Dates ........ Friday May 5, 2000
Miles ........ 4.9 miles
From ........ MD - Devil's racecourse Shelter
To ............. PA / MD State line at PenMar Park (PA)
Weather ... Very warm, humid, upper 70's to 80 by noon.
I enjoyed a gentle climb from the shelter to the top of Quirauk Mountain and took the short side trail to the High Rock hang glider launch point. It was a grand view, even if somewhat limited by haze. I was a bit disappointed by all the litter nearby, but what was one to expect from an area directly accessible by auto. At least the socially irresponsible and immature little brats are too lazy to get away from their cars, and thus are limited to making roadside messes.
It was a beautiful day, though a bit warm, but who's going to complain about a sunny day on the trail? Again I was blessed with beautiful forest, fabulous woodland and wildflower scents. The very steep hike down around the rip rap face of High Rock reminded me to be careful - I did not want any injury on this, the final leg of my journey.
At the PenMar pavilion overlooking the Waynesboro PA valley I met two British hikers - Satcom and Buff. They too had read Bryson's A Walk in the Woods and decided they had to come all the way over here to do it themselves. Fabulous! We had a great conversation while waiting for my ride. (I finished at 9:30; my ride was due at noon). Then, out of the woods came ElWolfe, Annie, AuSable Mike and his wife, Medicine Man, Cruisin Canuk, Duck Crossing. Why, it was a regular reunion of sorts. We all posed for group photos, posterity and all that. What a great end to a wonderful adventure.
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| "Cruisin Canuk, Satcom, and Buff" at PenMar overlook |
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| International cast of characters (and hikers) meet at PenMar Park (PA-MD border) Left to Right: " Buff ( from UK), Annie and ElWolfe (from Canada), Free Spirit, Cruisin Canuk (Canada), Ausable Mike, Medicine man, Duck Crossing. (Satcom, UK, took the photo). |
AuSable Mike's wife was holding up and decided to continue with her hike though this was a bail out opportunity. She was one tough, determined hiker! Annie had to leave the trail again due to family problems and we were able to offer her a ride into Harrisburg to catch a bus home to Canada, which she graciously accepted. We were giving Satcom and Buff a ride to nearby Caledonia where they had mail re-supply packages waiting. From there, they would pick up the trail at Caledonia State Park.
Noon and my ride arrived. We piled the four backpacks and hikers into the car and off we went, thus ending a wonderful journey of nearly 300 wilderness miles and meeting countless wonderful people along the great Appalachian Trail.
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