Date: 2007-06-26
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: PIne Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: few clouds

I got up a little late but got moving around eight. I wasn't sure what I would be seeing today because I was missing the first twenty miles of my thru hikers handbook. As the temperature began to rise I came across a Civil War historical area and monument. This would be one of many that I would see during the days hike. Apparently, a war correspondant during the Civil War, Mr. Townsend (pen name GATH), built a summer residence on the site and erected an arched monument in honor of both Southern and Northern war journalists. He must have been an exceptional person to put aside his bais and pay homage to all his constituants whether from the North or South. A true journalist. I thought a lot today about friends like Scott and Alaine Griffin, Bill O'Brien and others that are involved in journalism and the difficult job they have in reporting accurate, unbaised news. I'm sure they would all have appreciated Mr. Townsend's memorial. I made good time although the temps were in the high ninties!I bumped ino Church Mouse, who was attempting to do the four state challenge. This is when you hike from V.A. thru West V.A. thru Maryland and into P.A. in 24 hours. Because I knew I was meeting Carissa in Harpers Ferry I didn't even attempt the challenge. I also don't think my right knee would have held up. I walked with Church Mouse to Pine Knob Shelter where we met Ididarod and White Crow. These two were an odd pair. I had met Ididarod the previous day and was left with the impression that he was somewhat of a storyteller. Then he told me he was from Dutch Harbor Alaska, had worked on crabbing boats, slept out on the deck in his hammock during high seas and rain, dog sledded to Montana then drove to Georgia to hike the trail with the intention of dog sledding from Maine to Alaska when he finished. Wow! I wanted to ask him if he had seen Paul Bunyon or Pecos Bill during his travels but he probably would have said of course!His little buddy, White Crow was the opposite. He had hiked the A.T. before but was out again this year. He wasn't feeling well due to contracting Lyme disease and was taking it easy. Supposedly, the two of them were doing thirty plus days before reaching Harpers Ferry. Church Mouse had to get going in order to finish the challenge but I told him I would try to catch up with him if he took a rest day in Waynesboro P.A. Ididarod and White Crow left because they heard a Boy Scout troop was headed our way. So I was once again going solo, with the exception of a Southbounder, who later confessed that he didn't trust Ididarod and White Crow so he lied to them about the Boy Scouts so they would leave (I'll have to remember to use this one). He was an older guy that had thru hiked before and was just doing some section hiking. His trail name was Pipeline and we spent some time talking about the trail and how my hike was going. He told me I had the right attitude to finish and wished me luck before retiring for the night.Around nine thirty, after I had settled in, a group of young girls came into camp. They seemed very nice but tired after a long day. I helped them out a little by showing them some good tenting sites and recommended they stay rather than push on to where Ididarod and White Crow were camping. I love you!------------------------------