To celebrate me reaching the half-way-but-not-half-way point, my friends Skyline and Rodman came to visit me just shy of Harper's Ferry, WV. They met me at the Bear's Den Hostel to pick me up and take me out to dinner at the fabulous buffet at the race track and casino over in Charles Town, WV. I was looking forward to seeing them because I can "talk trail" with them and they not have glazed looks on their faces. Someone that understands just how hard thru-hiking can be! Yay!
They arrived just in time too, because "The Roller Coaster" was firmly kicking my ass-- so much so that my beloved trail nurse (Sparkplug) confirmed to me that I've pulled a groin muscle. Fun times to be had on The Roller Coaster for sure... Oh, so you may be asking yourself "what is The Roller Coaster?". Well, it's 13.5 miles of trail that ascend and descend over 10 peaks. None of the peaks go over 1,500 feet in elevation, but the climbs are very steep, super rocky, and have tons of roots to trip up your feet. Skyline tells me that the ATC was forced into making The Roller Coaster because the trail used to be on the road in an affluent area and people in their mcmansions got tired of hikers ringing their doorbells asking for water. **face palm** Glad to know that the state of Virginia is making me work to get to that West Virginia border.
Ok, back to this "Epic Buffet" (that's the real name). This buffet was out of control! I consumed BBQ ribs, chicken, and salmon, green beans, mac n cheese, hush puppies, salad, roasted mashed potatoes, prime rib, cookies, and creme brule. All three of us left satisfied and full!
On a sidenote, we hit a deer on the way back and miraculously there was no damage done to the van. However, even after all that I ate, my brain still acknowledged my hiker hunger because I thought about how I haven't had venison in awhile... Mmmm... venison..
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