Date: 2014-06-17
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: David Lesser Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: few clouds

I set my alarm for 8:00AM before going to bed. That was the ultimate latest getting up time since checkout at the Bears Den Hostel was nine. I woke up before 6 and thought it was much later because the pots and pans in the kitchen had been rattling for a while. I couldn't go back to sleep right away so thought might as well be drinking coffee and/or doing a journal entry. I was surprised when I was able focus my eyes that it was only six, but I was awake and ready for the day. Coffee was already made and the griddle was available, so I made my pancake. (1 cup of mix claimed to make 8-4" pancakes, but I just made one big one that barely fit on the plate. I drank coffee, ate, did some journaling, packed, recharged the phone and helped a couple of section hikers (Jackie and her mom from PA) with the map for today. I met "the Professor," a hiker from my town of Lexington, KY, who promised to leave me their fuel canister at the next shelter after they finished cooking lunch since they were going home today. (Later, it was waiting for me and I used it to make hot mocha for my dinner to drink with some bars.)I passed a sign that said "rocks" and pointed north. Like the presage in many stories, I assumed it had the immediate meaning of Raven Rocks coming up in a few miles. But I think it was reminding me to beware of the rocks in Pennsylvania, two states away. I started out feeling more energetic than yesterday. Maybe it was due to the weather system passing through or due to lots of food (for dinner an entire pizza and pint of Ben/Jerry). Also I had interesting encounters with two groups of people. The first was a group of young teens from Leesburg, VA whom I saw four different times. They asked good questions about the logistics of thru hiking. I gave them my card so they could find more info in trail journals. Unintentionally they reminded me of one reason I am doing a thru hike. They had hoped to get to a particular overlook but they ran out of time. If I run out of time on the thru hike, I will still be out here the next day waiting to discover what is around the next bend. They found a neat overlook and spent some time there, so they named it Christina's rock, for one member of their party. I also met Bob and his wife Bonnie from a nearby VA community. They had many questions about my hike and we also talked for a bit about El Camino de Santiago or the way of St. James. They are preparing to do that journey soon and I agreed I would like to as well, but I want to visit Ireland first. Apparently they have been to Ireland because they said I might not want to leave. I left them a hiker card also. I made a special effort to stick with the conversation as long as they wanted as I had promised myself after leaving a meeting with someone too soon on Sunday afternoon. I passed the 1000 mile mark as well and left Virginia behind me. I think most of the regular thru hikers I have been with went on to Harpers Ferry yesterday or today. When I got to my shelter for tonight's destination, only a few local hikers were there but not actually in the shelter. I had about decided I would have the shelter to myself for tonight , but Jackie and her mom arrived. Tomorrow will make four days in a row that I have seen them. A lot of the terrain was easier to walk on today. A few times I picked up my poles and walked along on a sandy trail with only the crunchy sound made like when walking on damp sand such as a beach. I didn't hear any complaints from my knee as I used it as I normally would have. There has also been the slightest hint of a breeze many times today. A few times I have heated up enough today for the sweat to drip in my eyes, but for the most part I can say if today has not been nice, I don't know what nice is.