6/26/12 – 1028 miles
I left Harpers Ferry about 10:00 am, crossed the Potomac River, and walked the C&O Canal Towpath into Maryland. Blue Sky was on the motel computer as I left and told me he would be along soon. I had a short day planned so I walked along slowly enjoying the morning. Shortly, I came upon a cyclists stopped by the path eating some berries off a tree. I asked him about them and learned they were mulberrys. I tried a few and studied the tree so that I could recognize them again. They were quite tasty.
The trail for the next 100 miles will be familiar to me. It is the section where Karen and I have done all our AT hikes the last few years. Even though I’ve walked through here before, it still looks different. There is always something new to see. The advantage I have over other hikers is knowing where the good water sources are and having the correct change for a coveted, hidden soda machine.
There are a few hikers doing the “four state challenge” where you start at the border in VA, hike through WV, MD, and cross just into PA, a distance of 46 miles, and you have to complete it in one day. I think they were going to start at midnight. You can probably imagine that they are all young guys.
There used to be mulberry trees behind Iola Frans elementary school on Prince road. I guess you were too old when we moved in and never went there, but I remember sitting up in the trees with Donna eating mulberries. They were not quite as good as blackberries, but not bad.
I don’t remember that at all, Daryl. In fact, I would have said mulberries were like chinaberries: inedible. You learn something new every day.
I vaguely remember eating them before but I remember the taste.
Don’t remember the taste is what that should have said.