Date: 2013-09-28
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Rocky Run Shelter
Miles today: 9.2

After an amazingly restful, healing 10-hour sleep, we were up and out by 8:15. As we walked, we could see and feel the forest changing from her summer attire to her never disappointing fall attire. Magically, today the ferns that were green yesterday, were now golden yellow and carpeted the forest floor like a deep, soft, 70 style shag rug. They were beautiful to see and made me smile numerous times during our morning hike. We walked into Maryland's Gathland State Park and hit the restrooms. Luckily there was an electrical outlet available for the ever-dwindling battery in cell phone. I plugged in and went back out to find the vending machines which are like crack to hikers. All morning we talked about what delectable snacks we would find in the machine at Gathland. Would it be Cheetos and Doritos? Maybe it would be candy...that would be nice too. I looked by the restrooms. I looked by the benches. I looked left, right, up and down and did not see any vending machines. What I did find was a park ranger that told me the state had removed the vending machines earlier in the summer. That's a painful thing to hear. A very painful thing to hear.The gnats in the park were numerous and voracious, so instead of breaking for lunch in the park, after unloading our trash, we moved on and up the mountain to get out of the incessant swarms of annoying gnats. At the top of the hill, we found a great place to stop, relax and eat lunch. We took our time and enjoyed this beautiful day and each other's company.After lunch the sun peaked out and warmed the day. The forest is so beautiful this time of year and the afternoon seemed to fly by. We arrived at the new Rocky Run Shelter at 2:30 in the afternoon and after a failed attempt to have a meal and get a room at an Inn several miles away, decided to stay put for the night.I was beat. Hungry....and beat. After setting up my tent and collecting water from the nearby stream (downhill, next to the old Rocky Run Shelter) I had an early dinner. While we were eating, the new-to-hiking couple came into camp. We cheered for them as they were doing great mileage for their first backpacking trip with fairly heavy packs. They got a real kick out of our excitement for their accomplishment. We directed them to a great tent site with a fire ring, down the hill and next to the water source. Down they went after thanking us and inviting us to join them around their fire tonight.Like I said earlier....I was beat, but the thought of going to bed at 6 PM just wasn't appealing tonight, so down the hill we went to share some time around the fire with our new trail friends. Their tent was up and they were collecting fire wood, so we all helped and in no time, we had a roaring fire going. Our host had, in his pack, a hatchet (really, he did) to help with the firewood collection. We were offered wine or hot tea by our hostess, and crackers and cheese were put out too. They were so gracious! Patches, a southbounder came down the hill for his water and was welcomed into the group. He enjoyed the snacks offered and toasted marshmallows on the fire with us. A good time was had by all. At dark, our motley crew walked back up the hill and settled in to bed after a great day on the trail.