Date: 2009-07-19
From: Dahlgren Campground

To: Ensign Cowall Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: clear sky

So, I¢m currently in Maryland, the sixth of the fourteen states that the AT passes through. It¢s an interesting place but my time in Maryland will inevitably be short as only 40.9 of the AT¢s 1,178.3 miles are found here. For some thru hikers their time in Maryland is very short. They challenge themselves to traverse the state in 24 hours. In many respects it is a god challenge ¢ a significant effort and ultimately do-able fro those willing to, perhaps literally, shed a drop or two of blood, sweat and tears. For those drawn towards such goals, I wish then well but I must confess it holds no allure for me. My Maryland challenge is altogether different: how to soak up as I can of what Maryland has to offer, the challenge of finding a way to maximise my time here. I think ultimately 40.9 miles isn¢t enough but you have to work with what you¢re given. I planned to spend four days and three nights here and after Friday evening¢s 5.5 miles and yesterday¢s 12, today would be another sedate day (14miles) which would leave the last 10 miles for so of Maryland for tomorrow.The great thing about a 14 mile day is that given fine weather, a relaxed attitude and the occasional distraction they come easily but still fill the day. You have very few ¢it¢s all about the miles moments¢ but you also don¢t sit about aimlessly or twiddling your thumbs. And today was pretty good. A lazy breakfast at Washington Monument State Park where the very first monument to George Washington (was he the founder of America?, or the father of modern day America?; I¢m pretty sure he was the first president after the Was of Independence; and he¢s definitely on a one dollar bill, I don¢t think as apple ever fell on his head but I could be wrong) was built in 1827. I sat at the monument looking out across the valley and tried to soak up just a little more of whatever it was that would become my Maryland experience.I wandered on, memories I could not quite place from 2003 unfolding before me. I remembered rushing pat the Dog Patch Tavern last time; I had vaguely intended to go this time around but it was 11.30am on a Sunday morning ¢ not a good time for a couple of relaxing beers I thought. Oh well, maybe next time.I bumped into Jen at Pine Knob Shelter. A face this time from the more recent past, although it had been some 600 or so miles ago (at Damascus) that we had last crossed paths. She too did not appear to be rushing Maryland, instead having a lazy morning in camp.Lunch was at Annapolis Rocks ¢ more views and quite a bit of reading in the shady spot I found. The Civil War unfolding before me with the turn of each page: Lee¢s invasion of the North, the lost orders, the Battle of Shapsburg for which the Battle of South Mountain (some sites from which I had past yesterday) had been an early skirmish.I then nipped into the small (and rather sleepy ¢ or it was this Sunday afternoon) town of Smithsburg for some minor resupplies.My evening stroll took me past a couple of deer and onto camp where I gladly lay down outside to read and where I unhappily found another tick feeding merrily ¢ bloody things!