Date: 2003-07-09
From: Pogo Campsite

To: Rocky Run
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong - because someday you will have been all of these."                              George Washington Carver Slept like a rock and got a late start today after a bit of light morning rain. Not enough to spoil the mood. The all girl gang was ready for another day of adventure! We hiked out of Rocky Run Shelter into blazing heat and stiffling humidity. The sweat pours out of me like buckets, so the promise of a free shower 1.8 miles away kept the pace lively. We arrived at Dahlgren back packers campground to find Foxie sitting in the middle of the trail. She was plopped and eating something. It turns out it was "Trail Magic." Ponytail, Saubriar and another hiker had left a cooler full of cut up watermelon, sodas, water and candy - excellent! The watermelon was awesome - so refreshing! A second slice, soda and a Payday candybar made my day! I took a lovely shower first with the clothes on to wash them then without to wash me. I was pretty foul after sweating like a herd of farm animals. Then off to the Washington Monument, just 3 miles away. We made it there in good time and lingered over the payphone and Pocketmail. I heard from Strider, he's at Skyland today and Firefeet is in Gettysburg. As we were leaving the park we heard thunder in the distance and the sky grew very cloudy. Our next destination, the Dogpatch biker bar down on Rt # 40 for an early dinner. As we walked light rain began to fall and thunder rumbled. It wasn't too bad, it was actually a little refreshing with all the heat. We got to the Dogpatch Tavern, walked in and I said, "I hear you have good food." I was greeted with "we serve hiker and biker trash" and I replied " f'in right! I ordered 3 cheeseburgers and fries, 1 burger was for Chloe - I was starved, but not that hungry! Sat on the deck with the girls and chatted. I then got the ingenius idea to call my folks and have then slack us tomorrow. My parents are the greatest, most supportive people I know. Dad agreed to pick us up - awesome! As we waited we bumped into Ryan and Jessica. they said Keith, the older guy who snored 2 nights ago at Ed Garvey shelter, wasn't feeling well, complaining of chest pains. He was to hike to the Washington Monument yesterday, but only made it to Dahlgren Park. Seems he walked the wrong direction on 2 occasions yesterday and walked 16 or 17 miles. I hope he's ok. He is a nice man who plans to thru hike next year. Dad picked us up and we crammed our 4 smelly selves into his Camry and off we went back home to another shower, clean sheets and a great dinner of hot dogs and beans! They had many hot dogs left over from their trail magic affair last week .My mom makes excellent beans! Tomorrow we'll slack from MD 491 back to Dogpatch Tavern - 13.1 miles. Chloe is really doing well. She seems to get tired easily, but hasn't had a sit down break yet. Granted we take long breaks, but she is doing very well! Her new trail name is "Rock Star" after her incident in the hotel in Waynesboro,VA. Chloe, Rock Star - Princess of Power. She is a member of the all girl hiker gang! peace and positivity,Molasses