AT Days 87-91: Toto, we’re not in Maine anymore! – The Trek

With the primary half of my AT flip-flop hike full, I’d now head southbound (SOBO) from Harpers Ferry.  The contrasts to Maine can be instant and jarring.  Journey and relaxation at dwelling would take up 4 days out of the 5.  Listed here are the small print:

Day 87 – Millinocket, ME to Dwelling by bus (0 miles)

Day 88 and 89 – Zero days at dwelling (0 miles)

Day 90 – Dwelling to Harpers Ferry, WV by prepare (0 miles)

Day 91 Harper’s Ferry, WV to Blackburn Path Middle, VA (13 miles)

Speaking large canine, not little canine!

Chances are you’ll assume that the title of my weblog publish is intelligent wordplay on a line from The Wizard of Oz.  However no – it’s really my approach of alerting these large canine of 80s rock, Toto the band, that I’m not in Maine.  And if they need to add some US dates to their present tour (I child you not – they’re presently touring Europe) they need to contemplate venues in Harpers Ferry and southward. I’d positively go to see them!

I’ve typically puzzled why Toto has by no means ascended to ultra-legend standing within the rock world.  Was it the psychological image of that little film canine every time we heard their identify?  Was it the dearth of an umlaut over one or each “o”s?  Let’s face it – everybody wished to scrawl “Blue Öyster Cult” within the 70s and 80s due to the umlaut!

I imply – Toto had large large hits:

• Maintain The Line – What a imply guitar riff on that tune – proper from the beginning!  Absolute traditional!
• Rosanna – Catchy tune reportedly written about actress and 80s hottie Rosanna Arquette
• Africa – Unbelievable vocals on this traditional monitor.  Weezer reduce a canopy of this not too long ago and couldn’t come near the musical high quality of the unique

Apparently not one of the members of Toto had ever been to Africa earlier than releasing that monitor.  That’s like me writing a tune or making a weblog publish about Portugal.  Which is an effective way to segue into the truth that I believe that Portugal The Man’s “Really feel It Nonetheless” is without doubt one of the most well-produced rock songs I’ve ever heard.  Do your self a favor by grabbing some headphones to take heed to selection and timing of the percussion beats and fills on that monitor.  Sensible!

Ah, however I digress ….

Driving the bus from Maine

Nearly our complete Katahdin summit group stayed on the AT Lodge in Millinocket.  Most of us morning-shuttled to a bus in Medway sure for Bangor, ME.  And after many days collectively we parted in fast minutes with buses and planes to catch.  My view would appear to be this for the subsequent 4 hours:

My solely hiker companion on my bus journey south was Straps, and maybe that was acceptable – since I’d identified him longer than all the others.  We met establishing our hammocks on a ridge outdoors Palmerton, PA and crossed paths many occasions by way of Katahdin.  In Maine we hiked lots of hours collectively.  He confirmed large maturity and knowledge for a 19 yr previous hiker, and I want him all the perfect this fall at Auburn College.

Again at dwelling, again to the size

Longtime weblog readers could recall that I misplaced weight at an alarming preliminary charge on the AT (17 kilos in 39 days).  Since that time I’ve bulked up meals and snacks and I eat gobs of Fritos – however I knew I used to be nonetheless dropping kilos by way of Maine.

The official Morrison lavatory scale advised me I had dropped 24 kilos.  A slower loss charge, however nonetheless a loss.  I had to make use of my dwelling days to achieve some bulk again.  My spouse’s dwelling cooking was a terrific begin, however I wanted extra.

Beer is a superb supply of energy!

After all I didn’t hesitate to show to beer to get my energy.  My good buddies Mike D. and Rob P. generously shared plenty of scrumptious ones with me.  Right here’s a listing of all of the completely different beers I loved between Katahdin and Harpers Ferry:

• Sebago Frye’s Leap IPA (ME)
• Fiddlehead IPA (VT)
• Lord Hobo Angelica (MA)
• Stoneface IPA (NH)
• Tree Home Electrical Skies DIPA (MA)
• Better Good DADDY Oh (MA)
• Sloop Brewing Juice Bomb (NY)
• Trillium DDH Franklin Park IPA (MA)
• Vanished Valley Go the Additional Mile IPA (MA)
• The Veil @Natureboi^3 DIPA(VA)
• Satan’s Spine Vienna Lager (VA)

Surprisingly the very best ranked of those beers was The Veil’s juicy DIPA from VA which I discovered at a Massachusetts craft beer joint!  I’ll be seeking to discover this once more down south as effectively. 

If you wish to see all of my feedback and scores on these beers, buddy me on Untappd (eddy_topper is my username).

A unique feeling en path to Harpers Ferry

My prepare schedule on Day 90 to achieve Harpers Ferry was just about equivalent to my April journey – however the similarities ended there. Final journey I had one other thru-hiker sitting in again of me and I met two extra by the exit doorways.  This time there have been no others, and no person requested about my pack.

As a result of I couldn’t get an area on the hiker-friendly City’s Inn, I needed to schlep a mile within the warmth to the distant High quality Inn.  I then found that there was not an open restaurant inside 1.5 miles – resulting in a Seven-Eleven meal that evening. Oh effectively – it nonetheless topped path delicacies.  

Day 91 – Southbound begin day, and it’s not Maine 

Virtually instantly it was clear that the South was going to be vastly completely different from my latest time in Maine:

To start with, the forecast predicted 5 straight days above 90 levels!  I’d had solely two mountain climbing days throughout my 86 day northern leg at that temperature degree.

Secondly, the desk supervisor on the High quality Inn referred to as me “honey”.  I used to be positively within the South!  I’m fairly certain Maine wives don’t even name their husbands “honey”.

Third, I noticed a turkey vulture circling overhead as I departed the resort that morning.  Final time I noticed one: in Maryland in April.

Lastly, whereas ready for the ATC Customer Middle to open, a younger school age male gave me a “Know God” pamphlet.  I thanked him, explaining that I used to be an energetic Christian.  However I knew I used to be positively within the South!

On the path

As soon as I received my boots transferring I found the soil was extremely dry – and it sparked a reminiscence.  When the prepare pulled within the prior evening the conductor famous that she’d by no means seen the Potomac River so low.  Was water going to be a problem? It hadn’t been so in my northern leg. 

As a substitute of black flies and mosquitoes I heard buzzing cicadas within the timber as I grew to become drenched in sweat scaling the steep incline to the ridge.  It was SO HOT!  (Toto would most likely say it was “Africa sizzling” – however I’m not trusting their opinion!). 

And what have been these in entrance of my toes -Pennsylvania rocks?? God no, not the dreaded pointy stones once more!

The ridge in the end alternated between clean and rocky – what terrain would win out going ahead SOBO?  I had an analogous query concerning the warmth, as there have been just a few cool inexperienced spots greater up.

Subsequent I discovered myself staring instantly into the face of a black snake within the path.  Oh yeah, these once more…. fantastic. 

Blackburn makes issues proper

Thankfully my lodgings for the evening turned out to be merely superior.  Blackburn Path Middle, run by the Potomac ATC, is a gorgeous previous cottage in a beautiful inexperienced setting simply off the AT.  My two favourite facilities:

• An out of doors photo voltaic bathe with cold and warm water controls!  Sure, I may wash the 90+ diploma day proper off me!
• A large wrap round porch with picnic tables, lounge chairs and charging shops.  I’d find yourself sleeping there, having fun with a cool evening breeze.

Add in two very pleasant caretakers handing out soda and goodies and all was nice!

And so I used to be on my approach in direction of Springer Mountain, Georgia!  Issues regarded like they’d be a distinct on this SOBO leg – however that’s all a part of the journey.

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