Day 86 (Monday, July 7th) - Mile 1101.3 to Carlisle Pa.1125.5

Today's Miles: 24.20
Trip Miles: 1125.50

Easy trail

Good night's sleep! I woke early and after a quick breakfast took off for Boiling Springs 16.2 miles away. M and N were ready to go as I left and I figured they'd catch me soon enough.

I passed a few tenters along the way, but no one I knew. The day started out with moderate temps and a light breeze. They had predicted high heat and it showed up later in the day. I saw WH, CG and T-Bird about an hour out. They're meeting friends in Boiling Springs.

At ten miles I went through a series of rock formations called the Maze. It was kind of cool, a little scrambling; a nice break from the woods. It's funny how they twist the trail sometimes. They took you up and over, down and across, and after climbing over the boulders for ten minutes you could look back at where you started about fifty yards away over smooth terrain; nice. Three miles later I found another plaque marking the original half way point. Three half ways in two days! I took some pictures and moved on.

Coming into Boiling Springs I passed through fields of corn and wheat. Wide open spaces. It seems strange when things open up like that after the closed in feeling as you hike in the forests. The trail led out to a street and a narrow bridge that brought you into town. The kids caught up to me there. We hiked along a canal with the cleanest flowing water I've ever seen. You could see to the bottom of the canal bed no matter how deep. Absolutely sparkling.

We headed through a park along the canal to the ATC office. On the way, there were three kids selling lemonade at a little stand with their Dad. We had some nice cool drinks, a quarter a cup, and some free water. Delicious.

Through the field

At the office we met Delaware, Shea and Atlas as well as Duck who we had met briefly yesterday. We asked about some place to eat and were directed to a restaurant up the street. On the way there we found out why the town is called Boiling Springs. I had thought it was like Hot Springs, with super heated water coming up out of the ground, it actually takes it's named from a cold spring that bubbles up out of the rock as if it were boiling. We got water there and it was the cleanest I've ever seen. We hung out at the restaurant for an hour charging our phones then headed to the P.O.

Mike went out ahead to book us a room at the Super 8 in Carlisle, Pa. 8 miles away. He wanted to do some speed hiking and neither Natalie nor I can keep up. We finished our business at the P.O. and followed half an hour later. We made good time and got to Carlisle at 6:30. I hit the pool, Nat hit the shower, and Mike hit the hay.

We went across the street to the Middlesex Diner for supper. My in-laws, Sterling and Ellie, have told us about this place for years. They always told Amy and me we should stop there on our way down to see them in N.C.. Of course, when I drive I rarely stop. I had to walk to Pa. to finally take the time to try the place out. Good choice! Short money, good food, and a lot of it. Next time we drive down I'll take Amy there.

Now we're all crashing after our big day. Another big day tomorrow.

Bye for now.  

Center Point Knob - the original halfway point of the AT

Nat on the path

Amber waves of grain

Day 85 (Sunday, July 6th) - Quarry Gap Shelter to Stealth Campsite 1101.3

Today's Miles: 20.30
Trip Miles: 1101.30

Up and out by 7a.m. Headed for the half way point and then to Pine Grove Furnace State Park for the half gallon challenge.

 A quick FB check in 

I left first and moved along quickly with my greatly improved ankle/shin and some good terrain. I passed Cinnamon Girl, Wilderness Hawk and T-Bird at a spring. I later saw Atlas and Shea when I stopped at Birch Run Shelter for water. I hadn't seen them since the Devil's Backbone in Va. I also saw Delaware hiking solo. She said Gadget had gone off trail for a bit.

When I got close to the mid-way point I waited for M and N who were right behind me. We crossed together, took some pics and after a half hour break moved toward Pine Furnace. We passed a second half way sign [the trail is always in flux] and took more pictures there.

We'd been quick hiking all day and got to the store at Pine Furnace at 1:30. 17 miles in 6 hours. Mike and I were going to take the challenge of eating a half gallon of ice cream in thirty minutes, but by the time we got there I was more interested in a cheeseburger sub so Mike went after the prize alone. He got a half gallon of vanilla and wolfed it down in under ten minutes; no contest. He collected his prize, a wooden spoon acknowledging his deed, then got some chicken nuggets to wash down the ice cream.
I had two dishes of ice cream, the sub, a side of fries, a Gatorade, a root beer, a sprite, a honey bun, and a second sprite. A different kind of challenge, but no spoon.

We hiked another couple of miles to an old campsite and settled in early. Into Boiling Springs tomorrow.

TTFN

P.S. Natalie did her part at Pine Furnace. She had a banana, a peach, cheese fries, ice cream, a Gatorade, and a coke. Usually she'd out-eat the both of us; off day I guess.

Halfway mark!

A leisurely path

Mike and The Half Gallon Ice Cream Challenge - what challenge?

Wonder what's down this way...

Day 84 (Saturday, July 5th) - Falls Creek to Quarry Gap Shelter

View from Chimney Rocks

Today's Miles: 19.90
Trip Miles: 1081.00

Judy Trail Angel

We hiked to Pa.16 and hitched into Waynesboro, Pa. A woman named Judy picked us up and drove us to Bobby D's where she was meeting people for breakfast. She said if we were getting something to eat she'd drive us where we had to go afterward. We grabbed breakfast and when we were through she drove us to the Pharmacy and waited for us there. Then she drove us to the grocery store. Thanks Judy. Her mom was friends with Eva Cassidy's grandmother (the late Eva Cassidy was an amazing singer), who was known for her kindness to thru hikers. Kinda cool.

We hitched out of town at 11 and got a ride easily from a hunter/hiker who dropped us at the trail. Thanks. Yellow Beard was there waiting for a friend. He's taking a break in Harrisburg. We took off not knowing how far we'd go. We got to Antietam Shelter where a nice creek was flowing and soaked our feet. We decided to hike to Caledonia State Park about eleven miles away where there was a snack bar. Anything for food.

On the way we climbed Chimney Rocks which had a nice view, but we didn't stay long because we wanted to beat closing time at the park. We made it with an hour to spare. We had some food and drinks, chatted with a bunch of kids out for a fifty mile hike and then hiked two more miles to Quarry Gap.

There were some tent sites there and we met Wilderness Hawk, Cinnamon Girl, and T Bird from N.J.. Talked for a bit then set up camp. Had a fun talk with the Administrator. Tomorrow, the half gallon challenge. Now, to sleep.

TTFN

Ahh, a creek to soak our feet

A quick check of fb

Day 83 (Friday, July 4th) - Pine Knob Shelter to Falls Creek 1061.1

Today's Miles: 18.60
Trip Miles: 1061.10

Smithsburg was about 8 miles away so we started early. There was some rocky terrain with steep descents to test my leg. We were hoping to resupply quickly and get back to hiking.

The trail took us to Annapolis Rocks and a nice view. After a short break there we hiked through to Wolfsville Rd. That led us into Smithsburg a mile and a half downhill. The guide listed a Rite Aid, where I hoped to get new insoles for my tired, 1000+ mile shoes. When we got a mile down the road we spoke to a man working in his yard who told us they had moved the Rite Aid a few miles away; Drat!

We continued to the supermarket he said was still in the strip mall, and to what we thought was a sandwich shop. The sandwich shop was closed for the fourth so we ended up eating junk food from the grocery.

We were dreading the climb back up the mountain road and rueing our bad luck with the resupply when a trail angel named Kimberleigh walked over and asked if we would like a ride up to the trailhead; Yes! She let us pile into her car, told us some local history, and said we'd be able to order pizza from Pen Mar Park about ten miles away. Thanks, Kimberleigh!

We hiked over some rocky up and downs to Pen Mar. My balky leg seemed to be doing better as we went along. At the park we met Fonz, a thru we've seen on and off along the trail, who gave us a half a pizza so we didn't get any more.

We rested for a bit then moved out to find the Mason Dixon Line. We didn't go very far before we officially crossed into the north, out of Maryland and into Pa. There was a campsite a mile further on at a creek so we headed there to camp. Unfortunately the water there had been contaminated by runoff a couple of weeks before so we couldn't soak our tired feet.

We met a family from Canada, north of Quebec, who we'd camped near before. Toe Salad (dad), Fimby (mom), Otter (son, 12, I think), Tenacious Bling (daughter, 11), and a 15 year old daughter who, like many 15 year olds, didn't want to hang out with old people. They sat with us by our fire and shared some supper and small talk.

Tired and sore; time for bed.

TTFN

Stone wall

The Mason-Dixon line

Mike is thrilled to partake in the Independence Day festivities

Day 82 (Thursday, July 3rd) - Crampton Gap Shelter to Pine Knob Shelter

Today's Miles: 12.50
Trip Miles: 1042.50

The sun was shining through the trees when we woke up. No rain last night, not much sleep either. I just don't sleep well in shelters.

Amy "Stardust" came into the shelter around 9:30. We've seen her off and on over the course of the hike, but haven't had much of a chance to talk. She's from N.C. and has hiked in and out of several bubbles. We'll probably meet again somewhere along the trail. Also at the shelter were Sassafras, who we see every so often, and a friend of hers who started today with an eleven mile hike. They were the first out with M and N and me shortly after. We left Amy eating breakfast.

We made our way over decent terrain to Fox Gap. There were memorials there dedicated to Gen. Jesse Reno, a confederate flag bearer, and a troop of soldiers from Michigan. We hiked through battlefields, some kept clear, some overgrown by forest, for most of the day. Amazing to think of the thousands who fought and died all around this part of the trail. About two miles further on was Washington Monument State Park. This was the first monument completed to honor George Washington. It was first erected in 1827, but has been restored several times. Cool stonework tower.

We had planned to do more miles, but the threat of severe thunderstorms led us to cut the day short. We are staying at the Pine Knob Shelter after hiking 12.5 miles. A little more rest for my leg can't hurt.
The rain threat came and went so I'm going to tent. We've been lucky with the weather. The storm yesterday was worse ahead of us, knocking down tree limbs and raining in sheets. Tonight it appears to be skirting us again. We had some rain and wind, but nothing terrible. The kids can have the shelter, along with some other hikers we don't know, I'm on the ground. Time to sleep.

Night All  

Crampton Gap Shelter

Rte 70 walkway

Strange light

Cool old church

Gen. Jesse Reno monument

Washington Monument

Stairway inside the monument

Day 81 (Wednesday, July 2nd) - Harpers Ferry ATC to Crampton Gap Shelter 1030.0

The Potomac

Today's Miles: 10.40
Trip Miles: 1030.00

Harpers Ferry

We had breakfast with Heike who had come into town last night. She is going into Washington D. C. today and will return to the trail on the fifth. It seems a lot of hikers are going to the capital. The only drawback for them is that the train that takes them there always runs late; sometimes by as much as five hours. I don't know how they get away with advertising an eleven-thirty departure when it never happens. It's embarrassing having to admit to our German friends that the train system here just can't match those in Europe.

We left the Econo Lodge at eleven and walked to the P.O. up the street. The building also houses the Town Hall, the police station and the safest liquor store in the U.S. We mailed extra food and other things ahead to Boiling Springs, Pa. Today we'll test out the leg; I hope the ice and rest did the trick.

Cool gutter

We took our time leaving town, first going to the ATC, where we had come into Harpers Ferry, and then following the trail into historical "Old Town." It was a really cool place with older buildings, and streets with stone gutters. I'd like to come back here and spend more time. Of course we made a stop at an ice cream shop, mmm mmmm! Baltimore Jack, who we first met at Neels Gap so long ago, was working at the outfitters where we chatted with him for a bit.

Finally we hit the trail at 12:30. The first part of the hike was a stroll along the old canal that ran beside the rapids of the Potomac River. It was a nice flat road that my sore leg was glad for. We crossed into Maryland unceremoniously because there was no signage and move up off the road and into the trees. It was nice to get under cover and out of the sun. There was a steady climb to Weverton Cliffs where there was a great view down onto the Potomac and to where we had entered the woods. It was brutally hot and humid, with a feels-like temp of 107 degrees. We were all drenched with sweat.

Old Town

Looking off to the west we could see a storm approaching so we picked up the pace and headed for the Ed Garvy Shelter. Within minutes the sky darkened and the thunder started to boom around us, the air cooled considerably, and the wind began to gust into the thirty mph range. Small branches and leaves littered the trail and as we neared the shelter the rain began to fall. From the safety of the shelter overhang we watched the storm grow in intensity. There were eight other thrus there with us, all waiting for the storm to pass.

We gave some thought to staying there because it was a nice big shelter with an upper sleeping section, but we needed to put in more miles. After a short time the rains abated and we moved on.
We passed through Gathland State Park which has a war correspondent's monument (Civil War). Natalie met some hikers she had hiked with when she first started. They gave us some Oreos and water from the truck they use to supply their group of hikers. It's some sort of missionary program. Thanks guys.

Another half mile of hiking brought us to Crampton Gap Shelter. We're sleeping in a shelter for the first time since the Smokeys because there is a threat of rain tonight and tomorrow. I hope the leg responds well to today's miles.

TTFN  

All better.... sort of

Handcut stairs

Handcut stairway

The old canal

Walkway over the Potomac

AT u curve

Nat on the rocks

Day 80 (Tuesday, July 1st) - Zero Day at Harpers Ferry

Today's Miles: 0.00
Trip Miles: 1019.60

Andi and Yvanna left for Washington D.C.. A sad morning, but as I said, I'm sure we'll meet again on the trail. They'll catch this gimpy old guy with no problem.

Icing the leg so we can hike out tomorrow.

TTFN  

Goodbye Germans 

Auf wiedersehen!