Date: 2003-06-04
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Harpers Ferry 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

My cousin, Connie, came to visit me this morning, from the DC area. It was so nice to see family, and she was kind enough to drive Hotdog and I to Charles Town for breakfast, laundry, and resupply shopping. Then we came back to Harpers Ferry, dropped our purchases off at the hotel and went to lunch. It was past 2pm at that point. We had a good lunch at The Anvil, and chatted there for a while. Around 4pm, she dropped us off at the hotel, and I had to say 'goodbye'.Hotdog and I needed to make some purchases at the outfitter, which closes at 6pm, so we headed down the hill. The "Survivor" party was to start at 6pm, and we decided to walk through downtown. Most businesses were closed, as the weather has been rainy. I'd like to come back here sometime and do the tourist things, so it's been added to my "Revisit" list.There were a lot of hikers at the "Survivor" party, including Field, Noll, and Space Monkey, who have been sleeping on the porch of the outfitter for several days, plus the Honeymooners (Josh and Alicia), Lite Shoe and two friends from home, Rev, Stitch, Gonzo, Mule, and Paparazzi. I probably missed a few, as I'm horrible with remembering names. It was nice to sit around, have a few beers, hotdogs and hamburgers, and talk with some of my fellow hikers. I think most everyone is headed out of town tomorrow, so we might have to fight for shelter space for the next few days, unless there are some speed demons that crank out the miles tomorrow. Hotdog and I are planning on going to the Post Office, then the ATC office for some pictures with Ted's Flag before heading out, so I'd guess we won't be out of town until after 10am. That's okay though. There's plenty of time.The forecast, so I've heard, is for more rain the next 10 days, though some of those days are supposed to be "partly cloudy". What that usually means to hikers is clouds around the AT, sun in the valleys. We're just that lucky. I'd rather not be wet or damp all the time, but will deal with the weather, whatever it is. I can't control it, so I'll just live in harmony with it. Or pretend I am, anyway.I went back to the ATC office today, and looked at my picture from yesterday taken just after I'd gotten off the trail. I looked... ummm... soaked, and dirty for sure, but... thinner. I think it was just the camera though, only it subtracts 10 pounds instead of adding them. I thought I almost looked ... weak. I feel good, muscle-wise, but the joints often ache. Usually that goes away with a few minutes of motion though. I can tell that I am stronger and hike faster than I used to, especially uphill. I still get out of breath going uphill, but know that I can recover quickly, once the trail levels or goes downhill, so that allows me to push myself a little bit more. I figure I can only get stronger if I push a little bit every now and then. As long as I don't overdo it.I have said, since I decided to do this AT thing, that I know I can go all the way to Katahdin, and yet I say "I can't believe I made it this far." It's not that it's totally unbelievable, but that I can't believe I am doing this... that I am even attempting this. There have been a lot of things I've said I wanted to do. Someday. Most of those things, I have never done, or even set the plans into motions. Why have I chosen this one to do, or even attempt? I don't know the answer. I have had a lot of support, and encouragement, not only from family, but from internet friends. They gave me a lot of advice, and made it seem possible. I didn't do extensive planning before this hike, but feel that my "go with the flow" characteristic has helped me. I don't get upset if things aren't going as I thought they would, and feel that I adapt to changes pretty well.I can also be stubborn, which makes me stick to things, even if I am so unhappy it makes me cry. That's not always a good thing, but it's happened before, and after hanging in for a while, things turned out fine. The trail hasn't made me cry tears of hurt or frustration. Not yet anyway, and it might not happen. I hope not.I have had moments where I thought about leaving the trail. Not serious thoughts, but 'what if' thoughts. Or thinking that, at times, it'd be easier to not be hiking. But then I think about the alternative... work, and I know that what I am doing now, is much better than that. I'd much rather be out here in the mud and rain, than working. It doesn't take much to change my negative attitude, if I have one. An hour of sun. A good view. Meeting people. Trail Magic. A rest. A snack. They can all brighten my spirits tremendously. It's sometimes amazing that it takes so little to cheer me up. But that's a good thing. I'm still having a great time out here, and I feel like those of us still hiking north have a stronger bond than those on the trail months ago. We have made it nearly half way... and are still going, still trying to fulfill that dream, to reach Katahdin. I don't think about Katahdin often. I'm still thinking about the next town, or next resupply. Katahdin will be in my "five-day planner" some day, but there are many places to see before that, and I don't want to overlook them.