Date: 2014-06-16
From: Harper's Ferry

To: Gathland State Park
Miles today: 11.0

Woke up plenty early in my hotel room signaling to me I had received enough rest to replenish me for another hiking day. Helped myself to the continental breakfast at the Econo Lodge then gathered my pack.....uh....WHERE are my hiking poles??? Oh my goodness! In my bliss to be in a hotel room with shower and TV and food I had left my hiking poles at the front desk when I checked in. THANK YOU Econo Lodge for hanging onto my poles! Those hiking poles have saved my life so many times On the trail!! (At the very least saved me from bad injury).It is Monday morning very early and as people are zipping by in their cars on the way to work.....I was on the way to work (of sorts) by hoisting my pack on my back and walking the 1.5 miles through town and making my way back to the trail. Right before the bridge into Maryland I met a mom who had just dropped off her two daughters to do a few weeks worth of hiking so it was good to know I had company a few steps ahead.I crossed the Bridge out of Harper's Ferry all by myself (so different when I hiked with friends in 2007) I took a few 'selfies' then proceeded on to the tow path. Am pretty sure this was a canal where horses pulled the cargo barges in the canal, as the horse walked on the path. All these canals had lock numbers and it was a system of cargo transport in America's earlier periods.As I walked the few miles along the perfectly level path it was a very quiet morning. What I heard was the rushing of the Potomac River, the gentle breeze blowing and the light crunching of my boots on the 'crush and run' trail. Such beautiful, simple pleasures. ahhhhhh life is so good.I did not see another soul on this entire path. A train came along parallel to me as it sped on its tracks on the other side of the canal. When I got to the end of the tow-path and had to make a left turn I noticed the train had stopped right there....the engine was still going and full lights on the front of the engine had me a little spooked. Why was he stopped and I hoped the engineer didn't start the train as I got my boot hung up in the tracks...lol.I hurried across the tracks then no more than 30 seconds went by and a train coming FAST from the other direction swooshed by!! WOW, I barely got a horn warning. That seemed a bit close!!I hiked on the rest of the day and it was to be my last day on the AT until further knee evaluation. I stopped at Ed Garvey shelter for lunch and talked with Tennessee Jed a bit more. It was so bitter sweet for me to have made it this far, then just KNOW that it was not in the best interest for the future of my knees and all the sports I love. Folks, I have had 5 knee surgeries between these two joints of mine and I am proud to have made it this far!!The hike today was not even that bad but the angulation of the rocks in the path was further irritation and discomfort. I needed to have the doctor take a look, but I know my body, having done many triathlons and 3 Ironman races. I needed rest. So, when I got to Gathland State Park Zig Zag was waiting to scoop me up and carry me away from something I loved so much.....the A.T. I DO have plans to return around the end of July to hike the rest of NH and Maine so I will fill you in later. All together I have hiked 2,300 miles of the A.T. but there are areas I have never walked.I think Tex put it best. (He was a section hiker I only spoke to briefly) "Kokopelli", he said...."I think it is time for you just 'fill in the gaps' "...... well spoken, Tex! and THAT is what I shall do!