Date: 2003-07-14
From: Pogo Memorial Campsite

To: Deer Lick Shelters
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: few clouds

It was another rough night last night. The surgery on my toe was one thing...the ache in my legs entirely another. I could hear something walking around in the woods. I knew I wasn't going to sleep. As much as I hate to take any strong drugs, I knew I had to take something. Flexeril would work best for the aches I had in both feet and legs. I went to sleep very soon after. The biggest problem with taking something like that is attempting to wake up the next morning. I usually feel really fuzzy around the edges, and definitely not motivated to move, let alone hike. I woke up when I heard Gerri moving around, though, and got going. We all got into our morning routines. When Randy went up to the privy, he noticed a trail leading away from it to the right. When he followed it back, he found the real Pogo Memorial Campsite...it was really nice, too... I was the last one out of camp, and hurried to catch up. I tend to be the line leader, and it's very hard to !do that if you're last in line. We hit the Maryland rocks today...I think that they were just trying to show us that Maryland is not a sissy state. It definitely was rougher terrain than we had in the rest of the state. We took breaks at 5 mile intervals...met up with Froggie Pete off and on throughout the day. At the first shelter, we met a southbounder who had the cutest mini doberman named Rosetta. She looked like a miniature version of the hellhound, Thorn, but had a much better temperament. We read stories in the register about a huge rattlesnake, but didn't see it. Matter of fact, the wildlife in Maryland has been strictly squirrels and chipmunks. I also smelled a skunk this morning. We continued on...we actually had to climb today! More than once! I didn't know what to think. At the end of the final climb, we took another break. We met a nice group of kids from a church camp who were hiking from Pen-Mar to Harpers Ferry. They were impressed with our acc!omplishment so far. We all continued on our respective ways. After alittle while, we hit a fairly major rocky down...Maryland's way of bidding us adieu. (Hey, we saw one deer just before we got to the park!) Then we arrived at Pen-Mar Park. It was very nice and featured TWO soda machines, as well as flush toilets and potable water. It just doesn't get any better than this. I yelled out "look at that beautiful soda machine!", which prompted laughter from the table near it. Brown Bess was there with a Trail Angel and a park worker. The angel, Dennis, offered to give us a ride into town, but we still needed to hike 5 more miles to get to our shelter, so we didn't have the time. I did have two sodas...mountain dew and mountain dew code red. I knew that would get me to our final destination for the night (in combination with some Reeses Sticks). My feet had been killing me all day, although the surgery on my toe was a success, and it felt fine. I had taken my boots off while we were in the park, and contemplated hiking in my sandals. !I didn't think it would be the best idea, though, and put my boots back on. I laced them tighter through the toe box, though. Amazingly, this seemed to work. The last few miles to the shelter were fine on my feet. Just after leaving the park, we crossed the Mason-Dixon line, then entered our SEVENTH state! Pennsylvania (or, as some of you know, Pennsyltucky!)...yay! We only have seven to go after this! We had a round of Kodak moments at the two signs (not very impressive ones, but, oh well). 5 quick miles and we arrived just before dark at the shelters. That's right, for some peculiar reason, PA shelters are built in pairs...or at least some of them are. We have one, and Froggie Pete had the other. Snot Rocket and Iceberg Slim came in just as we were eating dinner, and are sharing the other shelter. There's a fabu breeze blowing through the front of our shelter...it feels so wonderfully cool. I can just see the moon through the trees. It's been a great day for !hiking the AT...hopefully I can sleep tonight!