Date: 2016-07-01
From: Harper's Ferry, WVA

To: Harper's Ferry, WVA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

TeaHorse Hostel is a great place to stay. The bunkroom is clean, the bathrooms are clean and best of all the host serves an all you can eat waffle breakfast!I was glad I made a reservation for both nights, as the bunks filled up fast as the day progressed. Besides hikers, there are bicyclists here as well. Many of them are riding from DC to Pittsburgh, a 335 mile ride on the C & O Towpath and the Great Alleghany Passage. Now that sounds like fun! Of course, anything that doesn't involve walking sounds good about now!Hazel, Cranberry, Sam (section hiker from Texas) and I went to the Italian restaurant last night. It was sort of a farewell dinner as Sam was heading back to Texas, I was headed to Florida and Hazel and Cranberry were continuing northward. We had a fun time and it was so nice to get to know these women better. I hope to meet up with Hazel and Cranberry again, even if it is only to provide some trail magic as I drive up to Maine in August.I heard from my friends Jules and Denece yesterday. They are vacationing in the area and stopped by to make sure all was well. Today they came to pick me up and we will do some sightseeing together. They were going to cram me into the back of their car and give me a ride to Atlanta (a 9 hour jaunt!), but I decided it would be less painful to get to DC and fly home (a 2 hour flight). After seeing their car, not even fully loaded, we all realized it was a wise decision. We took the shuttle bus from the park to the historic section and started walking around looking at the old buildings and museum. We only lasted one hour before the idea of lunch was brought up. Walking does that to you! Needless to say, I was all over the idea of finding a restaurant and sitting outside, watching everyone else walk around, while we ate. So that is what we did. The temperature was climbing steadily, as was the humidity and an large ice tea was the perfect answer. As we were finishing, Cranberry walked in. I was so surprised to see her, as I thought she had already hit the trail. She joined us and ordered lunch. Jules and I were more interested in talking with Cranberry (from Switzerland) than wandering through shops, so we did that while Denece went down the street to find the outfitter's store. We were having a grand old time when it began to rain. It poured so hard that the outdoor porch roof leaked on us, so we bolted inside to try and get a seat. Taking the last table, it was only proper that we order dessert! Mmmmm, cherry cheesecake. I can feel the pounds sliding right back on, haha. We could think of no excuse to linger any longer, and there was a line of people waiting for a table, so we moseyed outside and said our goodbyes. Thankfully the rain stopped and I slowly walked up the steep hill to the hostel. On the way, I passed a yard where two deer were grazing. This is the most wildlife I have seen in one place on the whole trail, and it is in someone's yard! Back to the hostel, I started organizing my gear to repack into my backpack for the flight home. My biggest concern is that my poles don't get bent or damaged, but I think I can fit them inside my backpack. If all goes well, my shuttle driver, Mark, will pick me up in the morning at 11 am, deliver me to the airport, flight will be on time, shuttle on the Orlando end will be there and I will arrive home in The Villages by 9 pm, where I get to sleep in my very own bed .........