Date: 2005-06-14
From: Land of Beer & Cheese

To: Pine knob Shelter (tent)
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: few clouds

Day #90 I can't help but feel your alway surprised that we do ever leave town. Rabbit & i hit the trail at 5:30am. There comes a time in your long distance hike that you actually have to hike, though it doesn't happen as often as one thinks. For us that time begins today. After leaving the comfort inn we follow the trail that skirts town for about a mile then cut through downtown. We cross the Potomic River along a pedistrian footbridge on a railroad tressel. The next two miles are some of the flatest on the AT. We follow the C&O cannal towpath. Once upon a time mules towed barges full of coal. Built between 1828 & 1850. Work stopped as the rail road beat them to the ohio river valley. Economically challenged and storm damage from 1924 it never recovered. It stretches 185 miles along the potomic from cumberland to Washington DC and is now part of a historical park. The AT leaves the towpath as we quickly climb up to weaverton cliffs. They have a good view of the harper ferry region, but it's not the famous picture you always see. that comes from a different trail. I wish i had taken a day hike. sadly hiking on one's day off is never high on the list. The trail is fairly easy. A short side trail brings you to Gath's empty tomb. In 19th century people usually set aside part of their own property to be buried. If they had enough money a tomb would be erected. gath aparently worried about death built his 20 years before he died. Unfortunately, he died broke and in philadelphia where he was buried. The sign says "gath's tomb mutely symbolizes the uncertainties of life, fame, and fortune and the certainty of death". We enter into Gather State Park. Some people working with Mistubishi Motors were test driving the new eclipse, very cool. Two reporters were there doing a story for a car magazine. One was a chick in crazy heels. i can't help but think it must have made it tuff to shift as she had trouble enough walking. They had a whole buffet of food set up just for the two of them. The park was suppose to have seasonal water, it just didn't say what season? Into yogie mode. Rabbit is a natural, i almost gave him my water. We also once given the chance, tore up fruit plate. Kiwi, strawberries, pinapple, my god it was good. It was an easy hike to dahlgren backpack site complete with shower. It's 2pm and i've already hiked 19 miles. A two hour lunch break with a shower and i'm back on the trail. Rabbit & i run into Rodeo at the washington monument. He has just return to the trail after a week off and already has a story. Yesterday, he was hiking in that big storm when lightning hit close to him. Since he was standing in water the lightning travelled up through his feet. The lightning unable to negotiate the turn was shooting out his elbows. I just can't get enough rodeo stories. The Washington monument was the first built for George Washington. While it pales in comparison to the one in DC, it's not too shabby for small town maryland. It's been repaired and altered many times since being built in 1828. They returned it to the orginal design in 1934. It was even used by the union during the civil war as a signal house. We stop at Pine Knob shelter after crossing I-70 on a footbridge. Originally it was to be just a break. There were two section hikers there blossom & trooper. Lisa is also there after starting a flip-flop hike in Harpers Ferry. She will go from Harpers Ferry to maine, then come back and go from harpers to georgia. They said there was a problem with the spring. Rabbit and i with our extended knowledge of irragation and what not went too see if we could fix. I don't think we did much good, but it was improved a little. Looks like a project for the trail crew. We call it a day as we have already done close to 24 miles or maybe rabbit is tired of just talking to me at camp? During dinner Trooper (11yrs old) decided lisa trail name shall be cart of groceries and so it will be! I can't say she was a big fan of it. It's one of my favorite this year, right behind bag of cats. He also took a stab at renaming rabbit: Dead Rabbit. It's got a ring to it i think? Early night after a long day.