Date: 2003-07-12
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Crampton Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: few clouds

So hard to get up this morning...get up for real, that is. I got up several times earlier on to get water and tylenol and ibuprofen and more water. I swear this time I'll remember that it isn't good to drink a lot before you're heading out on the Trail (however, it's hard to pass up beer when someone else is buying). Head pounding, mouth dry, I got my backpack packed. We were heading to the post office then back to the ATC, so Gerri could get her picture taken. I saw Muk Tuk, Froggy Pete and Jimbotrek at the post office. Muk Tuk has decided to flip flop, as he needs to get back to Alaska by a certain time and wants to hike Maine and the Whites. At the ATC, Gerri got her pic taken (with Randy), and I took a picture on their camera for them. Foolishly, I didn't even think about getting a pic of me there (other than my official polaroid). Oh, well...I'll get one at the real half way point, rather than the psychological one. Randy also got a great pic of Gerri with Dir!ty Frank, who was there with his parents. We set out on the Trail, and made it as far as downtown...we had to have some lunch. We stopped at this sidewalk cafe, which took forever to cook our food. Randy and I figured this would be a good opportunity to get fuel at the outfitters next door, so we went. I looked across the street to see...Psycho Pat!!! I hadn't seen her since Damascus! I yelled to her and ran over to give her a big hug. She asked to come sit with us, and I could see she was limping...she's been having problems with plantar fascitis (I'm sure I didn't spell that right, but don't have access to a medical dictionary at the present time). She told me that she was leaving the Trail, at least for several weeks, if not for good. She was very sad, and I feel sad for her. I don't know what I would do right now if I had to get off the Trail. I have my heart and soul set on finishing. We finished our lunch, which finally had arrived, and said goodbye to Pat. I told her how much I missed hiking with her...I hope she can heal enough to come back. Feeling marginally better, now that I had some food in me, we hit the Trail for real this time. We had hoped !to do 15 for the day, but knew we'd be pushing it, starting at about 1:30. We crossed a footbridge to arrive in...our 6th state! Yay! This is the state that Dutch said was a girlie state (yah, and if I catch up to you, Dutch, I will kick your butt for that statement!). I have to admit it though...it's true. It is so very flat, and when there are ascents, they aren't very high or that difficult. We quickly made it to our first shelter, the Ed Garvey shelter, which was beautiful! A log cabin style, it featured a back second floor terrace, a lovely front porch and a very nice privy. Sadly, we were only breaking here and moving on. We chatted with a scout group that was there...really great kids! Refreshed, we set out again. The wind had started to whip up, which felt great, but brought with it some thunderstorms. They didn't hit, though, till we got to a park, which had a restroom and soda machines. We got something cold to drink, and waited out the rain. Randy a!nd Gerri figured out that there was a covered picnic pavilion just a little further, so we chose to cook dinner there before moving on to the shelter. Another storm passed through while we ate, then a rainbow appeared just before sunset...it was quite fabu. I should mention that this park, as well as Harpers Ferry and other areas we are passing through right now are historically significant to the Civil War. There are many plaques and monuments (such as the one in this park, dedicated to war correspondents)...lots of cool stuff to look at and read. Of course, this takes time away from hiking, but we can't pass it by! We put our headlamps on before getting ready to leave...it was my first night hike! Okay, it was only 4/10 of a mile, but it was at night! I might add...it may well be my last one. Or at least the last without brand new batteries in my headlamp. We got lost trying to find the shelter due to a missing blaze, but were able to find the place. There were three people already there, one of them snoring like crazy...we decided! to tent. It took us a little while to find an appropriate spot, but it worked out. I hit my tent, and checked my feet to discover a blister on my right big toe...it had been hurting me, so I figured I had one. Not sure if it was my sock or the new boots...I'll attend to it in the morning. Time to hit the hay...