Whelp, I probably got awake too late. When I woke up, I was stunned. But it’s fine, it’s a close. And finally I have my eyes on the award: Harpers Ferry!
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, or ATC, is based in this humble city in West Virginia. It is well known as where most Flip Floppers begin through their walk, as an important battle of the civil war, and where the Potomac and Shenondoah rivers are located.
So I got out of bed, I fired with melancholy to the Blackburn Trail Center and slipped with my damn and resistant without the coatings of Injinji socks. The socks of socks were still wet, but one of my peer of socks was dry, so I thought it would be worth it, right?
Instantly badly. The path was basically a current of all the rain during the past week, and the rock fields also hid puddles everywhere. The path was also extremely muddy, and TL; Dr, I wet my feet instantly. What I can not understand is how to get the sand from my wool socks of Merino … and that began to rub against my toes, since I did not have the socks of socks. Uh oh.
I thought it would be easy today, but I was completely burned while walking. Which is strange, since I just had a zero two days ago. And the weather had been super pleasant recently!
One thing that I did not expect with the entrance to the Harpers Ferry was how many day hikers came out … there was one in which I was directly behind him for a minute, shouting aloud «Hello! Behind! Excuse me!» He had his airpods inside, and I suppose they were in full explosion, and in the cancellation of noise or something. While departing to take a break, he jumped with a «oh shit.» WHELP … I have to keep your senses on you in the forest.
When I entered the last mile in Harpers Ferry, it began to rain, again. Later, I would learn that he has been very humid that most of the years, which is unfortunate. However, at that time, I attributed it to the weather that was finally bad after the first two dry months we had.
I spent the perfect day while we were on the bridge through Shenandoah to West Virginia. Before walking, I thought that the Shenondoah river serpentes through the SNP, but I was surprised to know that the river did not even touch the National Park.
Anyway, when I uploaded the path back to the Harpers Ferry, I saw the Blaze Blue … and went to the headquarters of the ATC. I couldn’t believe he was here. While I’m not necessarily in the middle of the way yet, it still feels significant to have come so far …
At the headquarters, I saw Spoonman, as a perfect day and took our photos in front of the ATC sign. I was #1091 leaving amicalola, and now I am #306 registering here. Not that 700 hikers have passed. I have probably spent more than that, to be honest, but there have also been tons of people who have passed me. There is always a bigger fish. I guess if he slept at David Lesser Memorial Shelter, he could have claimed #300, as a pitufo. But I am not too demanding with the numbers.
The perfect day and Spoonman left to take care of their own tasks, but I spent time looking at the polaroids book to see many of the family faces that I have met throughout the walk again. Then I took the opportunity to go to the back and see the books last year! It was fun to pass and see some of the hikers I knew, such as DK of Trail Days, or Jess (also known as Sassafras)! I sent him a photo of Jess’s polaroid, which turned out to have been a great movement … He never took a photo last year! Now he has it in the registration books.
While resting, a mother came and asked if they had the 2003 books. He had traveled that year, and was here to show her children the photos! The most great part was to hear her talk about all the people she met along the way, her names of trails and their stories. It’s crazy that he remembers them 22 years ago …
Just when I left, I ran to Marbles, Wing-T and Burgerman, just out of the 4th Challenge state the night before. Apparently, the wing regretted it completely: I wish they spent more time looking at the signs in Maryland. After all, the place is full of history. And a relaxing place to walk. Marbles just wanted to have been informed about the rock fields in Maryland. Wait, rocks in Maryland? Already? Oh oh …
I went to the Bolívar Breead bakery, grabbing a mother mass bar, before heading to Kelley Farm Kitchen. For some reason, «Upper Harpers Ferry», or the side of the city that is not the tourist part, has no reception. A kind of annoyance. But at least I could get a delicious vegan food of Kelley Farm Kitchen! Here, I also met Jamless and Green Bean. They are Vloggers with a bigger so much so much than I could imagine.
I registered in the hostel hidden halfway around 3 pm. Originally, I thought I would have time to put in the library and make some blogs, but on Saturdays, the library closes at 3:30. And my feet felt beats! Or … even worse. It turns out that abrasion from inside the wool socks made a number to the top of my feet fingers. They were bright and red for just abrasion. So that pain … I quickly entered and tried to wash well. I hope it is not fungal.
I spent the rest of the afternoon basically resting, before taking care of some tasks. I was sharing the liter with wingingested It is Mr. Shorty, Peanut and Colin of the VA Triple Crown! Who had now taken the name of «Daredevil». Everyone had made the challenge of four states the previous day, they were taking a Ferry Zero from Harpers today and would go to DC the next day.
I made a fast trip to 7-11 just to explore what the replenishment was like … terrible. Then I spent time washing my clothes and such. Where I ran back to Candyman! I have not seen it from Woods Hole, Waaaaaay before the days of trails. He gave me a hug and said he was happy to see me, and honestly? Me too. It is good to return to the bubble that was forming pre-td.
I spent the rest of the night at Snallygasters Cafe trying to do a little writing and eat, but none came to me easily. I think that with how bad the weather has been, my body wants to recover.
I spent the night in bed eating the bread I got from the bakery. I know I am in a constant struggle to keep some weight here. So I’ll leave, a bite at the same time …
(Title lyrics by: Take Me Home, Country Roads)
