Date: 2005-06-23
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The deed is done! I officially buried my boots today. After hiking 2200 miles with them I laid them to rest. I originally planned on sending them home as a momento but I did not want to ge arrested for interstate transportation of a chemical weapon! I went and got the nearest biohazard container and put them where no human can come into contact with them. Half life on these babies is at least 50 years. Sreriously though, they were a damn fine pair of boots! They were the ones I started with last year and, never once, did I get a blister with them. I accredit that to the fitting I got at Travel Country Outdoors in Orlando and I accredit the longevity to the Montrail brand. When I do the PCT (there, I said the next three letters) I will get another pair. Reason I didn't now is I wanted to get them at Travel Country again. I headed into town early today. Spent part of the morning writing my entries, writing some postcards, and going to the post office. Thanks Joan and Wanchor, much appreciated! I did my writing at the ATC so I could see who was coming into town. Scholar came by and as we were talking Peanut showed up. I met Peanut briefly at Woodshole, Tillie's place, and she took off early in the morning. Last time I saw her was at Waynesboro where she had come back to because of shin splints.She made it back onto the trail after 5 days in Waynesboro. We agreed to meet for a drink around 1:30. I caught the bus into Charles Town to get a few more supplies. There really isn't a whole lot in the way of hiker supplies in Harpers Ferry proper. It is a historical town and, to me, a lot of fun to walk around in.Since I will have all the chores out of the way I plan on wandering the town tomorrow. I met Peanut and was introduced to Aaron. He is from Austrailia and has been doing large sections of the trail. The three of us spent an enjoyable afternoon, on a perfect weather day, not to hot and no humidity. The humidity is supposed to return in a day or two. I guess we have been lucky on that accord. Locals have been saying the weather has been great. They say it is usually in the 90's with high humidity by now. I never saw Poet, Free, or Serenity before I headed back toward the hostel. Figure I will catch them at the halfway point. I want to be able to take pictures of them doing the half gallon challenge. (I'll explain that one later) On the way back I stopped and talked to the lady at the small grocery store again. She told me about the grand daughter who was going with the Marine, how they broke up, and how the family is out of sorts because she stays in contact with him. It might seem boring but the way she weaved the tale was great. I admire the down to earth people and can listen for a long time to real life stuff, honest stuff, the stuff that shows the fabric of a person. I hate BS, always have. I was raised to be able to hold my own in a black tie or formal event, and I can, but I was never comfortable in those situations. Give me down home and real, and you will have my attention and, most likely, a degree of respect. The evening went by quietly. Weatherman and his son, Phoenix came by. They were going to stay the night and go into DC tomorrow and then head out on Saturday. While I was sitting outside someone came out and said I had a phone call. I was surprised at that since I didn't think anyone knew where I was. It was Gypsy. She, Touk, Sunshine, and Clearwater had made it in and they saw the note I left them at the ATC center. They too, were going to go into DC for the day. They asked if I wanted to go but I passed. I lived there too long to want to put up with that zoo. We both had to laugh at how long we talked on the phone. Doing the catch up game. Heck, it's only been 4 days since I last saw them! I told her I would meet them at the train station in the morning.