Date: 2004-07-14
From: Harpers Ferry WV

To: Pine Grove State Park PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Slimer (Jorma) Called in today at 6:30 pm July, 13th 2004, he was pooped out.Left Waynesboro VA Sat July 10th, hit the trail around noon. Just got to Elk Wallow Gap VA, 88 miles in 3.5 days, not bad at all. On the way out of Waynesboro a girl stopped and asked if I needed a ride, told her I was going to the trail head, she said she had to be at work in 4 minutes and couldn't take me that far. She was a through hiker who had run out of money and was working at a pizza place until she can save enough to hit the trail again. She asked what shelter I was shooting for tonight and I told her. Walked into a gas station parking lot and a big ford van was there. The guy who owned the van asked me if I needed a ride, I said yes and hopped in, he took me by the outfitters place where I bought some things, then took me all the way to the trail head. You meet people like this all the time out here.Made it to the trail head and on to the shelter, that night around 10 pm we saw a light coming through the woods. It was the girl I had talked to earlier and she had a stack of pizza in her arms. Her trail name is Seraphim , It seems she cleaned out the left overs from the buffet and brought them to us, sure did taste good. Don't know how far she had to walk I'm sure there must have been a road close by somewhere.Ran into Butterfinger and Wideload, haven't seen them since Neels Gap GA, we all shared a pizza together there and here we are doing it again. Also ran into the Trout Group, "Deeds" and some others, I have heard Adam (Gather) mention them. I am starting to catch up with a lot of hikers who passed me way back down the trail (it's about time I caught someone). All the shelters are full I seem to be running with a pack, got to break away to ensure I have a place in the shelter as I don't have a tent. I have really gotten rid of some weight out of the pack (Gather called me a light weight junkie) Blister on my heel is healed, it was really bothering me for a while. Ran into Nomad the retired Marine again and met another Marine retired with his dog Chester, he had two dogs with him. I won't go into details but he took the dog from another hiker who was abusing it and is now caring for the dog himself.Ran into The Mechanical Man, met him down the trail near Hampton TN. met Blue Bird she is an eng in communications, she is thru-hiking.Met up with a couple from maine, they asked me my name and I said Slimer. They got real excited and said, oh; you are the layed off aircraft mechanic who is trying to catch your brother Gather. They were section hikers and had been following Adam's (Gathers) journal. We talked and talked, They were Mark and Deb. Also met up with Scott (Grady) and Rachel, great people.Saw where bears had pushed over wild cherry tree's trying to get the berries. Found a patch of loud red raspberries, those things are good. Only find them in the Appalachian mountains and they grow in the shade. Have seen so many deer I lost count, many had fawns. Got some really good photo's of the fawns.I did a 27 mile day yesterday, best ever, Gather if your are reading this I have knocked out 88 miles in 3.5 days and I'm gonna be blowing right on by you.I haven't seen any faded ink in your journals, looks fresh to me. Also I heard your taking a zero day tomorrow, not me still truckin wide open, got it in overdrive now.I was at a shelter the other night after dark and needed water, well the spring was down the hill about three tenths of a mile. I get my light and water bottlegot down to the spring and all of a sudden something jumped out of the bushes and knocked me down, I'm sure it was a deer I startled, well he did more than startle me, glad I wasn't standing over the spring, if I had that water wouldn't have been fit to drink for a month.I should be in Front Royal tomorrow or real close, Gather ol boy I'm 53 miles behind you and closing fast. I get up around 4 am each morning, hit the trail around 5 am and sometime hike until 10pm at night, got lots of batteries.The other day deer walked right up to me and were eating grass, I pitched them an apple and they would have nothing to do with it, guess they like the grass better.Met a south bounder yesterday, said he left Mt. Katahdin last Feb ?? I won't mention his name but I doubt he was a real south bound thru hiker, had too much meat on his bones and didn't stink.Called home, talked to Dad, he said Gather was relaxing in Harpers Ferry all kicked back taking it easy. All ok at home, ok gotta hit the trail again Front Royal here I come.Slimer total miles hiked to date = 935.6Gather total miles hiked to date = 1008.6Good luck and Godspeed to the both of them