Date: 2004-06-12
From: Devil's Racecourse

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: few clouds

WOW! I'm halfway! At least it's the psychological halfway point. I'm still having a blast although I'm missing my babe more than ever.The past couple of weeks have been a blast. After meeting with Jill in NoVa I hit the trail again with Jen, Kerry, and Frank for 25 miles in the Shenandoahs. The Shenandoahs were awesome - full of wildlife and food at the waysides. I saw at least 10 deer per day. I also saw 4 bears. I didn't get a picture of any of them. The first two that I saw were cubs and I didn't stick around to see mama bear. The 3rd bear I saw was only 30 feet off the trail and I had to get closer to it to pass it. I didn't want to risk getting the camera out since it was so close. The 4th bear I saw had just been shot with a tranquilizer gun and was being moved to another location. I didn't take a picture of that one either because I was at a wayside and my food was more important!Once I got to Front Royal, I was hiking with N-R-Chi and Angrist picked us up for a night in NoVa. N-R-Chi had errands to run in DC. That night we went to Fast Eddies, a bar, and met up with Ben, Frank, Marty, and Steve. That was a great time seeing those guys again. In the afternoon the next day, we hit the trail again. N-R-Chi was meeting friends and so we hiked a bunch of miles to meet them. I wasn't expecting to be invited to dinner and a hotel at the end of that day but I gladly took Chi's friends up on the offer. The next morning we started off again on the trail with Chi and his friends son, Jake, 14 years old. I had expected them to make more miles but they didn't and I lost them just before lunch. It rained pretty hard all day but I was still able to hike 18 miles. I made a minor mistake in my planning. I had thought that Devil's Racecourse was a shelter but when I got there I found that it wasn't. Fortunately there was a spring and a flat place to set up my tent. It was the 3rd time I've stayed by myself and it wasn't bad at all. It rained hard all night but in the morning it was clear. I hiked 16 miles to Harper's Ferry by 1pm. I was moving! When I got to town I went straight to the ATC Headquarters to sign in, get a number (301), and meet up with a trail angel - Blue Moon. Blue Moon asked if I had a place to stay yet and that all the hotels were pretty booked. I told him that I had no plans and wasn't even sure if I'd be staying. He hooked me up with a flat place for my tent for the night, a shower, and laundry. I really wasn't expecting this help either.So, I'm on Blue Moon's computer. He's said I could use his phone and it's a short walk into downtown. Oh, and it's only 3pm! I've already had a full day! Tonight there is a surprise party for a trail angel somewhere in Harper's Ferry and I'm definitely going. There will be a cookout and beer. I'm there!Thanks for signing my guest book! I know there are more out there viewing this site. Sign in!One last thing, a couple of days ago I weighed in at 182. That's 48 pounds less than when I started. It's not like I'm starving either. This is the best diet ever! I can eat more than as much as I want and still shed pounds!Hope everyone out there is doing well.