Date: 2004-06-27
From: Dahlgren Campground

To: Annapolis Rocks
Miles today: 0.0

What wonders would I have missed if I had tried to hike Maryland in a day? Tonight, as the night filly unfolds, I lay sleeping exposed on the edge of a cliff. Near me lay BooBoo, Fozzy, Iron Back, and Coyote. We¢re all still recovering from a gorgeous sunset as well as the general silliness and relaxation of the day. Ahhh.   I awoke around 8 a.m. and hiked out around 9 a.m. I said goodbye to the multitude of hikers at the Trail Magic as I left. PartyGirl and SpiceMan hiked out 10 minutes before me and I planned to catch them. I never would see them though. I began walking in prayer and I soon passed an old white church (no service). I prayed about the future and sang many worship songs. After 2 miles I reached the Washington Monument (not that one). The monument is an old tower of stone that was erected in one day. I walked to the top and sat on the ledge overlooking a valley of farms. There I had a pleasant quiet time with just God and I¢¦then Fozzy arrived.   Fozzy is an awesome guy who is about to enter grad school (at Harvard¢¦makes Hopkins look shabby¢¦WHO CARES?) He, like myself, spent a short portion of time as a teacher in a rough situation. As I told him some of the horrors of my taking over a 6th grade classroom, he revealed similar hardships as a teacher in Americorp. We also laughed about the humorous differences between Academia and real life. With 212 credits, 4 majors, 3 degrees, I can easily relate. Our walk itself was of pleasant grade and moderate temperature winding through woods. At the end of our teacher talk we ran into a gentleman from Illinois who happily taught high school for 32 years. We chatted with the man and then hiked on past a couple of spots pertinent to battles in the Civil War. I had barely noticed the walk as we reached I-70, 5.5 miles in.   Fozzy and I were hungry and decided to visit Dog Patch Tavern. While I am poor, my dad gave me a few bucks on my trip home and told me to use it for fun. I decided I would be careful, but respect those wishes. At the tavern I saw a pool table. We ordered chicken wings and grabbed quarters, the games were on. I would end up the victor of 8 of 11 very close games. We stood out as odd in the bar, which was very obviously a BIKER BAR. It was filled with leather-clad drinkers, many missing teeth. The drinks came in Dixie cups and there were some risqu© pictures on the walls¢¦I felt at home ?. Without thinking, I had my first drink in four weeks: A Jack & Ginger. I had only one and was responsible though, so I feel content. In talking with my mom at home we talked about drinking in moderation as OK and not ¢sin¢. As I realized my choice I felt guilty, but not toward God. I felt guilty toward random people who sign my journal guest book with hate mail. Knowing this was not right; I relaxed and enjoyed my drink. At the bar we played pool and had fun, nothing more. When we did leave around 2, we were both having an awesome day.   Over the next 3 miles we entered the section of Maryland where I did my Test Hike in February. It was weird to already know my surroundings. As we went up a small but steep hill with rocks, our conversation switched to ¢God¢. Fozzy was curious about my beliefs and how I applied them out here. I explained that to me God is both my Creator and Friend, yet still to be held in reverence. I see God and my Christianity as a living, ongoing relationship¢¦a real 2-sided relationship¢¦not just ¢religion¢. In addition to God as a whole we talked about how women related to religion. I explained my desire for a Christian wife to share my love for God with. I also explained that the Bible picture I see of men and women is of people equally freed by Christ¢s blood. I do believe men and women have different exact roles, but that marriage is a beautiful partnership and NOT some sick form of master-slave relations. A relationship involves mutual submission to each other in love¢¦*OK. Sorry, I will leave my mini-sermon now. Fozzy did not agree with every point, but was very respectful and engaging in our conversation. Our discourse ended when we reached Annapolis Rocks.    Annapolis Rocks are beautiful. As we arrived, we found Coyote, Booboo, and Iron Back already chilling, along with 2 large Outward Bound groups. I threw off my pack and prepared to enjoy a perfect day¢¦I would not return to the trail. As we sat on the rocks I joked and rapped for the Outward Bound kids. I also talked with their attractive leader Anna. She attended Maryland as an under-grad, and lives 5 minutes from my Grad campus at Hopkins in Baltimore. A couple of times she seemed to almost forget that she was the belay person for her climbers¢¦oops. I heard Booboo hit upon her. It went something like this: ¢You¢re cute, and you¢re wearing gaiters. I like girls who wear gaitors.¢ Before too long the climbing group left. I said goodbye to the kids and Anna.   For the next 3 hours we had fun on the rocks. Booboo and Coyote were bickering, but otherwise all was good. While Booboo talked on his cell we joked, Coyote and I beatboxed, and we invented parody songs. Silliness ruled the hours and we all had a blast. A couple of military guys and a few others dropped by to climb on the rocks. They seemed a little bit frightened by us¢¦I cannot imagine why? (HA, HA). Two of the ridiculous songs we came up with are below: (to my elderly readers, I¢m sorry to use ¢hip¢ references.)(To the tune of ¢Jenny from the Block¢, by J-Lo)Don¢t be fooled by the rocks that I hop.I¢m still (I¢m still) Beatbox from the blockUse to hike a little, now I hike a lotBut I still know where I blazed from: Springer!(To the tune of ¢You Are My Fire¢, by Backstreet Boys)5 zeroes, did not plan itBut I stayed, with Miss JanetTo hit the trail, I¢m burningGot to get the heck out of Erwin!                Tell me why¢¦..   After more frivolous behavior and such songs as: Girls just wanna have GORP¢ and ¢Show me the Meaning of Being Homely¢ the singing ended. Dusk was approaching.   The five of us sat and prepared dinner staring over the cliffs. The sun colored the sky as it slowly lowered below the trees to our right. We sat silently in awe and no one spoke. (Except maybe for Booboo once or twice ?). Even now the night is lovely. Stars are emerging and a few small-scale fire works are being set off in the valley below. We¢re all just out in the open on the rocks, united beneath a clear sky. Dinner is winding down along with a wonderful day. Sitting on a beautiful spot like this for 6 hours is what this trail is about. Some might say that 8 miles is too short of a day ¢¦they did not just see the sunset that I did. I love being out here, I feel so close to my friends, and I feel so right. Sitting here on rocky ledgePeering over the cliff¢s edgeInto stars that dot the night Everything seems to feel right.Just me, God, and a few friendsHere where the horizon endsGazing long at distant lightWhat a blessing, what a night!Goodnight, BEATBOX   ttt