Miles today: 6.9
Total miles: 1167.5
Guess what: rain again today! Boo. Luckily it was an easy 7 miles to town but they dragged on in the gross weather. We crossed the border from Maryland into West Virginia. Hello state number 10! There is an ATC office in Harpers Ferry and they take thru hikers photos here, keeping track of the numbers of hikers each season. Thus it is a rite of passage and a kind of halfway point (although we’ve already passed halfway in miles a few days ago). We walked through the quaint historical town of harpers ferry (again, the history nerd in me would’ve loved to explore more but didn’t due to the weather). We finally got to the ATC office and I was surprised to find myself a little chocked up. I think seeing firsthand the office and ATC sign I’d only seen in pictures before really hit home that I’ve made it halfway. I am so proud of myself and so grateful to have come so far. I don’t think I even believed I could walk all the way to West Virginia from Maine. But I’ve done it! I warmed up inside and browsed all the hiker photos and waited for the rest of the crew to get here. We got our photos taken–I am Southbounder 130 for the season. After that we went and got food at a local Italian place and then i picked up my new shoes at the post office. I got my old shoes back in Monson Maine at mile 115, so these have lasted me over 1000 Miles. But they are on their last legs–the traction is totally gone and the soles are peeling (thanks Pennsylvania rocks). I loved the shoes and when ordering a new pair wanted the same ones. I called Keen and submitted a warranty form and was shocked to find out they accepted it–keen gave me new shoes for free! I was very excited to pick them up at the post office all pretty and clean and not smelly. After that we checked into the Teahorse Hostel for the night. Had the weather not been so terrible I probably would have went on but to keep my sanity and stay warm I let myself enjoy a night inside and warm.