008-Hike Film Journal stuff

So, back on the C&O canal for the last couple of days.

Not a lot to say about this stretch, true we cross Antietam Creek, which ran red with the blood of Civil War fighters, and that is a major historic stop, yet, I missed the Boat ramp cut off road somehow in my daze of 97 degree walking while all the while planning on marching the 2 miles or so on roads to get there.

I did stop in at Barron’s, an on trail Bike/hike snack ice cream store…man that hit the spot.

The inside of Barron’s reminded me of the Little House On The Prairie general mercantile…very rustic, yet clean rustic.  Old signs and toys, a 100 plus year old Cash register, old signs, classic Mason jar candy holders, just a cool spot.

As I sat there, a biker and his wife and grandson all came in.  They too are doing the C&O section and maybe more of the ADT.  The face was familiar, yet I couldn’t place it.

He got his ice cream and they all sat down next to me at the one table in the old wooden building. 

So, as I sit, the gentleman begins telling me stories of another Hike he and his wife had done, on the ADT.  They got to Missouri and went home….he looks so familiar…we keep chatting and finally he asks me if I am Lion King, yes, I am (As out here I generally introduce myself as Michael until we get into hiking talk, as there are far Fewer hikers out on this trail then others).

He is Dead Man Walking, an Appalachian Trail thru hiker I had met in Glenclif NH a few years back, as well as at trail days in Damascus VA a couple of years ago.   His wife, Lady Bug, their grandson, Barnnet (Sorry if that’s spelled wrong Barn)

He tells me of good camping spots West of here, good towns, slight Police harassment because of the lack of local knowledge that there is a trail running through there town, regardless of Lewis and Clark on the road sign as well as an ADT marker, and other ADT stories from his last jaunt.

Nice people, but the day is moving on, and so I shall I.

This is were I missed my chance to go to Antietam, and I am a little annoyed at my own slight, as I really wanted to go see it.

Funny thing, as the day wore on and I hiked only a few more miles and bedded down, I could hear fireworks, and something deep inside my gut was kicking me in the insides and screaming

“HEY MORON! THAT’S ANTIETAM AND YOU MISSED OUT ON SOMETHING NEAT!”

But I close out the voice while reading a Zombie book that Barn has given me.

Next day….

Rise and shine (After reading Barnett’s ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE—lol)

And make my way.

I hit the big 5 mile detour that the C&O has because of major flooding and I go thattta way.

Sign says…”Road Dangerous, NO Shoulders”, so when a fisherman drives by me about 1 mile into this sick road and offers me a ride to the trail, I take it.

He drops me off by a closed restaurant.  I hunger for a late breakfast and as I look around Williamsport for a Café of some kind I see a newspaper.

On the front is a photo of a celebration at Antietam.  AGGGGGGGGGGG!

Yesterday, they had the Maryland Orchestra, a large picnic, tours, and FIRE WORKS at sundown…I knew it.  I knew it!   I KNEW IT!

Because I didn’t listen to my gut and do a backtrack to find the road, I missed out an a week late July 4th (22nd annual Antietam Festival)

I could kick myself in the head.  SO, I make my way to a Waffle House and to a hot breakfast.

The manager, Darrell, comes over to me and asks about where I am hiking and what I am doing.  I tell him the whole shebang and we chat about the AT, how he hikes sometimes, and other things while the Waffle House fills up.

When I finish, I find that Darrell has comped my Breakfast!  SWEET!  Not quite Antietam Fireworks, but pretty damn cool!   I hand him a copy of the WALKING WEST WITH FREEDOM DVD to take home and watch as a thank you of some sort.  He smiles is happy and I take my leave, but only across the parking lot to the Red Roof Inn. 

Air conditioning good…as it is approaching 100 again today…and going to get hotter.

So, I call it an early day…a real early day over all.

Today, as I walked out of the hotel in front of the Waffle House in Williamsport Maryland I see on their sign

“HAPPY TRAILS

LION KING!!!”

WALKINGWITHFREEDOM.COM

How cool is that!?!??!

People are awesome.

I’m out into the heat to make up for two short days.  Should be done with the C&O in a few days.  60 odd miles left…give or take.

Check out

Walkingwithfreedom.com as there should be some video clips up this next week. Of the beginning of the trip.

Later

MD