Date: 2003-05-18
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Ed Garvey Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: light rain

"On the road again! Can't wait to get on the road again!"   Aloha! Ok...trail in this case, which is even better. Wuhuuuuuu! It is so great to be back. I just have to tell you about it. Ready? Good.   After a leisurely breakfast at the local country cafe with a returning from camping Girl Scout troop we headed to the ATC HQ. Another Wuhuuuuuu! You're now hiking along with the 81st hiker through Harpers this year! Can you believe it? Me either. I may no longer be a through hiker but the adrenaline rush and exhilaration remain the same. It's awesome!   The ATC 82-year-old volunteer was a delight to talk to. No longer able to hike the trail he has spent the last 25 years volunteering. He really was a joy and his tales were wonderful. I look forward to seeing him again upon my return.   Much to my chagrin it was then off to the outfitters from there. As you already know, it was necessary for me to add a new pair of Leki hiking poles to my current collection. Grrrrr... Anyway, with new poles in-hand (poor pun) I was good to go. But not before we took a little drive to check out the surrounding area, hostel and homes. No hurry getting out. I had all day to get here!   I'll admit that it was a tough moment for me as I said aloha to Char. The tears were there - ready to flow at the drop of a hiking pole. Her departure was bitter sweet - sad to see my best friend and supporter go but happy to be back on the trail and heading north. Makes me sniff just thinking about it now. {Sniff}   As for the walk, it was somewhat like starting on Springer Mountain -- misty, foggy and surreal. The rain that blew all night and morning ceased almost the moment I began walking. Neat! Didn't know I had such power! It was a lovely walk overall. The mud and rocks ensured that I practice the art of meandering to the max. And I did.   It took me over an hour to get out of Harpers after answering everyone's questions (tourists). (We'll chat about those questions later in the hike.) Once I left Harpers though I started my hike on the C&O Canal Towpath. The southernmost 2.8 miles of the trail in Maryland follow this graded flat historical path from which mules towed barges. Construction on the canal began in 1829 and continued off and on over the next many years all the while battling the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. It never was a great success. It ceased all together in 1924 due to a storm. It now stretches 185 miles from DC to Cumberland and thanks to a protest hike led by Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas; it was rescued from highway development. Now, it's a part of a national historical park for both hikers and bicyclists.   Moving on, another hour was spent enjoying an afternoon snack atop Weaverton Cliff and chatting with two lovely day hikers. The sun even peeked out for a good portion of the time. It was a pretty cool view with some nice folks. What a way to start a hike!   Well, 5 hours later I arrived here - 7 miles north of the ATC. Yes, I meandered well! And most importantly, I am officially in Maryland - my 6th state! Again, wuhuuuuu!   Here with me tonight are three entertaining section-hiking guys (Cosmos, Crash and Ken) and their dogs (Cody and Millie) from Bear Mountain, NY. They're only out for a short time but by the end of their journey tomorrow they will have completed everything from Katahdin to Harpers. Excellent! With any luck I'll get to see them again once I make it to their neck of the woods. Nice guys and dogs. Oh yeah, for you single folks, they¢re all quite cute too!   The Ed Garvey Shelter was built to honor the legend himself. It's a great shelter with a deck, picnic table, enclosed loft, and well-made bench seating for perfect campfire viewing. (Which is what I'm doing now!) Glad I didn't continue on. It would ruin the meandering concept if I had. Anyway, the shelter is so nice that I've decided to spend my first night on the trail in the plexi-glass enclosed loft. Since I'm not normally fond of sleeping in shelters, this is another change for this year's hike. Change can be good!   Well folks, as much as I love chatting with you, the guys have just offered a cup of tea. They and the tea win. Sorry. What can I say? I'll see y'all tomorrow.    But before I go, I promised I'd give what I'm fondly calling my Blood, Sweat and Tears (BS&T) section. This will include my Aches and Pains (A&P) and Moans and Groans (M&G). A&Ps being exactly as described and M&Gs being my whining section. You asked for it, you get it. Don't say I didn't warn you!   A&P: hipbones are a bit bruised feeling. Still working with all the adjustments. With a bit of weight loss (inches off the hips) I believe it'll be great!   M&G: barely worth mentioning but my new Nalgene bottle, bought quite some time ago for the happy hiker logo on it, leaks. Might irritate to have coke running down your leg! Such a waste of a good soda.   Aloha for now. You sleep well. I have no doubt that I will. Tea anyone?