Harper's Ferry, West Virginia
You know you are a thru-hiker when... you only know people by their trail names.
(This post is out of order. We arrived in Harpers Ferry on the 15th of June and the half way point on the 21st of June. We are slowly getting around to catching up.)
Ten miles outside Harper's Ferry we passed the 1000 mile mark. A spot that is marked by an unbelievable shelter and by an arrangement of temporary stones. We arrived just as the sun was setting and a thunder storm was rolling in and were surprised to hear the sounds of Banjoman playing his hiker guitar. We have been treated quite a few times to concerts from him as well as other hikers who carry instruments but it is always a special treat and was a great way to celebrate the 1000 mile mark.
1000 Miles
On arrival in Harper's Ferry we checked into the Hilltop House Hotel, cleaned up and went to visit the ATC. As soon as we walked in the door one of the volunteers asked us "where are you from?" Not sure exactly what he was asking we replied the same way we always do, "from Springer Mountain but we live in Australia." People generally get very excited when they hear that you are thru- hiking. At the ATC they took our picture for their records and gave us a number. We where the 337th and 338th northbound thru-hikers for the year so far. (as of the 15/06/06)
Outside the ATC office
Harpers Ferry is about an hour train ride from Washington D.C. so we decided to catch the commuter train into the capitol for a day. We awoke at 5:30am and amid much grumbling we made it to the station just in time to catch the 5:56am train. Arriving at Union Station at 7:30 we wandered the streets waiting for all the tourist attractions to open. We took a tour of the Capitol building and then headed over to check out the White House. Standing with our noses pressed to the fence to get a better view we notice several snipers standing with their rifles to their shoulders. Suddenly we were not so eager to get that fantastic fence free photograph and went off to visit some of the other D.C. sites.
The White House - We left the photo large so that you can see the sniper on the roof
These vests are sold to hikers before visiting the White House
After being in the woods and small towns for the last 3 months we both felt like fishes out of water in the busy streets of D.C. On our way back to Harpers Ferry we had to ask for directions to the platform, our slow, conversational way of speaking that we have been using on the trail seemed to annoy the information attendant. We enjoyed D.C. but is was definitely good to get back on the trail.
(This post is out of order. We arrived in Harpers Ferry on the 15th of June and the half way point on the 21st of June. We are slowly getting around to catching up.)
Ten miles outside Harper's Ferry we passed the 1000 mile mark. A spot that is marked by an unbelievable shelter and by an arrangement of temporary stones. We arrived just as the sun was setting and a thunder storm was rolling in and were surprised to hear the sounds of Banjoman playing his hiker guitar. We have been treated quite a few times to concerts from him as well as other hikers who carry instruments but it is always a special treat and was a great way to celebrate the 1000 mile mark.
1000 Miles
On arrival in Harper's Ferry we checked into the Hilltop House Hotel, cleaned up and went to visit the ATC. As soon as we walked in the door one of the volunteers asked us "where are you from?" Not sure exactly what he was asking we replied the same way we always do, "from Springer Mountain but we live in Australia." People generally get very excited when they hear that you are thru- hiking. At the ATC they took our picture for their records and gave us a number. We where the 337th and 338th northbound thru-hikers for the year so far. (as of the 15/06/06)
Outside the ATC office
Harpers Ferry is about an hour train ride from Washington D.C. so we decided to catch the commuter train into the capitol for a day. We awoke at 5:30am and amid much grumbling we made it to the station just in time to catch the 5:56am train. Arriving at Union Station at 7:30 we wandered the streets waiting for all the tourist attractions to open. We took a tour of the Capitol building and then headed over to check out the White House. Standing with our noses pressed to the fence to get a better view we notice several snipers standing with their rifles to their shoulders. Suddenly we were not so eager to get that fantastic fence free photograph and went off to visit some of the other D.C. sites.
The White House - We left the photo large so that you can see the sniper on the roof
These vests are sold to hikers before visiting the White House
After being in the woods and small towns for the last 3 months we both felt like fishes out of water in the busy streets of D.C. On our way back to Harpers Ferry we had to ask for directions to the platform, our slow, conversational way of speaking that we have been using on the trail seemed to annoy the information attendant. We enjoyed D.C. but is was definitely good to get back on the trail.
posted by Mike & Zan :-) | 3:59 am
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