AT Miles = 19.7 / 1023.9
Other Miles = 1.2 / 38.7
Total Miles = 20.9 / 1061.6
Today was an awesome day. After feeling totally wrung out yesterday, today I felt like I could fly down the trail. I think I was dehydrated yesterday. I drank 3 quarts of water after getting to the shelter yesterday afternoon, yet I still didn't have to get up even once during the night. I always have to get up at least once, and sometimes two or three times. So this morning I drank another couple of quarts with breakfast, and my feet had wings.
Yesterday I hit the 1000 mile mark, and today I walked into Harpers Ferry and stopped at ATC Headquarters, where they took my picture and added it to the album of thru-hikers. I am either number 231 or 321; I am really bad at remembering numbers like that. A number I do remember is 162. There is a scale at the ATC, and that is what I now weigh, including my hiking boots.
I also picked up my food drop at ATC, and I now have the biggest food bag ever. It took some doing to even stuff all my food into the bag so I could hang it tonight.
After finishing my business at ATC, I made one more stop in Harpers Ferry for a big lunch, then proceeded across the bridge over the Potomac River and into Maryland. So Virginia and West Virginia are both now listory. Five states down, nine to go. And Maryland will be gone in a couple of days!
I also stpped at the Edward Garvey Memorial Shelter this afternoon. I had no reason to stop there, other than that it is the Edward Garvey Memorial Shelter. If it weren't for Ed Garvey, I very well may not be here to day. When I was in my teens I got Ed's book "Appalachian Hiker: Adventure of a Lifetime," and I read and re-read it many times. That book was a big part of what planted the seed that led me to this hike all these years later.
So a full day, and with a lot of good emotions. And now I am going to retreat to the sanctuary of my hammock, away from the mosquitos, and read my book for a few minutes before falling asleep. Goodnight, all.
Monkeywrench
Allen Freeman
allen@allenf.com
www.allenf.com
allenf.blogspot.com
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