Date: 2004-06-14
From: Snickers Gap

To: Harpers Ferry, W.VA
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: light rain

Our last day of slacking. Start with finishing up the Rollercoaster. Then a long lumpy downhill to Harpers Ferry. We were planning to pull off at KeysGap for a late lunch but things didn't work out that way. The temperature and, in my opinion, exhaustion, made for a slower day then anticipated. The trail wasn't hard, just a long day after two other long days. The temperature and humidity rising as we got lower in elevation. Ran into SOBO. Ghost, who started in Massachusetts, and Feather, who started today from Harpers Ferry. I'm not sure about Feather but, it¢s his trip. He was taking a break after just five miles in. Of course, it's his first day of a long trip to Georgia. The guys and I were together on the trail when we hit the 1000 mile marker, a stone on the path marker "congratulation." We all took pictures of each other. I'm still amazed at the idea that I've walked this far. I've been seeing a little critter dead on the trail and today, I finally figured out what they are, moles. I found a little body today and poked it to look at the feet, moles have interesting limbs. I think all the rain we've been having has been not too good for those little critters. Most of West Virginia path today is another warm up for Pennsylvania, rocky. It makes for slower walking when I have to spend most of my time looking at my feet. We're not talking about flat rocks; we're talking pointed rocks, loose pointy rocks. I swear I spent just as much time side stepping as forward stepping. I did see some new flowers, Spotted Jewelweed. A very interesting looking flower. And I thought Columbines were complicated looking flowers! It's interesting to notice how some flowers are constructed. Most are simple, "he loves me, he loves me not" petal arrangement. If you have the time, look at flowers. Columbines, Bleeding Hearts, Jack in the pulpits, Beard's tongue. Some very complicated petal arrangements. Someone on the trail said, God¢s favorite color must be green. I only know that as the season moves on, the canopy of green overhead is amazing. Sometimes the woods underneath are filled with green and sometimes it's covered with fallen leaves and brown. Adam said it's green if there was a controlled burn. It would make sense, burn off the dead stuff, and let the hidden seeds wake up. The day ended with a walk across the bridge over the Potomac River. Kayakers dancing on the waves. It sure looked cool. The temperature was getting up there and the humidity joining in. I stopped at a creek and wet down my bandana. I stopped on the bridge to watch the kayakers. All I could think of was the cooler in back of the truck full of Yoo-Hoos. Priorities. Paul was at the parking lot as planned. We all got together and headed for "home." Another day of successful walking. Out last slack. Tomorrow we head into town for some shopping and then load our packs and be genuine thruhikers again. Strangely enough, I miss the woods and sleeping in the shelters. Life seems less complicated. I will miss Paul and the dogs when they leave, but the double planning I've had to do these last few days has my head reeling. Tomorrow, back to trudging.Namaste'