Section 6 Complete!

Ward returned to the trail last Friday (4/15) after spending a few days in DC with Beth and Poppy.  They drove him back to Harpers Ferry so he could hike a few (15) miles on Friday afternoon.  The train departed DC late, and its only a 50-mile drive from DC, so driving made sense.  Ward bought his 4th pair of hiking shoes in Harpers.  It sounds as if the 2nd and 3rd pair were simply the wrong shoe for him.  Not bad shoes - just a bad style.  Anyway, he changed again. 

They had a great time in DC, and of course, they ate VERY well.  Ward relayed a couple of stories - one about staying in a hostel that caught fire (chimney fire), and another about an Italian couple who treated he and Matt so well at their restaurant in Buchanan, VA (pronounced Buck-cannon by locals even though the town is named after President James Buchanan).  The Italian couple live above their restaurant and invited the two hikers to their apartment for dessert and drinks after dinner.  Beth can elaborate more on their trip and will likely add her comments to this post.

He and Matt have been apart for at least a week, with plans to re-connect (maybe) within a week.  A lot depends on Matt's visits with family and friends in his hometown Philadelphia, and a possible call-up for a week of reserve duty.  Ward moved through Maryland by himself and finished Section 6 on Saturday.  As of Saturday, he has hiked 1,045.9 miles in 74 days, including zeros.  His daily average mileage is 14.1 including zeros, and 16.9 excluding zeros.

He is now in Pennsylvania, a section that is very rocky, but not necessarily steep in terms of mountains.  I have yet to read or hear a positive comment about hiking in PA.  I hope Ward's experience is different.  When we connect we like to talk about how close he is getting to New York - positive thoughts.  He should be near the city in late-April or early May, and hopes to work in a fun trip that may include a couple of zeros.  Perhaps the bearded hiker and singing naked cowboy will meet on the streets of New York.  That would make for an interesting photo.