Arlington, VA (USA)

[Nicky needed me to get something notarized, so I left work early and headed over to Pentagon City on the Metro - visited USAA (busy - payday) - then headed home to finish the day (teleworking) - called Katie in the evening]

Beltsville, MD (USA)

[Mollie and I made breakfast (cinnamon rolls) at around 0800 - the kids all got ready and we went to Mass at Fort Belvoir at 0930 - afterwards, Brenna drove us home (first time in a while that she drove) - we ate lunch (leftovers) after that - Mollie and I watched movies while Brenna did summer homework - at 1330, Brenna drove us to Olympians to meet up with Erin and her friend (for a late lunch) - meanwhile, Mollie and I went to Barnes & Noble in Springfield so she could use her gift card - on the way back to get Brenna, we went walking at Wegmans - it turned out that Erin decided to drive Brenna home (we actually beat them there) - the rest of the afternoon was more movies & homework - I dropped kids off at Nicky's at 1700 - I then drove to Beltsville to visit Brother Jim - we had pizza & beer for dinner - afterwards, we went walking (I think we saw the Blue Angels, departing the DC area after a photoex) - I stayed and talked with him until around 2000 - then drove home]

Washington, DC (USA)

[worked a normal day at the office - left for Bar Louie at Gallery Place around 1600 (with Ian) - this was supposed to be a semi-annual company reunion and I had a lot of RSVPs - a lot of people never showed up (funny exchange with the waitress - "minimum parties of six allowed at this table") - in the end, it was me, Ian (and his friend), Randy, Stephanie and Joey (and not all at the same time) - it was great to see them all but I missed seeing the others - stayed until around 1700 and then headed home]

Tamaqua, PA (USA)

[got breakfast at McDonalds in Hometown at 0600 - filled up with gas at Exxon in Andreas (PA) at 0630] - Early start this morning (0645) - misty, cool, quiet at the PA-309 trailhead. I had planned a shorter day than yesterday and, armed with intel from hikers yesterday, knew my work was cut out for me. There were more rocks on this section than I've seen on the AT since climbing Katahdin last fall. There were also lots of spider webs, overgrown grassy paths and briars (ouch). I'm actually amazed that I didn't end taking any ticks home with me... Tough going on the rocks - big ones, slippery ones, loose ones. If I tried this section last winter, I'm sure I would have hurt myself a lot or gotten very lost. Fortunately, today was another nice, snowless and temperate day! I only saw a few hikers all day, although there were large numbers of bird watchers in the south side of the knob. Turned around at Ashfield Road. I had a pretty good day overall, logging around 16.5 miles (serenaded by small arms fire at a nearby gun club) and finishing around 1315. Drove home via PA-309, PA-143, I-78, I-81, I-83, PA-581, US-15, I-270, I-495 (didn't stop at all). It was a good weekend: only a little more than 30 miles left in PA! Ready to take on another work week... AT Today = 8.24 miles / G.T. AT = 495.11 miles]

Tamaqua, PA (USA)

Suddenly had an extra weekend to hike... Wasn't ready to leave my apartment last night, so I woke up very early and drove (via I-495, I-95, I-695, I-83, I-81 and I-78), north - got gas in Frystown (PA) at 0925 and then made my way back (via PA-143) to one of the AT trail heads on Blue Mountain. I was headed SOBO from PA-309 by 10:15 - temperatures were perfect (mid 70s)! Caught up to three section hikers on the outbound leg - the first one seemed annoyed when I tried to make small talk (it made more sense when he stopped and waved his arm dramatically, saying "si vous plais" - at least I know enough French to answer that...), the next two guys were very chatty but were walking too slowly. Only saw one NOBO (all the bubbles have passed, I guess). So I kept walking all the way to the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary trails. I quickly turned back, though, feeling very good and wanting to make sure I wouldn't run out of water before the end (saved those trails for another day). It was much quieter today (no annoying road noises) but I didn't see any wildlife, unfortunately. Encountered the three section hikers on the way back and talked to "Zenith" while resting at an amazing vista. Made it as far as the Allentown Shelter quickly and was planning to keep going until I heard voices. When I ventured over to see who was there, I ended up spending 45 minutes talking to "The Lover" and a local couple who were taking an overnight hike on the weekend before their marriage. Great to spend time with kindred spirits. Had a great conversation and actually didn't want to leave. But it was actually getting dark in the woods when I started back towards my car. Only saw a couple more people before I finished my 20 mile day. Finished my last swig of the three liter reservoir just as I crossed route 309. Drove into Tamaqua, ate dinner [at Skipper Dippers at 2010] and found a place to stay (Pines Motel at 1955) north of town. Planning to tackle some more trails tomorrow! AT Today = 9.81 miles / Grand Total = 486.87 miles

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[teleworked from home in the morning and then drove to our company headquarters for a meeting at 1100 - was all dressed up and got a free lunch, but no one really needed my assistance after all... - stayed a bit longer afterwards (talking with Kim and her boss) and then headed home]

Kempton, PA (USA)

[woke up a bit later - headed east on I-78 again and drove back to the top of the same ridge on Blue Mountain that I visited yesterday (approaching from a different direction). My decision to backtrack to a cheap hotel last night was financially wise but made the whole day harder, on a couple of fronts: First thing was a later start (0800); second thing was using up gas with an already unreliable gas gauge (more about that later). After finding Hawk Mountain Road (and taking a short walk in the Sanctuary), I found the trailhead about halfway down the mountain on the south side. Headed SOBO towards the Pinnacle and Pulpit Rock, hoping to avoid rocks and make good time in the already oppressive heat. I was not disappointed! Most of the trail was a packed gravel road - the section of rocks was on the high ridge and only about half of my 15+ miles today. Did better on pace (~3 miles an hour) and water (didn't run out). Didn't take a lot of pictures because I was in the zone! Encountered a couple I met yesterday, completing their two day hike from Port Clinton (I love to see the faces of hikers when I see them again!). I finished the climb with only mild physical discomfort and by (barely) avoiding a 30 person group that could have really ruined the day. Made even better time on the way down again. During the last two miles, I walked with "Little Tater", who is nearly finished with the first 1200 miles of the AT (before getting back to her Masters Degree - she will pick it up again next year). At my car, managed to get it rolling with help from strangers and made it all the way to the bottom of the hill with little difficulty (it even eventually started again - gotta love stick!). It was a good weekend: beat the heat, kept expenses low and got another big section of PA AT completed. Can't wait to go back! - emergency gas in Kempton (PA) at 1400 - drove south on PA-143 to I-78 and made great time all the way back to Maryland (I-81, I-83, PA-581, US-15) - dinner at Burger King in Thurmont (1550) and then gas fillup at Sheetz (1610) - I-270, I-495 and home by 1930 - AT Today = 7.53 miles / G.T. AT = 477.06 miles.]

Port Clinton, PA (USA)

[with temps expected in the low 90s, I got up really early (0500) and, subsequently, got a really early start (0600) from the AT trailhead this morning (possible because I stayed the night a few miles away). Headed NOBO from Port Clinton, crossing PA-61 and climbing up another mountain as the sun was rising. Saw lots of wildlife (deer, rabbits, heron, etc.) but only encountered tents and hammocks with sleeping hikers for nearly my entire outbound leg. The weather was pleasant and I made good time to the overlook I targeted. View was awesome! Got the unexpected additional bonus of visiting the Pulpit Rock Astronomical Observatory (pointed out by two kids to said they spent the night stargazing there). After resting a bit, I headed back to the west. Saw many more people (mostly day hikers) and encountered various degrees of unleashed dogs all the way back. Heard the noise of the highway below almost all day. The much higher temperature by this point made the going much slower and I blew through my three liters of water before I finished the 15+ mile hike (around 1:00). Luckily, I was close to my car - but I had my new pump/filter, just in case... Very sweaty, tired and sore - but ready for more hiking tomorrow! - after reaching my car again, drove up PA-61 to Pottsville to find the Yuengling Brewery - missed the last tour, but found out that I could enter the sampling room with permission from gift shop employees (well worth the effort) - later, drove back to Hamburg and had an early dinner at Wendy's (1525) - after that, went across PA-61 to walk around in Cabella's (it was nice to be back) - decided to drive back to Myerstown to stay in the Travel Inn again - beat and tired - bed a bit later, though... AT Today = 7.51 miles / Grand Total AT = 469.53 miles]

Point of Rocks, MD (USA)

[teleworked worked at home all morning - at 1300, left Alexandria after filling up the gas tank - drove to Dulles Town Center on I-495, I-66 and VA-28 (grr... traffic) - exchanged a water filter for a better one at Eastern Mountain Sports (1400) - then drove north via VA-7 to US-15 (more traffic!!!) - crossed Potomac at Point of Rocks (ugghhh - even more traffic!) - stopped in Frederick (at Fort Detrick) for some adult beverages (1530) - called Kara after I got headed north again - she said she might be able to meet up with me around 1730 - stopped in Boiling Springs to walk and wait for her to get home - visited with her and Caleb at their house in Mechanicsburg - had dinner (pizza) and helped take care of their grandkids - at around 2000, I took my leave and drove back to US-15 - used it to get to I-81 and then took I-78 - stopped in Myerstown for the night (Travel Inn - I've used it in the past and it is always a good price for a hotel!) - went to bed around 2230]

Mason Neck, VA (USA)

[got the kids up around 0830 - made a light breakfast for them - we then went to 0930 Mass at Fort Belvoir - afterwards, got fuel for the car - headed back to house - the kids worked on more college appslications while Mollie and I watched movies again - we ate lunch (that I cooked) - more movies in the afternoon movies and girls prepped for their trip to Mississippi - I drove them to their mother's house at 1700 - then I drove to Mason Neck and went walking on the trail (ended up at the State Park) - called Bonnie on the way back to my house - took care of bills and such before heading to bed]

Great Meadow, VA (USA)

[woke up early and made breakfast for the kids but they got up much later - watched movies with Mollie while twins worked on college applications again - we ate leftovers for lunch - spent some of the afternoon baking with Mollie (croissants and cookies) - we then watched more movies - around 1630, we started packing up for trip to Great Meadows to watch Twilight Polo - we left my apartment at 1715 - on the way, we had a nice conversation - after we arrived (1815) we met up with my friends (Kelly and Sabrina) - we ate a picnic lunch dinner (food we brought from home) and stayed to watch several matches - Laura showed up with Sloane later - Erin had an "admirer" (who even had the guts to come up to her and ask her to dance near the end of the night) - the kids had a nice time (our first visit since SEP 2014), so we stayed until 2315 - I drove home and everyone went to bed right after we arrived]

Washington, DC (USA)

[worked a normal day at the office - afterwards, I walked with Jackie over to Nationals Stadium for the baseball game (1600 start) - we were supposed to meet up with two different groups from our company - while waiting for Jim L. to show up, we got a drink at the Red Porch - ended up eating dinner at the field-side tables (finished 1730) - by this point, our own office group had nearly all left the game, so we sat with Denny's team on the third base side (pretty good view) - I waited until around the 8th inning before departing - I walked back to L'Enfant and headed home - wanted to return a book I just finished to Bob, so I knocked on his door - ended up staying for awhile, talking to him and watching him play his tank video game - bed late]

State College, PA (USA)

[up at 0430 - stopped for gas in Alexandria (0500) and then arrived at Nicky's shortly afterwards (Erin actually called to see where I was - she was excited!) - drove via I-495, I-95, I-695, I-83 and US-322 - stopped for breakfast at McDonalds in Hunt Valley, Maryland (0615) - arrived at the PSU campus around 0900 - after we parked, a shuttle bus took us to the orientation area - we got the royal treatment at day! - Erin and I visited several sessions (scheduled as "Spend a Summer Day") - after we'd been to several meetings, we ate lunch at the HUB (1300) - walked around some more - round 1400, Erin said she had seen enough - we walked back to our car - ants in our breakfast leftovers! - we backtracked via US-322, I-81, I-83, PA-581, US-15 to get back to Maryland - on the way home, stopped for ice cream and drinks at McDonalds in Lewistown, Pennsylvania (1630) - Erin slept most of the way but I listened to music and stayed awake - filled up with gas in Frederick (MD) at 1915 and used I-270 and I-495 to reach Alexandria - dropped Erin off at her mother's house at around 2015 - what a fun day!]