6/16/21 Today’s weather was perfect. Sunny, temperatures in the mid 70s with a nice breeze. Hiked from the Ed Garvey Shelter to the Pine Knob Shelter. Didn’t realize how large the Ed Garvey Shelter was as it was 2 stories tall. Initially hiked on a view less ridge. Passed thru Gathland State Park and the war correspondent monument and an area where Civil War battles were fought. I was able to collect water from an outside Spighot. I had of you from white rock Cliff. Lots of cicadas which have an amazing 17 year lifecycle. They live underground for 17 years as nymphs feeding on tree root sap and then emerge in the Spring. The males make the loud sound and they live at most a few weeks to mate and the females lay eggs on small tree branches. The adults then all die with massive carnage on the ground. When can see the mounted exoskeletons. The eggs hatch and nymphs fall to the ground and then go underground to repeat their lifecycle. Took lots of photos of various plants and trees to view on iNaturalist. Past through Washington monument State Park which I’ve been to over 40 years ago.Excellent view of Boonsboro, MD. So only a few people hiking and walked over the I 70 bridge which I recall viewing multiple times when I was a kid living in Maryland. Now at age 60 I’m crossing that bridge hiking the AT. It brings back lots of memories. Got to the shelter where I met a woman who is out for her first overnight backpack trip and she hopes to hike the Appalachian Trail in two years. I set up my tent. There was trail magic with a cooler with soda had a ginger ale and snacks had some M and M’s.

6/15/21 After being picked up at Harpers Ferry this past Sunday by my sister and father I went to Rockville Maryland and stayed at my father’s and Sandys new place at Engleside which was lovely. Took a zero day yesterday and resupplied,showered and did laundry. Took the train from Rockville back to Harper’s Ferry. It was confusing knowing wether I was at the correct place as the train wasn’t listed on the board and I didn’t want to get on the train going to the wrong place. Well it was the right train. Got to Harper’s Ferry around 5:00 pm to a busy place. Perfect weather. Crossed the Potomac River on a foot bridge and looked at the train tunnel going thru Maryland Heights. I had repelled this rockface when I was 16 or 17 years old with Cary Millstein and the Explorers. There is an old sign for a talcum powder company still there. I was terrified when I repelled this as I had no idea what I was doing and am afraid of heights but obviously I lived. I was then on the C and O canal which I had been on numerous times riding a bicycle and camping on the canal with the Boy Scouts. Fond memories. The canal water was green and hiked about 2 miles on the canal towpath next to the Potomac River which had some rapids. Then climbed about 1000 feet and reached the Ed Garvey shelter which I slept in.