Bubbles Day 17 (Wednesday, April 13th)

I took another shower in the morning and scrubbed my body three times.  That felt really nice.  We are used to sleeping outside so it was kind of weird sleeping in a bed.  It was hard to fall asleep in the hotel.

I had heartburn from the pizza massacre and the Italian sub from yesterday.  I went down to breakfast and drank four big glasses of milk.

We were out of the hotel at 11:05 and went to the post office.  I didn’t realize that there were two doors into the post office.  I was standing in the post office lobby, bent over, and farted so loud.  I stood up, turned around, and there was an old man standing not even a foot away from me (mind you, he snuck in and I didn’t even hear him).  I was so embarrassed that I just stood there.  I must have had a crazy look on my face because he went into the post office, got his mail, and returned while I was still standing there mortified.  He walked up to me and asked, “are you okay?”  The Sprout and I were laughing about it all day.  It was the first time I farted on a 74 year old man.  The Sprout said I probably gave the guy double pink eye.

We had to walk past the ATC again and we met two visitors there.  The husband was excited to see two thru-hikers.  He asked to take a picture of The Sprout and I!  Not for us, for him, on his phone.  He asked us a lot of questions about our gear because he wants to start hiking and was going to REI.  It was really cute and fun to help someone.

The trail goes through Downtown Harpers Ferry.  I really wanted to stay an extra day to see all of the historical sights.  I am DEFINITELY going back!!!  There were kids everywhere running around too.  They were on a field trip scavenger hunt.

My dad has hiked this part of the Appalachian Trail in Maryland and told us that the hill out of Harpers Ferry was a pretty difficult hill (actually a steep incline and never ending.)  It wasn’t that bad but he was probably with 28 Boy Scouts!

When we got over the river into Maryland, and onto the towpath, my feet felt like they were suddenly on fire.  We only had a three mile stretch but I had to stop three times and sit down.  I literally cried.  As soon as we got to the uphill I started thinking about my dad and how he had hiked that section of the Appalachian Trail so I started taking a lot of Go-Pro videos.  I also started counting turtles.  I counted up to 107!!!  The turtles reminded me of the ones in the valley.

The switchbacks were so pretty.  (That’s where you go up a mountain walking back and forth rather than straight up to help preserve the mountain).  There are pawpaw trees on the trial here and a guy even ate one!

You can sort of see the switch back trail in the background of the picture

Better picture of the switch backs

I love hiking through the mountains

We got to Weverton cliffs and they were really cool.  As you stand in Maryland you can see Virginia and West Virginia from the cliff.  I blew a bunch of bubbles and then we continued Northern Bound.

Bubbles, Sprout, Smudgy Cheeks

Beautiful view

Bubbles blowing bubbles!!

Smudgy Cheeks and Sprout enjoying the view

A plaque commemorating Goodloe Byron's work on preserving the Appalachian Trail through legislation

Those feet are hurting!!

The Three Amigos on Weverton Cliffs

Smudgy Cheeks messing around with our poles

We got to camp after a never-ending hill.  Even though it felt like it kept going forever, this was much easier because my feet don’t hurt as much when I go up.  I also barely have to stop now when I am walking up a hill.  Go me!!

We set up our tent and then sat by the fire with Paul Two-steps from Austin Texas (originally from Connecticut).

The sign to the Edward D. Garvey Shelter.  Almost there!!!   Shelter is on the left, privy is on the right!

Smudgy Cheeks threw a bunch of firewood on the fire and then went to bed at 8:50.  I was so mad because I was tired and just wanted to go to bed.  He has been doing this lately.  He isn’t helping out around camp (he takes off down the trail before everything is cleaned after meals and doesn’t make sure the fire is out before he goes to bed.)  

I spread the fire out in the ring and tried to mix the fire with ash and dirt to put it out.  This was not working because Smudgy Cheeks had put so much wood on it.  Finally, when it was a little after 9:00, I decided to try to build rocks up around the fire so it would not jump out of the ring.  Unfortunately one of the rocks I picked up was piping hot from the fire (I didn’t realize how close it was) and I burned my finger tips.  I FREAKED OUT.  It was dark out so all I could see were black fingers.  I thought I charred them like a hotdog falling into a grill!!  

I went into our tent crying.  The Sprout assured me that my fingers were black from soot, not because I had charred off all of my skin, and took care of putting out the fire so I could go to bed.  I’m so thankful I have the Sprout out here with me.  I’m going to talk to Smudgy Cheeks tomorrow about being a team member and helping out more around camp.  Let’s hope this doesn’t blow up in my face!

Smudgy Cheek's blazing fire

My burnt fingers after I cleaned off the soot.  Ouch!