Day 75 - David Lesser Shelter to Harpers Ferry

Left at 8:30 to do the 8.5 miles into Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Very hot and humid! But pretty easy walking. Came to a spot where Smittee and Thumper were taking a break and noticed that someone had scratched the number 1,000 in the dirt. Was that the official spot? Not sure.

We decided to take a side trail to the ATC headquarters and do our errands after that. It was actually kind of exciting. A woman took our picture -- hikers #261 and #262. Surprisingly few, it seemed.

Dave and I were walking to the outfitter when a van stopped next to us. It was Dave's friend Kathy, with Julie and Anna in tow. She and Hunter had rented the van, thinking they were taking in seven hikers (there were actually five of us -- with Murph, Stray, and Smittee). Decided to do the rest of our errands some other time and go back to the house.

Longshanks in Harpers Ferry

We were all extremely ripe, but everyone was very polite. The girls are adorable. Took about an hour to get to Gaithersburg. Beautiful house, with wood siding, high ceilings, and central air. Big deck out back. Dave and I got our own suite, with bedroom, bathroom, and dressing area. The girls gave up their beds so the other three would have a place to sleep.

Dave and I got to use a computer for the first time since May 18th, I think. Forty-two messages. Nothing too exciting. We were all treated to a dinner of grilled chicken and steak, salad, broccoli, etc. Cold beer. Cream puffs for dessert. Told stories after dinner. Very comfortable bed with lots of big, puffy pillows. One was so puffy, in fact, that I pulled a muscle in my back. Ouch!

P.S. -- I am now a bug magnet. Bites everywhere. Is it my high sweet/high salt/high fat blood?