6/08/01
Sleeping on the second floor porch of the Harper's Ferry Outfitter last night was an experience I won't soon forget. The combination of trains and a narrow street with buildings on both sides contributed to reverberating sounds that interrupted sleep. Nevertheless, this morning's bright sunshine awakened us early and the zero mile day in Harper's Ferry was about to begin. We found the deal of the day via my cell phone when we called the Hilltop Hotel to inquire about their breakfast buffet. Ten minutes later a group of hungry thru-hikers indulged in a feast. Our group included Terrorist, Leslie, Colonel, Gypsy, Reader, Ziti, Sundial, Surefoot and me. After last night's monumental meal at King's Pizzeria, one would think that hunger would be waning some. Wrong! I ate three full large plates of scrambled eggs, hash browns, grits, bacon, fresh fruit, french toast, and a quart of orange juice. Then I ate two bowls of soft serve vanilla ice cream with hot fudge. All for $5.95 plus tax. We all got our money's worth and ate for about an hour and a half before finally moving slowly away from the table.
After a group photo, Terrorist took Colonel and me to her hotel room so we could take advantage of a free shower. Then it was time to check in at the Appalachian Trail Headquarters. The ATC took a Polaroid shot of me outside the front door by their sign, as is the custom with all thru-hikers who come in and register. Then I completed the relevant information and the picture was numbered and inserted in their permanent album for the class of 2001. I stayed and read the hiker register then made my entry. Then it was time for a trip to the post office to do the usual food pickup and gear sorting. I was three days behind on journaling, so I took my gear and food to a secluded picnic table next to the ATC headquarters. There I spent the next couple of hours catching up on the journal and studying the maps and data book for the Maryland/Pennsylvania sections. Another trip to the PO to mail postcards, then it was back to the outfitter to relax on the porch swing until dinnertime. Laura and Ron own the Harper's Ferry Outfitter. They are great people who go out of their way to help the thru-hikers. They took me, Sundial, Wesley, Lollipop, Angry Jack, and Liam (store employee) to Pizza Hut for dinner. Liam drove a car and Ron drove the other. We had a nice meal, then they drove us by 7-Eleven for a quick beverage stop, then back to their store. Lollipop and Angry Jack decided to try the porch for their sleeping quarters. Meanwhile Sundial and I hiked the half-mile to the ATC headquarters where we threw out our sleeping bags and pads by the picnic tables. We had a nice quiet night under the trees nestled between the ATC building and the mayor's house next door. It was an enjoyable zero mile day in West Virginia. Today's stats: low 60 degrees, high 80. Sunny.
