Date: 2006-03-30
From: Monument Rd

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: clear sky

Thursday, March 30, 2006 19.1 miles Monument Rd to Harpers Ferry21.1 miles counting hike back to the hostel from Harpers Ferry, 10 AM to 7 PMAt the hostel, Amoeba meets MacGuyver, also known as M and M, and his wife Road Runner, also known as Nef, both from Baltimore. In 2000 they hiked with Anne, Sojourner and Tortoise from the AT halfway point in PA (the Right Spot Motel) to Springer. Mama Syles was their Trail Mom, meeting them at trailheads with supplies and encouragement.During the hike MacGuyver and Road Runner fell in love and were married in Hot Springs NC, followed by another ceremony in GA. They are both artists and writers, MacGuyver writes poetry, Road Runner is writing her second novel. They¢re here at the hostel for a one-week break, away from the city.The other members of their group are now thruhiking around the world! This will take 3 and 1/2 years.Lisa shuttles Amoeba to the trailhead at Monument Rd.In early 2005 Lisa and Amoeba (who was hiking at the time with Spinner) met at Mendon Pond Park in Rochester NY. Lisa is a fascinating person. When she finishes her internship in Harpers Ferry, she¢ll be a ranger with the National Park Service . She¢s a historian and historiographer. "That¢s a lot of fun" she says "because I get to read everything. Right now I¢m researching and writing about northern women¢s roles on the home front during the Civil War."Lisa¢s an expert on military history, particularly the Civil War. When the Civil War buffs get together and try to stump her, she always knows the answers and they are floored. They can¢t believe that a girl knows so much military history. She volunteers with the C and O and is in charge of the restoration of an historic building in Shepardstown. She has not thruhiked and doesn¢t have firsthand experience with long distance hiking, but thinks that¢s actually beneficial: when thruhikers get as far as Harpers Ferry/Weverton, many welcome the chance to talk about something other than hiking, she says.Start 10AM, bright sunny pale blue day, high 50¢s, maybe 60. Deer tracks in soft earth along the trail.First bloodroot.Easy trail, wide. Dahlgren Chapel, South Mountain Inn.Cardinal with bright red head, tawny red-blushed body.Rocky Run Shelter. On October 5th, 2003 Amoeba had stayed there alone, reading in the register about Jon and Melissa, hikers who'd been married that day in Dahlgren chapel.Lunch by the Bear Spring Cabin Trail.   A combination of leftovers from Chinese restaurant (beef and broccoli) and small pieces of last night¢s fried chicken. That¢ll finish off the perishable food. The last of the fried noodles from the Chinese restaurant.Something¢s been digging (about an inch deep) in the soft dirt beside the trail, rooting?Twice the pile-driver sound of a pileated woodpecker off in the distance.Temps in the 70¢s now, at least the 70¢s, maybe 80.No soda in the machines at Gapland Park, signs apologizing.2 day hikers hiking north.Sue from north of Kingston Ontario Canada hiking north. Wearing a crisp white blouse and heavy pack. Out for a few days backpacking. A sweet face and the sweetest smile. At home, Sue hikes in ¢her back yard¢, a semi-wilderness park.2 young men out for 4 days, Harpers Ferry to Penn Mar. No conversation. By the register at Garvey they must be Han Solo and the Zen Hiker.3:20 at the blue blaze for Garvey Shelter. Gotta go in there. Last time she was there, in 2003, the visit to Garvey Shelter was eventful (another story). This time no one is there and the fire pit is cold.Register:10/18/05: Mr Garvey, I your old neighbor, Paul Karnis, finally made it to your summer house. Mary is fine. She uses a wheeled walker with brakes and a seat. I believe she is 92. Mrs O had a stroke last May, ¢04, and lives in Chicago with her daughter. So your wife lost her best friend on the block. I have a cold one with John VanderZader now instead of you. I see most of your sons and daughters on a regular basis. Your granddaughter Lauren and Jessica get together when there in town. I can only imagen that you are blazen new trails in heaven. I did have the pleasure of being Ed Garvey¢s neighbor from 1988 until his death. He always had a good conversation that kept your attention. I do have many stories to tell about Mr Garvey. Paul Karnis.WOW!!! Amoeba will tell the ATC about that entry. Perhaps someone from the ATC Museum can interview Mr Karnis.Sign at Weverton Rd: The AT is underblazed along the canal and in Harpers Ferry. Not due to the maintenance club, but due to regulations limiting blazing in these areas.Pond weed on stagnant water in the C and O canal. Bird calls and whistles. Perhaps some peeper croaks too. People have been out picking up trash. There are filled black plastic trash bags along the side of the track, waiting for pick up. The land is pristine-looking, trash-free. Those people have done an incredible job.Canada geese on an island in the Potomac. Another train going by. Family coming back from a walk along the C and O, father pulling the 2 kids¢ bikes along.Sun going down. A fast hike into Harpers Ferry to the base of the stone steps and back. Getting darker. A big fire to the left up the hill. Probably under control, in someone¢s back yard? 2 men down by the track? Hard to see in the twilight.Blue blaze to the hostel. Amoeba falls on the railroad bed¢s steep loose gravel, bruising her right arm and thumb.Supper at the hostel and conversation with MacGuyver and Road Runner. MacGuyver retires to fix his SLR camera, Road Runner to work on a passage in a short story she¢s writing and Amoeba to bed.Goodnight.