Date: 2006-10-15
From: Blackburn Trail Center

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Tom and I were both just so excited about this being our last day on the trail. WE CRUISED!! It took us a matter of 5 hours to hike this 13 miles. I think this was the best timing we made this entire trip. Funny though, as we approached the descend into Harpers Ferry many thoughts and questions raced through my mind. Things like, "this dream I have had for so many years is about to end!" "What will I do when I return home?" "What do I want to do?" "What am I doing?" "Did I have an epiphany?" I did but I certainly could not put it in words nor could I make out what the meaning of all this was or the direction I should go as a result. I know one thing for certain, and as I thought of this tears welled up in my eyes. That jail, though it was a great job for me for many years, had crushed my spirit. My spirit of the love for the outdoors, my spirit of innocence, my spirit of community, my spirit of beauty. Not to say that all of the people I met, worked with or encountered there, did me wrong. 'Cause they DID NOT!! I met and worked with some very wonderful people. I learned a lot and loved a lot. I met people who I can say are my really good friends now. And if it weren't for that job I would have never met them. And I truly loved that job for a good while but to stay, would destroy me!! I don't want to hear doors slam behind me, I don't want to listen to obscenities being shouted at me or to me or to anyone else. I don't want to hear day in and day out about rape, murder, abuse, death and destruction. Though all of these things happen in the world and I know life is not perfect, nor a fairy tale. We hear about horrific events everyday in the news. But you know what? I don't have to be in a jail cell with men and women, most of which don't care to change and most of which who don't even care about themselves. The trail and the towns along it gave me a new perspective on life!! One I have had but some how was lost. A perspective of which I can not even put into words. It gave me fresh air, a renewed sense of people, beauty, community, love, gratitude. Life is good!! And there are good people who live in it. Nature is powerful!! OK, so I am getting a little deep. Enough said. As we got down to the bridge that crosses the Shenandoah River I cried like a baby and screamed out "WE DID IT, WE MADE IT!" I think Tom may have even shed a tear or two. We were proud. We went to the ATC (Appalachian Trail Conservancy) and checked in signed the register and figured exactly how many miles we had hiked. From Hot Springs to Harpers Ferry, it is 751 miles, including towns we walked in and out of. With the mileage we skipped in southern VA. we hiked a total of 630 miles. 630 miles is a long walk. My brother Glenn picked us up in Harpers Ferry and drove us to my other brothers house, where my brother Mark and his wife Ellen greeted us without falling out from our smell. Our son, David, picked us up and drove us to my siter Nancy's house where Nancy and her man, Dave greeted us with open arms as well. Well we had a shower at Mark and Ellens so that's why we got the open arms.