06-13-13 Somewhere where day turned to night

100% chance of thunderstorms. Tore down the tent in a hurry. The nearest shelter was two miles away. We dashed off in a hurry.

The sky turned black. I needed my headlamp; no time. The wind picked up. A branch fell to my left; to my right. I started running. The downpour started. The path turned to a river. Lightning. Thunder.

Please Lord, let me live through this.

Finally, safe in the shelter. We let the worst pass then headed back out.

A new milestone: we crossed the Maryland / Pennsylvania border which is also the Mason-Dixon Line. A little farther up, we hitchhiked into Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.

After a quick resupply and a pizza lunch with our friend, Etch-A-Sketch, we were back on the trail aiming for shelter for the night.

The forecast said another storm system was coming through which either never materialized or missed us. Regardless, it was a peaceful night with fireflies sparkling all around.

06-12-13 Together at the Washington Monument

Started the day off at thr Washington Monument State Park--a monument built for George Washington by the citizens of Boonsboro, Maryland. We also said our final good-bye to Big Brother, a section hiker we got to know throughout the Shenandoahs.

Ate lunch atop Annapolis Rock. The clouds were rolling in, but thankfully nothing ever materialized.

We stealth camped off the trail with our buddy Shaman. The forecast called for thunderstorms, but they wouldn't come until the next morning.

06-11-13 Somewhere on South Mountain

As much fun as it was to relax, explore the sites and have Mom and Dad spoil us, it was time to get back to the trail.

After my favorite breakfast--eggs over medium mashed together with cheese and hash browns--we were back at old town Harper's Ferry to pick up the trail where we had left it.

Dad couldn't find a parking spot, so just Mom accompanied us over the Potomac River trestle bridge into Maryland. We said our "good-byes" to Mom and turned to leave. But wait. What was that? My Dad, running down the tow path. What a treat! We all continued along the path north. The time inevitably came though, to say our final goodbyes--Thank you Mom and Dad for the wonderful visit!

The Appalachian Trail shared the route with the C & O Tow Path for a couple of miles. Before the railroad, mules used to walk the tow path and pull ferries up the adjacent canal.

We hiked the South Mountain ridge line through Crampton and Fox Gaps, both sites of Civil War battles. Also, we explored the Gathland State Park, which highlighted the role of the newspaper correspondents and artists of the Civil War.

We settled in for the night at Dahlgren Backpack Campground. We're definitely spoiled here--level tent pads, restrooms AND showers.