Date: 2012-05-27
From: rocky run shelter 1032.7

To: Raven Rock Shelter 1053.3
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: broken clouds

There were lots of people in and around the shelter last night: somewhere around 50, according to "Blissful" our trusty ridge runner. However, there were only seven in the shelter, giving us lots of room. In the morning we chatted with Tumbleweed and his grandson, who he is introducing to backpacking. Tumbleweed had planned to thru hike this year, but had to put it off until next year due to a family illness. He was a nice man, and very devoted to his family. A mile into our hike, we came to a place with Civil War monuments to General Reno, for which our hometown is named, and his equivalent "confederate" general. Soon we came to the Dalgren Backpacker Campground, which had trail magic brought to us by Tin Man, who thru hiked last year. Three double cheeseburgers later (for me...two for Gary) we left, and continued hiking until we saw a museum right on the trail. We went to check it out, since it was free. Gary liked the Civil War gun displays, but I was more partial to the soldiers' equipment and uniforms. (Both the Union and the Confederate sides were represented.) We refilled our water bladders, and continued to the first "Washington Monument" where Still Debating, whom we had met yesterday at Gathland State Park, was. After climbing up the steps inside this rock monument to take a look at the view, we continued. We continued hiking through this park until, at one point, we heard loud traffic noise. Oh no! We were happy to see a pedestrian bridge crossing over the freeway. In another mile or so we passed the first shelter of the day, then, two miles later, the turnoff to Annapolis Rocks. We followed Runoff in, signed in at the camp host log, and ate lunch at the top of some cliffs where rock climbers were rappelling. When I left to look for a privy, Gary started chatting with a young couple. They offered him trail magic in the form of a Pepsi and brownie. Sugar and caffeine were always appreciated. They caught up with me and offered the same. I took the Pepsi and guzzled it as we chatted. Then they offered to carry out our trash. Hmm...they had to be former thru hikers. It turned out that Smoothie had thru hiked in 2003. Thanks! Only a former thru hiker would know how much we appreciated trash patrol. We continued for another mile and a half to a stream to refill our water bladders, and met another family interested in our hike. We posed for a picture with them, and gave them our business card. After awhile we came to a very rocky section. I fell...oh well, no harm done, except that I needed help getting up, since my pack was holding me down like a turtle on its back. Gary came back and helped me up, but unbeknownst to me, my hat had fallen off, and I didn't notice it for a mile. I was really bummed. It was my favorite hat, and was well treated with insect repellant! Kindly, Gary took off his pack and hiked back to look for it, since he was faster than I was with his long legs. Yeah! Success! The lost was found! THANKS! While he was looking for it, 3 day came by. He was planning to hike to the next shelter to spend the night. Once Gary came back, we continued another mile or so until we crossed a road and came to a campground with more trail magic! It was late, and we still had miles to hike, but we stopped anyway, and enjoyed a delicious dinner of burgers, bananas, and soft drinks, brought to us by 2008 thru hiker Party Girl and his friends. We ate quickly, even though we'd have liked to stay and visit with Maine-iac, Blue and Runoff. We left at 5:45, with five more miles to go. The terrain was mostly a mild ascent, with some flat sections, and across some fields, then up a rocky ascent. After an hour, the sky darkened. It was too early for night, but clouds had darkened the sky. Thirty minutes later we heard a clap of thunder. I quickly put my phone in a zip lock and into my front pack, just before the sky let loose with rain, We didn't even bother to put on rain gear, so were soaked by the time we got to the shelter at 8:15. We were welcomed anyway, and August even gave us half a gallon of water for the morning, which we accepted gratefully. We took our food out of our packs, hung it, and went to sleep. LIfe is great on the AT, especially when you get to see a museum and famous monument, right on the trail, and have FOUR trail angels help you out in one day, including giving you dinner!!!