One thousand miles. Whoa. Did I ever think I'd walk a thousand miles? And here we are, made it to West Virginia, and almost at the AT's half-way point. Yesterday we hiked the infamous roller coaster -13.5 miles of straight ups and downs (picture a heart beat monitor, that's what the profile of the trail looks like). If we'd hiked it a few months ago I would've been begging for mercy, but being in the shape we're in by now it was downright enjoyable.
We passed by Bear's Den Hostel midway, ate a pint of Ben and Jerry's, then pushed on to get to the Blackburn center, a PATC managed cabin where hikers can stay for free. Helen, awesome friend from Bolivia, was waiting to meet us when we arrived, and as we walked in the door the guy who runs the cabin handed us a beer and invited us to sit down for a homemade supper. Too cool!
It was great to catch up with Helen, reminisce about Bolivia and talk about what we're up to now. She's going back to Bolivia to lead summer trips for a group of students -put some ideas in my head....
Today we'll head to Harpers Ferry, WV and stay in a hostel so we can shower and wash our clothes. It's been raining for four straight days and my smartwools have a serious case of the funk.
We were hoping to meet mom in Harpers Ferry, but the timing didn't work out. She sent a package in her stead, but I wish we could hang out tonight.
We've been seriously blessed with visits from friends along the way. Last weekend Graeme and Nicole came up Skyline to meet us in Shenandoah National Park. It was a gorgeous weekend, perfect weather, and the four of us hiked up to Mary's Rocks, pitched our tents, and watched the sunset unfold. Which was made all the more spectacular by the BOX of wine they lugged up the mountain with them. The next day we hiked a good stretch to the north end of the park and stayed at a great little hostel (some guy's basement in a residential neighborhood) near front Royal, where we had all the fun to be had in a small town -beers and dinner at the tavern, a gripping round of trivial pursuit with Mike, the hostel owner, coffee and breakfast at a cafe on main street, and milkshakes before we got back on the trail.
Graeme and Nicole hiked in a few miles with us on Monday morning, then headed back home. They're hoping to come join us for the final stretch in Maine, too, which would rock. But for now, real world calls. And man does it make me ever grateful that we have this time, this fantastic opportunity to be out here.
Well, a call to all friends and loved ones: it's a darn good time on the Appalachian Trail! Come out and join us for a few days. You'll leave sore and dirty and not regretting it one little bit.
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