Yankee Country

Sign near the Maryland-Pennsylvania Border. The mileage is off by about 180 miles, but who's counting?

Today, we officially left the South. We crossed the Mason-Dixon line into Pennsylvania after about six miles of hiking. There was a sign on the bathroom door at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harper's Ferry that immediately came to mind, and it read: "In about 40 miles, the Appuhlatchun Trail turns into the Appehlayshun Trail. If you still love it just as much anyway, thank a Trail Maintainer." If you don't get the joke, you are clearly a Yankee who has never spoken to a Southerner from Appalachia and you should get out more. The North didn't really look that much different from the South. Except there were more rocks.

Negotiating Rockpiles

There was a park, aptly named Pen-Mar Park, at the Pennsylvania-Maryland border, and I took full advantage of the vending machines and playground equipment to enjoy two things you don't see much of on the AT - Cokes and swingsets.

Playing in the Park.

After taking a break in the park, we only had a couple more miles to go to reach our rendezvous for the day. Trail Angel Mamma and Trail Dog hiked South from the rendezvous for about a mile and a half, so the met us, and we all continued on to the pickup road together.

Hiking Family

At this point, a question may have arisen about our matching shirts. Today, back home, there was a walk organized to raise awareness and money for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. This disease is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, "That Thing Steven Hawking Has," or simply ALS. One of Trail Angel Mamma's friends, named Brad, was recently diagnosed with this incurable disease. We couldn't be there for the event at home, so these 25 miles (9 each for me and Daddy, 3.5 each for Trail Angel and Trail Dog) are in honor of Brad. May there be a cure soon.

Team Brad.

Quote of the Day: "I've got a pint of Captain Morgan's and some really nice single malt in my back pocket. I'm good for at least a couple of days." -"Rough Rider," a hiker we met today. It is perhaps worth noting that alcohol is prohibited on the AT in Maryland. Rough Rider didn't seem like the type to be particularly bothered by such details.