It was pretty cold this morning, making for a slow start. For breakfast I had a banana, a pop tart and cereal (grape nuts mixed with almonds, raisins, protein powder and powdered milk).   Packing everything up is my least favorite part of the day. Once I get moving, I warm up, and not being cold is my favorite part of the day.

Today was a planned short day for a resupply pickup from the post office. I headed up the canal on varied terrain, ice, snow, slush, dry trail. I came across a small trailer park literally on the trail. The addresses are on: tow path lane. The whole place smelled like goose poop. It may have been a seasonal town because it looked empty and I didn't see anyone. 

So much history on the trail. When I'm not passing old locks and lock-master homes, I'm passing Civil War historical sites. It's interesting to see the different sizes of the lock master homes, some are certainly larger than others. Also interesting is to see some that have been well maintained, some in decent condition while others are just a foundation.  Lock masters had to be on the clock 24/7 to control the locks on the C&O Canal. They received little pay but were given an acre of land and a house. Their children would travel the canal to go to school, the wives would barter vegetables from the garden and homemade pies for goods from boats traveling the canal.

Nine miles later I arrived in Williamsport. A town that George Washington considered for the Nation's Capital. The town also has Civil War history.

I got my first package! I purchased some crab chips from Sheetz, the first time in my life I've ever been in a Sheetz.

Currently sorting the food from my resupply package. My food plan was a little ambitious. I planned a 3,500 calorie/day diet. I can't eat that much, carrying that much food is difficult as well. So I've made a new plan and will mail some food back.

I didn't see anyone on the trail today. It was a half day though. A casual Friday, if you will. Tomorrow was supposed to be a zero day, I have one a week planned. However, since I just had a day off in Harpers Ferry, I'm going to press on. Also there's going to be some snow on Wednesday or Thursday, so I'll save my rest day for then.

A high of 57 tomorrow!!!!

Thank you and good night.

Because I'm uploading these from an app on my phone it will only let me upload a few pictures at a time based on their size.

These hotel breakfasts spoil me. This morning I had a blueberry waffle, it was delicious. Grabbed a chocolate muffin for the road.

It was a little chilly this morning leaving Shepherdstown. The snow that had melted yesterday turned to ice, making walking a little difficult.  As the day went on I trekked through ice, snow, slush, mud, and dry gravel. This trail is playing games with me. 

Midday the sun cleared out the clouds and was shining bright. I removed two layers to avoid sweating.  It was exciting when the monotonous tree lined trail opened up and became Potomac River on one side and cliffs on the other side. This is a three mile section where boats would exit the canal and ride down the Potomac before reentering the canal for the tow to Georgetown, DC.

There are signs in this section warning of falling rock. Literally two steps behind me a rock fell roughly the size of a guinea pig.

I saw three people all day today. An old man on a walk, a jogger and a speed walker. The old man reminded me of my grandfather, he used to walk through the forest looking for edible wild mushrooms.

When I got to the campsite, I went on an epic quest for firewood.  I pulled in a big haul. I'm not the best at getting a fire started but once I got it going, it was glorious. Warm.

I ate an entire box of couscous and drank two hot cocoas. I warmed stones from the river on the hot coals of the fire, pulling them out and resting my cold damp feet on them. I now have those stones stuffed in socks at the bottom of my sleeping bag.

I probably smell like a campfire. However, it's better than smelling like b/o. Side note, in order to cut down on the weight I did not pack deodorant. Sorry not sorry.

Brown and I are cuddled up listening to the sounds of the forest. Overall great day. Tomorrow I'll head into town to pick up my first resupply package.

Also while in town tomorrow, I'll upload pictures from today. There's not enough reception where I am tonight; I have one sometimes two bars of service.

Thanks and good night.


" Have you ever seen the far side
Of a mountain swallow the sky,
As you travel through the valley
As you're speeding still far behind"

Snagged some extra oranges from the hotel on my way out this morning. Headed for the Appalachian trail which would lead me back to the C&O Canal trail.

Some amazing views from here! Plus the adorable historic town of Harper's Ferry.  Growing up in south  Florida, I didn't see many old buildings. I remember going to St. Augustine (America's oldest town) on a field trip in 5th grade. Love me some history! On a side note about history, Florida also hosted the first Thanksgiving. At least that's what former astronaut, Senator Bill Nelson told me. He's upset the pilgrims get the credit for it.

Anyways, I didn't see a single person on the trail from Harper's Ferry to Shepherdstown.  So I put my head phones on and jammed the whole way, singing loud and out of key.

Today was 40 degrees, clear skys, and a powerful sun. I removed two layers of clothing just to stop sweating. It felt great to feel the sun on my skin instead of the blizzard.

As I walked the snow gradually got less deep until I was walking on it, not in it. As the day went on I was walking on slush. In some areas the snow melted completely and I could see the trail!!!!!!

Tonight, I'm in Shepherdstown, WV. In a hotel again. Probably could have done without, but momma bear was worried about it getting down to 18 degrees tonight.

The hotel is next to a Dairy Queen! Side story on DQ, my friend Marcus and I each ate three pumpkin pie blizzards in one sitting. They are that good! There is also a Food Lion next to the hotel.  I've never been to a Food Lion before. I bought Brown some wet dog food and a bone. Now he's passed out next to me.

Overall great day on the trail. My right foot is sore on top, possibly a sprain? Looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow.

Thank you readers.

Obviously I woke up and marched to the lobby for some free continental breakfast! The attendant told me not to eat the eggs and walked away, I was saddened by this because I love eggs. As I'm loading my plate with food she returns from the kitchen with fresh scrambled eggs!  She said she wanted to make sure I had fresh eggs. Clearly, heaven is missing an angel.

After breakfast, I did laundry which is just down the hall from the pool. Fortunately, I'm one of three guests staying here right now, so no one saw me swimming in my undies.

I finished up my pizza from last night and headed into town. I made a stop at the post office, then the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Awesome little place for hikers to relax and link up. Sadly, no hikers there while I was, but I signed the guest book and hope to swing by in the morning on my way to the trail. The woman working there (Lori? I think) showed me how to get back to the C&O Canal Trail by using the Appalachian Trail.  She told me that I had just missed ADT hiker Josh. Would have been cool to cross paths going opposite directions, ugh snow ruins everything. He is about to finish his cross country hike next week in Delaware. Congrats! www.outdoorjosh.com

Brown and I chased a deer into the forest behind the hotel and stumbled upon Donkey Kong's tree house. 

I had dinner at the restaurant hotel. Finished off with sweet potato pie!

We're all packed up now,  about to go to bed. A little hip/glute pain on my right side, going to stretch real good in the morning. Brownie has been asleep 97% of the time we've been here. So I imagine that he is well rested.

Thank you readers and good night.

"oh, there's a river that winds on forever,  I'm gonna see where it leads. oh, there's a mountain that no man has mounted, I'm gonna stand on the peak."

The rain never stopped last night. I had wet clothes hanging in the tent to dry.  As the temperature plummeted and the rain became ice then snow, the water evaporating and the condensation building made it rather frigid in the tent.  Everything felt either wet or cold. 

Brownie and I curled up on my thermarest prolite (20in wide), and tried to stay warm.  I woke up several times in the night looking for warmer, dryer spots, monitoring tent conditions and snow fall.

The final time I woke up it was light out. I put on my crocs and ran to the porta-potty. Those of you who don't know me, I poop like clockwork, every morning, first thing. The snow on the ground was deep, sinking into my crocs, soaking my socks. The snow from the sky was coming down sideways, heavy and fast. 

I ran back to the tent and began packing up everything inside.  Then came packing up the tent itself. The tent poles are collapsible. However,  they had frozen together at their seams. I warmed them by putting them in my mouth until they defrosted enough to colspse, ten seams per pole. I then attempted to roll up the tent to stuff it into its sack. The tent rain fly had collected ice over the evening and more in the 20 minutes it took me to collapse the poles. It took another 20 minutes just to get it into the sack.

Meanwhile, Brownie is shivering next to a tree, I'm screaming at the snow/tent in frustration. I ditch my yoga mat, two days of food, a water bottle and crocs to lighten my load.

Finally, we get moving through the blizzard and ankle deep snow. Keep moving, I tell myself. Brown stops several times to nest in bushes, that are just vines, having lost all their leaves to winter. I cried and demanded he continue, when he didn't I dropped my pack, threw my jacket around him and ran to the next mile marker. It was close. I ran back to Brownie, held him to warm him up. I took out my phone, 10% battery, called my mom told her where I was and I asked her to find us a hotel room close by, and told her that I was worried about Brown.  I took his shoes off, I think they were trapping moisture or snow inside? I'm not sure, but as soon as I got them off, he took the lead as we walked as fast as possible through the  snow.

We made it to White's Ferry! I'm so relieved, shelter, warmth! Nope, closed for the winter. The sign in the window reads: reopen March 1st.  Lies! At least there is a soda machine out front, I can have that root beer I was craving. The machine only accepts exact change, I only have a twenty. 

I look around the building and find a shed out back. We go in and rearrange the creepy children's toys and try to sit on the three legged chair.  An outlet!  I plug in, turn on and learn that my mom had called The National Park Service and had a Ranger contact me. I returned Officer Cunningham's call, we discussed my options.  He told me that if I cannot find a ride he can pick me up in two hours.

I heard a noise outside the shed and went to the front of the building to explore. I see the ferry making its way across the Potomac River towards me, I patiently wait and as it reaches shore I approach the ferry boat operator, I asked him if he knew of any way to get into town. He told me I should try asking people crossing the river on the ferry "they're good people" he told me. I go back to the shed, gather my belongings and Brownie and stand in front of the building.  Brown is shivering, crying and my socks/feet are soaked and frigid.

The only cars that go by are snow plows and salt trucks. Until finally my hero, Officer Cunningham arrives! He gave me a ride to Harper's Ferry. Heat full blast. Thank you for the rescue.

Tonight the temperature is 0 degrees. Cold and wet, I may have lost some toes without help.

I took a shower first thing, then I ordered too much food and finally had some root beer.

This hotel has a heated pool! Unfortunately, to lighten my load before leaving DC, I left my swimsuit behind.

Anyway,  today was rough but tonight I'm in a warm bed, and my stomach is full.

Thank you readers. Goodnight.

Today wasn't too bad. It didn't start raining until just before I got to the campsite. So we only got a little bit wet. The challenging part will be tonight. A wintry mix followed by heavy snow. Couldn't start a fire because everything is soaked.

Right before turning into camp today, a runner was heading south on the trail, me of course heading north.  Three white tail deer were startled running north away from me, south away from him. This happened a few times before they darted across the trail into the semi frozen canal and away into the forest. Some people may know how much I love deer. I think they are beautiful, majestic, sometimes graceful creatures. I have two deer stories. One sad, one peaceful. One day while going for a run with my dog in Rockcreek National Forest,  we came upon an accident just outside the National Zoo. A deer had run into the road and was struck by a car. The driver was ok. The deer, hind legs paralyzed was struggling to stand. This deers struggle was agonizing and heartbreaking. As I got closer, a police officer arrived, told me to keep moving, removed her gun from her holster and fired two shots. My other deer story; one time while camping in Shenandoah (sp?) National Park, I was laying in a field looking at the stars when a herd of deer entered the field and began grazing around me.  I was startled at first, but it was so peaceful and amazing.

I've got extra layers on and Brown is snuggled up.

All day long I was craving root beer.  I don't even drink soda, but I want one so bad.

Got some hot cocoa and pad thai in my belly.  Going to read for a little bit, then go to bed.

Thank you readers and friends. Think warm thoughts for me tonight.

Goodnight.