Date: 2005-06-19
From: Blackburn ATC Center

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Up and gone by seven after spending the night on a piece of plywood. I was dry and had no complaints. A beautiful place, it was just to far left for me.      On towards Harpers Ferry, we could not believe that we were so close. It was a darn near strait up climb back to the trail, a good way to get your heart rate up before the hike began. For some reason we separated (probably had something to do with a town or food) as we walked but did make a plan to meet in town so we could share a room. We wound up staying at the Hilltop House Hotel and Restaurant for the night. The place was nice but there was no TV in the room. I was told that hiker's got a better rate because there was no TV. I did not believe this and told them so because the rooms were given out randomly. Then I was told that the reason there was no TV is because the clientele came there to "get away from it all". I told the desk clerk that I have been out in the woods "away from it all" for days and I just wanted to catch up on things (besides I thought I was clientele).    Just before we separated we ran into a section hiker (Boy Scout Leader) who asked us if we were doing the four state challenge (that's VA, WV, MD and then PA all touched by your boots in one day). My answer was simple, "No we are doing the 14 state challenge, it is called the Appalachian Trail" (yes I am and have always been a wise ass).   It was a short day to Harpers Ferry and a nice walk in to town. I moved on to the base of town near where the infamous "John Brown" uprising was held before the Civil War. I figured it would be an easy walk to this spot no matter where I was in town when I decided to get back on the trail. I made my way up to the ATC headquarters there and signed in and had my photo taken. I was around number 365 I believe and it was "my pleasure" to be there. There for the first time I met Buttah, Leviathan and Protieus. Three hikers I would spend some time with further on up the trail. I also met Crock Walker and a woman I believed was his wife and hiking partner. There in the hikers box I found an odd object, a bowling ball. Now who put it there I have no idea, my thoughts were what fool carried it there and for how long did they carry it for.    Harpers Ferry was another historical site that was so full of history that a person like me could spend a month there and not see it all. The one thing I personally favored was the fact that Meriwether Lewis was here to get his iron works done (weapons and a collapsible metal framed boat that he and the others took on their infamous voyage "The Corps of Discovery") around the 1803 time frame.    Dandylion and I did link up as planned and spent the day walking around town. He bought himself the hiking skirt at the Outfitters that he was talking about getting and I had a good conversation with the young lady who worked there. What nice folk there in that town, a little on the high side as far as prices go (it is a tourist stop indeed). Pizza from Kings Pizzeria (before I linked up with Dandylion), Ice cream later on and another meal with beer later in the evening. It was a nice "Bob Nero" day (a total of 12.2 miles). The area was gorgeous and the views from the hotel, outstanding.   Dandylion met up with another hiker called Pogo and planned to go into D.C. in the morning. The next morning we said our good byes and never seen each other again. I am sorry for that, we keep in touch by e-mail now but, again another friend was gone.