Date: 2015-06-21
From: Zero Day in Clifton, VA

To: Dahlgren Backpacker Camp
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: broken clouds

I'm back! On the trail, that is. Four zero days is a lot, but I enjoyed every minute of it!Today, Gary came and hiked with me, probably for the last time until we go on family vacation in early August. Because this involves him hiking back to his car, we always need a shuttle when he comes out for the day. Yesterday after our town's wine festival, we mentioned this in front of our friend Oscar, who volunteered to shuttle us. This is really, really generous, as it meant driving an hour plus each way for a 25 minute shuttle. But it didn't end there. When I got my pack out of the car at the ATC, my water bottle with its brand spanking new Sawyer regular filter fell out on the ground and the filter broke in two pieces. I do have backup purification pills but I don't want to hike without a filter. The outfitters didn't open for another hour, and we had a big day planned and needed to leave. So Oscar offered to wait and have breakfast, go get a new filter, then drop it off at our car. And that's exactly what he did, so now I have a new filter and don't have to stress about whether I have enough purification pills to last me. Thank you so much Oscar, you are awesome and a real trail angel!We also met another trail angel today at Gathland State Park. Vicki had left a message here at the guest book that she was going to be in the area but I thought it was while we were zeroing. Not so, and she had cold sodas and fresh fruit, pretty much my favorite kind of trail magic! Thank you Vicki, also for the recommendation to go to Main Cup in Middletown, which we really enjoyed.The hiking today was very easy for the most part, at least in terms of elevation. It started out totally flat on the C&O Canal Towpath, Then there was a tiny uphill and the rest of the day was mostly level. But there were rocks, on and off. And my feet, after four zero days, had gotten somewhat denumbified. I, naively, thought this was a good thing. Until those rocks. Ow, ow, fuckity ow (copyright my friend Ruth). Three miles from the end, I was hobbling like a geriatric gnome. Gary, meanwhile, was waiting at the last road, because clearly running 7 miles a day is better preparation for this hike than actually hiking for 11 weeks. (He's been running a lot longer than 11 weeks, I admit).Eventually, we did make it past the campground where I am now camped and back to the car. As I mentioned above, Vicki had recommended a place in Middletown and we relaxed and had dinner there. My cider was very tasty, the food was good and our server read us perfectly so it was all highly enjoyable. A great end to these three weeks of being within striking distance of home and hiking with Gary. The next few weeks are probably going to be a bit of a challenge. I will be hiking away from home, which isn't as much fun as hiking homeward. And if things are hard (say fifty degrees and steady rain for three days running, not that I expect that), I am close enough to be picked up if I want to throw in the towel (not that I expect that either!). And then of course there are the rocks of Pennsylvania to look forward to. We will see how it goes! At dinner we noticed a rash on my leg. It looks like, but probably isn't, poison ivy. Yoda told me it usually takes a couple of days for poison ivy to show and I spent a lot of the last few days on my couch! Fingers crossed it remains just a rash, no itch or pain so far.And lastly, I showered here at the campground (such luxury) and used my threadbare light-load towel to dry off. That was an interesting experience, especially drying my hair!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?