Yesterday Melissa and I were hiking toward Harpers Ferry, WV, planning to camp at a site about 4 miles out of town so we could get into town early and get out “town business” done with plenty of time (eating, Post Office, food resupply, etc.). We had told Gunner and Chief (two hikers with whom we had spent the night at the last shelter) that we’d meet them where they were camping (they had the same idea as us – camp close and get into town early).
After hiking about 17 of the 19.3 miles we had planned, we reached a road junction where there was a pizza place and convenience store only about 1/3 of a mile out of the way. We planned to eat dinner there, then hike the final two miles to the campsite.
After Melissa ordered her medium pizza and salad, and I ordered my shrimp, fries, cole slaw and large chef salad (with bleu cheese dressing – I need the calories!), the folks in the next booth asked us about the hike, mentioning that they had seen us stash our packs outside.
Pete - scout, trail angel, and not at all a wierd guy!
They introduced themselves as Pete and Terri, and we chatted a while, letting them know we’d be camping a couple more miles up the trail. After a while, Pete came to the end of our table, and said something like, “This might sound a bit wierd, but the people here can vouch for me; we’re not wierd people. Would you like to spend the night at our home? We have two extra bedrooms, and you could shower and do laundry.” (Pete was a Boy Scout – we’ll take his word for it that that is how they knew what we needed – we hope it wasn’t how we smelled like the trail!)
Terri - trail angel, hostess with the mostest, and like Pete - not at all wierd!
With no moment of debate between us, Melissa and I accepted their offer. Pete most kindly bought some drinks for us to take with us, and off we went, the few miles to their house.
We had a most comfortable stay, got clean, slept in REAL BEDS, and enjoyed some real coffee before Terri dropped us back at the trail this morning. Terri and Pete – you guys are the best! With unexpected new friends like you along the way, getting to Maine will be a breeze!
Very Cool! You wouldnt realize it listening to the gloom and doom in the news, but there really are a lot of really good hearted people out there. Thanks for sharing, and keep up the posts, I think we are all really enjoying them. We are all getting to be armchair ATers, hiking vicariously through your posts!
Thinking about you all the time,
Tim
Yes there certainly are some great folks out here. I think it’s nice that you experienced some of that magic in the all too brief time you were out here! Thanks for keeping up and armchair ATing along!
I don’t know Mike, picking up two smelly strangers is pretty frickin weird!
I’m one of Pete’s best friends from Michigan and I found this post. I have to say, I’m not a bit surprised. Pete is the kind of guy that “will give you the shirt off his back” and this is just one more story of Pete doing something really nice for somebody else. How great of you to capture it and incorporate it into your journal. Thanks for sharing the good news of good people helping others.
Thanks for finding us Paul! We are certainly grateful that people like Pete and Terri are out there. And we’ll be sure to pass the good fortune along.
How wonderful to know that people like Terri and Pete really do exist in this world!
You are very lucky (or blessed) that they found you and what a great little chapter in your continuing saga!
Yes I agree with the rest of your ‘Mel & Mike,Appy Trail observers.
It is the best when you can have a chance first time meeting, with folks you can trust,as well as come away with a kindred spirit, which will last a life time.
I am happy to see you both are still chugging along,on your adventure,and all is well.
Keep on keeping the faith that you will continue to have a healthy, and safe journey to the end of the line.
Mike and Mel,
It was a great visit.. Thank you for the kind words. Terri and I will do this again in a heartbeat. Hearing your stories of the trail gives us inspiration to someday do the trail ourselves. You both should be very proud of your venture and the memories you both have brought to everyone you have met along the way. It was the memory or a hot shower, soft bed, and not your “smell” (we kept the windows up the entire trip home). Thank you both for the memories. We hope you find other “Angles” along the way. Good luck on your quest.
Thanks Pete! Glad it was memorable for you two as well. I know that at some point along this journey, it will be my turn to pass forward a good deed to a fellow hiker in need and I’ll be thinking of you and Terri while I’m doing it!
Mike and Melis,
I am so touched by your stories of the generousity of strangers. The media would have us believe there is a terrorist behind every tree; when in fact, the world is full of kind and generous people.
Your lovely wife and I have a bike ride planned…I am going to try and keep up with her.
Keep on truckin you guys!!
Patti
Thanks Patti! We’re continuously amazed by it ourselves. Each time something new and good happens, we’re more grateful and humbled than the last. I’m certainly going to give back when I get the chance.
Mel & Mike, remember, don’t hesitate to contact me if the ankle talks to you too much as you hit our ups & downs w/ more rocks (of course, we PA maintainers keep them sharpened :*) I have a few more folks to contact in our area who may be able to help support (ha ha) you in this time, if needed, and I’m only 2 miles from PA 16. Also — once you cross 233 in South Mountain and do the final ridge trek, after some “fun” boulders, you may see to your right, a rock formation that resembles a human profile. There’s a old Native American legend that goes along with that, about a young brave who neglected his watchman’s duties for a young maiden, with his village suffering an attack that night… and he was forever doomed to sit and watch the area he was supposed to keep safe.
Thanks so much for your support! (Ha-ha back at ya!) Mel (aka CLiCK!) is doing much better this morning, and we’ll be hitting the trail again in a short time. We’ll be taking it easy for a few days, at least.
It’s so good to know that there is so much good friendliness in this world – we don’t always notice it in our normal daily lives!
Thanks again. We’ll look for that human profile (but we won’t take our eyes off our feet for long).