Date: 2003-06-26
From: Harpers Ferry, WV - Pen Mar Park

To: Harpers Ferry, WV - Pen Mar Park
Miles today: 41.0
Weather: clear sky

Harpers Ferry - Pen Mar Park41 miles (1048.4 total miles)I woke up late at 8:15 from my motel room in Harpers Ferry on day 84. I felt refreshed. The sun was shining! I had some doughnuts and oj from 7-11 the day before for breakfast. I layed around and relaxed until checkout time. I had felt guilty about taking 3 full days off in Harpers Ferry. But it sure helped my broken enthusiasm.We hiked out, downtown, and immediately over the Potomac River into Maryland. 5 states down, 9 to go! From there the AT follows the Towpath for 2 flat miles, with the Potmac on one side, and a canal (full of turtles) on the other. It felt so good to be out hiking again in the sunshine. The trail took a moderate turn uphill, and we got a nice view from some rocks of the brown Potomac full of kayaks. We continued on to the Ed Garvey shelter, one of the nicest I have seen on the trail. Another 4 easy (but slightly rocky) miles brought us to Gathland State Park, which meant bathrooms and drink machines! The local ranger joked with us, knowing that thru-hikers care nothing about the state park except for these amenities. From there it was less than a mile to the night's shelter. There was an "intermittent" spring at the shelter that was flowing like a faucet. It was hard to imagine that this spring is dried up in some years. It's just another reminder of how abnormally! wet this year has been.I was up and out by 7:30 on day 85. It was nice to wake up to sunshine. There wasn't a cloud in the sky all day. The temperature was pushing 90 degrees by midday, but I certainly couldn't complain. It was hot in the open, but the trail was mostly covered with a leafy shaded canopy.At about 7 miles, we hit a campground run by the state of Maryland. They provided free showers, which felt good on this hot day. The trail was relatively easy, although the rocks are getting worse. We went over one "mountain", which would have been considered flatland in Georgia. I certainly enjoyed the gentle slopes, and the spacious forest in the sunlight. We continued on to a state historical park. We hit the soda machines, bathrooms, and pay phones. On the way out we followed a historical trail giving facts about George Washington's life. It was a strange park.Just a few miles later we crossed over I-70 on a footbridge. I was amused to think that I could have made a left and gone home to Denver. The guide book says that sometimes drivers here will honk and wave to the hikers. We weren't on the bridge for more than 30 seconds, and 3 different cars honked to us. For some reason, that made me very happy. We were being cheered on by the passing motorists! We continued on 2.2 more miles to Annapolis Rocks. I set up my tent as far away from the noisy boy scout troop as possible. There was a nice sunset from the rocks. It sure was nice to set up the tent and take advantage of the wonderful weather.   I woke up at 12:30 on the morning of day 86. I was itchy. I turned on my headlamp to see my tent floor covered in ants. I don't know why they would build a tentsite next to an anthill, but somehow they found their way in. I spent a while finding their entry and putting duct tape over it. I tried my hardest to rid my tent of the remaining ants, but for the rest of the night I was slapping at my skin. I don't know if it was ants or just my paranoid imagination.I slept late, and didn't get out of camp until 9:15! I was so tired and very hungry. It was about a mile to another rock pile, where I ate more from my food bag. I was completely depleted of energy. Nothing in my foodbag looked at all appetizing. I realized my body was out of energy, and I need to start relying on food. But my foodbag is already so heavy and unappealing. Ugh!I finished about 6.6 miles by about 1:00. There was a shelter and a road. It was another 4 to the next shelter, or 2 to town. We decided town was better. We got a surprisingly easy hitch into a nice air conditioned Italian restaurant. The local bank thermometer said 94 degrees. We ate, and I resupplied at the grocery store with some different food that I thought may taste good. We got another ride halfway back to the trail to find some commotion. There was some trail magic, and some police looking for some missing boy scouts. It was a noisy night at the shelter. I just wanted to catch up on my sleep.It was another hot day on day 87. I slept well, despite the noise. I was out by 7:30. The trail was beautiful. It was only 9 miles to Pen-Mar Park, on the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. The trail was very rocky. We hit a huge boulder field with no recognizable trail. We just had to scramble to the nearest white blaze. It was very hard on the feet, and a good test for my new boots. It was supposedly in the high 90s again. I would rather the oppressive heat than the rain.I haven't heard many good things about the trail in Pennsylvania. But it's nice to have one less state to pass through. 6 states down, 8 to go. I also have the half gallon challenge to look forward to. Will Tank be able to finish a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting? Stay tuned to find out...