July 7-8 Mile 1014

Still in Harpers Ferry.
On July 7, in the morning,  Cisco and I walked up to the Appalachian Trail HQ  about a half mile from here to register . We were numbers 662 and 663. They estimate that 1350 people left Springer Mtn this year. So right now about 50% of those who started are still out here. Past years show an overall finish rate of between 25-30%. They  took our picture and put us in their book. Found out that to be a "thru hiker" you have 365 days from when you begin until you finish. Thought you had to do it all in one calendar year. So I have until March 22, 2011!
Don't think I want to be out here that long. Spent some time going through the book to see the folks we have met along the way. It was fun to see familiar faces, many are far ahead of us.
Looks  like we were wrong on Cisco's diagnosis. On Wednesday, July 7 after visiting the AT office, at about 2 PM I started feeling poorly when we went to lunch at the little pub to watch the World Cup game. Certainly wasn't heat exhaustion as I had been in the cool AC all day and the day before. Had a stomach bug-yuck- first illness of the trip. Not sure where we got it. Out here thru hikers don't shake hands, cause with limited hygiene, you don't know what you might catch. Every now and then, when you meet someone they revert to the civilized world and extend their hand. I'm no germaphobe, but really don't lke that.
On Thursday July 8 we both felt a little better, but might put off leaving until Saturday, with the extremely high heat still with us. It supposed to cool down a bit by then. So, we are hanging out at the hostel. Cisco went swimming in the river today with some other folks who are staying here. We saw the sights of Harpers Ferry- most known for John Browns raid of the US Armory in  1859 to start a slave rebellion. They have a John Brown wax museum, and a national historic site here. The Armory is long gone, burned during the Civil War, but they have preserved the site and the little Fire Engine building where John Brown was captured by Col. Robert E Lee.
Up until today, this placed seemed dead, but noticed a lot more tourists coming thru today. Maybe they wait for the weekend.
Hope to feel back to normal on Friday.


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