Today’s goal was to get to a 4 mile tent site, appropriately 4 miles from Harpers Ferry. Leaving Rod Hollow, I immediately launched myself onto the roller coaster.
Just like a real roller coaster, it started with a big hill. But also like a roller coaster, at least the old-school wooden ones, what followed were many ups and less severe downs. I’m not saying it was easy, but I am saying it wasn’t as bad as I feared.
Near the end I passed Bear’s Den rocks. Today they were full of hikers enjoying nature and the spectacular view. I made a detour to Bear’s Den, not sure if they were open and didn’t really need anything.
Blackburn ATC, on the other hand…don’t skip it. I just went down to get water and I had no idea. The caretaker, Fern, gave us free soft drinks and snacks. There is often a free dinner if you camp there. They have chargers and the toilets have toilet paper. I bought some Good To-Go oatmeal from the hiker box. This place was just amazing.
In the end I had to hit the road, with almost nine miles to go. Those kilometers passed without problems and I arrived at a practically full tent site. This took me by surprise, but luckily I found a spot.
Unfortunately, I ate Good To-Go oatmeal. It was bad. It’s not that it’s badly spoiled, it’s just completely unappetizing. I feel the need to put this into perspective. I would rather eat the worst flavor generic instant banana cream. Chinese bitter melon is the only thing I’ve ever tried that tasted worse. They were calories, so I ate them… and had to take the anti-nausea meds 30 minutes later. It will probably appeal to someone with very different tastes.
- Breakfast: cereals
- Dinner: Cheese, tuna, crackers, peanut butter, oatmeal.
- Snacks: fig bars x2, oat squares x2, rx protein bar, clif bar
- Bonus: oranges, oreo, soda (Thanks Fern!), oatmeal?
- Known today: Tootsie, Frost
- Days without a ramen bomb: 63
- Today I am grateful for: Fern
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