Harpers Ferry, VA - Duncannon, PA (125 miles)

Julie and Kelly dropped me back in Harpers Ferry where I met up with Wheeler who had been hiding from the rain on a porch. A park ranger named Linda kept us company and ended up inviting us to stay with her in the downstairs apartment. We made some dinner and got good sleep before heading out the next morning.

Hiked into Maryland and enjoyed Gathland State Park with some surprisingly cool monuments and camped out with friends at free Back Packer campsite with showers and the works. A former thru-hiker in the area met us on a run and came back with ice cream as a surprise! Fun night.

The next morning we walked into Washington Park and saw the original Washington monument - looks like a giant stone bottle with vista. This area is full of statues and plaques. We get civil war history lessons every day. Later that night we all made it to the Mason-Dixon line! Enjoyed a local park, as well as MORE trail magic ice cream, and a nice field for stealth camping.

Seven miles in I FINALLY caught Thin Mint and Ziggy Stardust still sleeping off the rain in a shelter - they are friends from my first round back in March that I've been chasing since April. They joined our gang and we all headed into Caledonia Park and the official half-way point of the trail. After luxurious Quarry Gap shelter in PA (hanging flowers, board games...) we went to some look outs, chased giant rat snakes, and genally took our sweet time getting into Pine Grove Furnace, PA: home of the famous half-gallon challenge!

2 other mutual pals were waiting on us there and we sat down with about 12 to try and consume 1/2 gallon of ice cream each - a tradition upon reaching the trail's 1/2 way point. Regrettably, I didn't cut it. But Fat Kid clocked in at just over 10 minutes! A new record. We're all very proud.

On our way to find a sneaky place to camp just outside the park we ran into 2 ladies who remembered Winston (Wheeler's dog that hikes with us) and invited our gang of7 to stay with them in Boiling Springs. When we made it to town the next morning they picked us up. The boys camped in the back yard while Thin Mint and I had our own room inside. Our new friends had beer and dinner waiting.

We planned to hike out the next morning but after a late lunch, swim in the spring, and unexpected nap on the lawn we accepted a zero. Sally had given us another friend's number who picked everyone up (7 people, 1 dog, 7 packs, 1 air compressor in 1 truck) and invited us to his home on the Mountain. Turns out Bruce was a carpenter who had built his incredible home, as well as a shelter, and 2-story lookout where we set up camp. If any one in PA is familiar or in the grotto: turns out his family also owns Lincoln Caverns. I learned all about lava tubes in Hawaii and his experience on the PCT.

Once we forced ourselves to leave town we walked along pastures and farmland for 2 days - took a nice break at a pond, and did some swimming in the Juniata, before making it to Duncannon where I am currently sitting. PHEW

BillVill has a hiker feed here this weekend - lots of soccer, tennis, food, games. Ashely and her family were nice enough to take me in for the night last night as well! She then came out and joined us for an afternoon on the river with some local folks who offered to lend us their boats. Mom and my grandparents also stopped by today to see "tent city" and meet my friends.

Only a week or so left... too sad to talk about it just yet though.