Date: 2009-07-01
From: Blackburn Trail Center

To: Harper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 11.8

Clear and warm day.Up early, as usual, and off by 7:30. It's a half-mile, 500 ft up climb to bet back to the trail from the Blackburn Center, but this is supposed to be the toughest up of the whole day. A lot of rock-hopping, but we made good time. As we got into the Harper's Ferry area, we walked through the battlements and confederate earthworks from the Civil War. At lenght, we crossed the Shenandoah River and ambled into Harper's Ferry. As soon as we crossed the bridge into town, there's an immediate climb. It's not a big climb, only a couple hendred feet. But at this point, it felt like a dirty trick. I was ready to get to the Appalachian Trail Center and I was tired of climbing hills, even small hills. But withina few minutes, we were there.The Appalachian Trail Center in Harper's Ferry marks the half-way point of the AT. In a relatively small stone house, it's small staff welcome hikers, maintain records, and keeps a photo album of thru-hikers. We got there about 12:30 and looked through the picture book for people we knew. Turns out the only people from our start date (April 5th) who already had made it to Harper's Ferry were Bubbles and Birdy. They are a husband and wife team that I hadn't seen since Hot Springs, NC. They were a half-dozen days ahead. There were a few others others we recognized, but not many. I signed up and got photographed as thru-hiker #568 of 2009. Better than I have any right to expect, but still leaving me wondering what happened to everyone else? I also got on an accurate set of scales, and found I'd lost 49 lbs since starting!   I had been exchanging e-mails with a friend from college, Edward Thompson, who volunteered to drive me from Harpers Ferry to DC. Edward had agreed to meet Moonlight and I at the ATC HQ at 4:00. Since it was only 2:00, Moonlight, Wingard, Doris and I walked the mile or so into town to get lunch. As we approached the restraunt area, a car pulled up and yelled out Doris' name. Turned out it was Edward, who has been reading my journal, knew Doris' name, and had seen her walking with me. Needless to say, this thoroughly unnerved Doris (which was Edward's point), but it was great to see him. Edward, who lives 20 minutes away, still had errands to do, which allowed us to eat a nice final lunch. We got back to the Appalachian Trail Conference HQ about 3:00 and ran into a pleasant surprise. There, signing in, were Dan and his girlfriend Whitney. This was a pair of hikers we had met early on, before we entered the Smokies. They are a pair of recent graduates from Brandeis or Skidmore or Vassar or some impressive East Coast school. Our paths only crossed a half dozen times or so, but they were super nice. The funny thing is that they seemed so decidedly urban, as though they should have been working in Manhattan. There were so many others now off the trail who seemed to be so much more rugged, more outdoorsy than Dan and Whitney. But it goes to show that successful hiking is driven largely by the hiker's determination and ability to keep focused. Congratulations to Dan and Whitney. While Moonlight and I were talking to Dan and Whitney, our ride Edward drove up to take us into town. But he brought with him frozen wash-cloths, which ere a wonderful treat wo wipe our faces with. He also brought a couple canteloupes, which Moonlight, Dan, Whitney and I quickly devoured. Edward is a great friend, and he knew exactly what we needed. Wingard now continues his hike, Moonlight goes to Washington to visit his son and then fly back to Michigan (he plans to complete his hike next year), and I go into D.C., visit family in South Carolina, and resume my hike toward the end of the month.I'll add more entries later, but at this point, I'm headed to Washington, where Moonlight will stay at my place for a day or two, going to see the July 4th fireworks, then visiting family for a while.