to documentary films, to modern music, and then back to trail diet and an analysis of comparative bowel regularity. He doesn't like Harry Potter, but he is a colossal Star Wars nerd. Gold Bond's potential is limitless. Intellectually he has all the right stuff (apart from a sufficient knowledge of German Idealism). Physically, he has a big heart and great strength. In fact, he had never backpacked in his life. Now he is over 1000 miles in and has lost 45 pounds. And it isn't pretty. He finishes each day a sweaty mess, covered with red blotches, angry purple bruises, and feet which look like they have been pounded by a large troll with an even larger hammer. But he powers forward. That takes fortitude and attitude. I'm proud to know him and call him "friend."Drop. Drop is a fascinating person, indeed. A UVA graduate with a degree in political theory and a passion for the environment, he was recently accepted to a Philosophy graduate program at Northern Illinois University, one of the better programs in the country. As a philosophy dilettante myself, I was at once delighted and astounded at the serendipity which allowed us to link up. If you had asked me at the beginning of this trek whether I'd meet anyone who would get my Hegel jokes or want talk about Hume's problem of induction, I'd have given it a 99.3% against. In addition to the philosophy stuff, Drop is a vegan, leads an indie folk band (w/ groupies) with an album soon to be released, is a fabulous writer, and knows more about trees than anyone I have ever met. I learned a ton from him. One of the most compelling parts of Drop's personality and weltanschaung is his integrity. He is one of the most principled people I know. His sense of justice and overall moral compass is well-calibrated but does not manifest as self-righteous. He makes that balance look easy. And as for a sense of humor, I have met a kindred spirit. Finding humor in the ridiculous and arcane seems to be a shared interest. He is a massive Star Wars nerd and adores Harry Potter. I wish him well and hope the trail allows our paths to cross again before this adventure ends.