Date: 2004-06-05
From: Sandy Hook Bridge (Harpers Ferry, WV)

To: Harpers Ferry Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Well the plans for a big mile day today ended with the sound of rain hitting the A/C unit outside my window. I looked outside at the pouring rain then looked back at my dry bunk bed with the nice big soft pillow. Guess which I chose. It is one thing to get caught out in the rain. It is insanity to delibrately venture out on a day like today. I am not out here to prove anything. I am out here to have fun and enjoy myself. And I didn't see much chance for fun unless I stayed here at the Hostel. Besides, the hosts (Loretta and Ray) are two of the nicest people you will meet on the trail. I met them on my 2002 hike and I was very much looking forward to seeing them again. Anyway, I dragged myself out of bed around 7 because I could smell breakfast being prepared. And the smell of coffee brewing has a strong pull. I ate a hearty breakfast and considered the options for the day. It was too ugly for sightseeing or much of anything else. I did need to get to the post office to mail home the maps I purchased at the AT Headquarters. I did screw up and sent home one of the maps I will need in a couple of days. Oops. I can always pester Pez to look at his. I then went to Walmart where I stood behind a lady who spent forever deciding which digital photos to print. I wanted to put my pictures on a CD but finally gave up on waiting. I will have to take it easy on the pictures the next few days until I can free up some memory. Remember I had three 256mb XD cards stolen back in Damascus and I have not replaced all of them. And speaking of pictures, many people reading my journal have asked where the pictures are that I had promised to post. I will probably not get to post them until after my hike. But trust me, it will be worth the wait. I have seen so many beautiful sights and have been lucky enough to capture them (on digital film?). After Walmart Ray stopped and picked up wet hikers looking for a dry place to stay and we headed back to the hostel. He and Loretta treated us to a fried chicken lunch (see, I told you they are special). I then took a four hour nap. Got up just in time to join Pez, Wicked Lobster, Longshot, and Dragon Slayer in a trip to a local diner. The food was good but the company was great. Everyone at the table seems to be having the time of their life on this hike and that is not always the case. This group is out for fun and not just to "put in miles". One of the bunch actually started at Springer before me. I hate to see anyone spending more time out here than me... I may have to slow down a bit more. Anyway, after dinner I chatted wth some other guests at the hostel and then with the hosts. It is now after midnight and I will be getting an early start in the morning. I have to find my way to Harrisburg next Thursday to pick up a rental car and that is about 120 miles from here. More then I want to hike in four days but I have to at least get close. Four consecutive thirty mile days? Not in this lifetime. Maybe in my dreams...Goodnight,LwopP.S. It is my hope that all this rain may have drowned some of the cicadas. Their noise has just about been deafening this past week. It is like listening to Dennis snore all day long. I don't miss that - no wonder no thru-hikers came near us the first week of my hike.