Date: 2010-06-05
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Pen Mar County Park
Miles today: 17.8

Reunion at Pen MarToday was supposed to be an easy day. After the long mileage of yesterday and the late arrival at the shelter site, we planned on a leisurely departure this morning. However, there was the anticipation of meeting Barbara, Saguaro's wife at the end of the day at Pen Mar County Park. She had rented an SUV and would be able to provide support for the next several days, meaning we could stay in town each night and enjoy all of the amenities such as real food, showers, and a bed, and then be deposited back on the trail each morning. We were excited.I was a bit slow packing up my tent and gear and clearly irritated the other members of our trio. We headed out of the shelter by 8:50 AM, a late start. But, in my defense, Saguaro did mention a leisurely morning. The trail abruptly climbed up a slope covered in loose rocks. I had trouble keeping up and fell off the rear a bit. The other two blasted past the blue-blazed side trail for Annapolis Rocks, where we had agreed to turn off. I called them back, and they turned around reluctantly. The day was cloudy, so the views from the rocks were limited. I met a man setting up a top rope on the rocks for belaying climbers up the sixty to seventy foot vertical rock face. He was talking to the caretaker, an attractive young woman who alternated her caretaker role with ridge running for the Maryland portion of the trail. After I left the rocks, I realized that I had briefly met her at the ALDA Gathering last October. She was in the process of her SOBO leg of her flip-flop thru-hike at the time.The trail became very rocky after resuming the hike and I could not keep pace with my compadres. In a short while, they disappeared around a bend. I also had to stop frequently for the trail maintainers who were out this Saturday with weed wackers, clearing the treadway. For an hour or so, I hiked in solitude until rejoining them while they paused for a break.I did better keeping up after lunch. We ran into the Boat People who had set up camp just before Devil's Racecourse. I had first met them near Rockfish Gap, when waiting out a storm at the Paul C. Wolfe Shelter. They are a very pleasant couple with extensive backpacking experience and knowledge who have lived on a boat in Florida for the past decade or two. They were waiting for their young friend Cory who was hiking with them, but moved slowly due to severe knee pain. As Saguaro and Sherlock paused to chat with them, I headed on, as I knew that a significant rocky climb remained, and I did not want to lag behind again.The steep ascent was arduous, but I was feeling stronger, sustaining a good pace. Within a short while, I ran out of water with about four miles to go. This motivated me to maintain speed as the next water source was at the park. Nearing Pen Mar, I saw Barbara walking towards me down the trail. I introduced myself and told her that the others should be arriving shortly. We walked to a picnic pavilion where she provided a much appreciated soda. Here, I met her Aunt Pat who was helping her with navigation.I set out for the restrooms, and Barbara headed back to the trailhead to wait for Saguaro. On my way, I heard someone calling out "iTrod". It was Megalodon and Tintin sitting on a bench. They were waiting for Fredo who was in the midst of the Maryland challenge which is hiking all forty-one miles of the state within 24 hours. It was great to see them again.Saguaro and Sherlock arrived shortly thereafter, and a joyful reunion ensued. We headed off to the parking lot and drove to Hagerstown where we sheltered in the luxury of a motel.It was not a very easy day for me after all.Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry. -Mark Twain