Psychological half-way

I made it to Harper's Ferry, WV last night about 9 pm after a very exciting and scary day. This town is considered the psychological half-way point because just prior to it you cross the 1000 mile mark and its home to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) which does it all regarding the AT. I'm taking a zero day here in town to heal up the blisters, take in this town, and avoid the next thunder cell coming thru. There will also be a little recuperation from yesterdays excitement which went a little something like this.

Noah-John and I were moving along late in the afternoon yesterday. Its was about 85 degrees out with humidity you could cut with a knife. The kind you get just before it rains, but mother nature was only doing occasional showers to make the rocks wet and that much more entertaining. We had just finished the "roller coaster" a 14 mile stretch of constant 500ft ascents and descents over horrible rocky/rooty terrain, and now we had about 13-15 miles of ridge line before Harpers Ferry. Then the storm cell materializes around us. The wind goes from calm to what I guess to be 40 mph. A light fog rolls in just before the COLD downpour that soaks me (it was refreshing after you get over the cold) and in a matter of seconds the trail is more or less a stream. Then comes the light show and orchestra to accompany it, my favorite thunder and lightening. Nothing makes you feel more insignificant than hiking in a natural event like that. Seeing as I'm on yet another ridge line I pick up the pace to see if I can get down and find shelter soon because the strikes are 1-12 seconds between flash and sound not a good place to be. As I'm jogging along, constantly timing the lightening and thunder (silently hoping they get further away), and we had a strike in front of us. I saw the flash, felt the ground shake, and thrown on my butt. There was about 3 seconds of dazed before I realized what was going on and turned around to see Noah-John shaking off the daze too. I'm guessing that's what people who get hit by those "flash-bang grenades" used by police feel like. Anyway it was WAY too close. Down over the ridge edge we went and sat under a rock overhang next to a friendly bee hive about 20 min (the bees were friendly and stayed inside.) Most exciting and scary part of yesterday. We later heard thunder and jogged 6 miles to Harper's ferry to outrun that cell, only slowing to go around the wind debris (6-8" trees and their limbs.)

After it was all done I watched the 11pm news last night and the cell that came thru had 64mph gusts and shut down large sections of the highway due to rain and wind. Damage due to blow downs was pretty impressive, but not nearly as much as being in the middle of it. OYE!

The fun never stops! So halfway done! I'm taking a day to rest up and then head into MD & PA tomorrow and the next days. I have a few packages to collect here and need to get another pair of shoes as the rocks yesterday destroyed my soles. Perhaps I'll try to even up the farmers tan today as its supposed to be in the mid 90's for the rest of the week.

Time for me to be out and about. Take care and I'll keep you all informed about my interesting adventures.