LOOK! New things all around you! Cool, huh? New intro paragraph (say goodbye to the “Fresh Prince” reference). New progress banner (survey is still available on the side for you slackers). And NEW PICS in the gallery.

Speaking of progress, GOOD JOB team 2200miles.com. We’ve got some kids sponsored! THANK you SOOO much. That’s so cool…really. We just have a little farther to go. Glad you’re going there with me!

Past the 1/2 way point now and things are looking up. I’ve been more encouraged lately than downcast, so I’m thankful for that. I’m out of Maryland for good and almost out of Pennsylvania. I’m hoping to average 17 miles a day with one “zero” per week.

One of the best days I’ve had in a long time was Monday June 29th. It turned out to be my second longest day at this point at 26.5 miles! Most of the day was flat as the trail passed through fields and farm lands. Rather than being surrounded by the “Green Tunnel,” it was so refreshing to have a change of scenery. Corn fields (knee-high by the 4th of July!). Soybean fields. It was like…palate-cleansing sorbet between courses. Or a piece of ginger between sushi. Mmmmm…sushi.

Othern’ that…I’ve seen another bear (morning of 7/8)…and LOTS of snakes. Lots. Big snakes, baby snakes, poisonous snakes, non-poisonous snakes. I’ve been hiking with fellow hiker “Mostly” for over a week now. Luckily he deals/sells reptiles in his normal life, so he’s recognized and described every snake we’ve seen so far! See photo gallery!

So, below is the long awaited intro video for the documentary I’m filming! It’ll also have a website soon, and I’ll let you know when that is up:

Cool, huh? Unfortunately, of the original 7 people who started, there are only 2 of us left! The producer, Jason, gave a camera to a 3rd person who we’ve met along the way but hasn’t been filming since the beginning.

Also cool, I was able to record an interview with CDR radio in Cedarville, OH where I graduated from school. Here are the excerpts from those clips! (They’re each about 3 min long.)

Here’s the trail report…and we’re done!
6/24 16.1 miles. Slacked 11 miles south with my sister back into Harper’s Ferry, saw 2 snakes, 2 deer.
6/25 20.6 miles (+1.6 blue…yuck!). Tenting for the first time in over a month because the shelter was bad
6/26 13.2 miles. Nice short day, rained last night, had 2 Sprites while passing through a park
6/27 19.6 miles. Saw a dead rattle snake! Lots of people and dogs at this shelter.
6/28 17.1 miles. Crossed 1/2 way! Watched people attempt the halfway 1/2 gallon ice cream challenge
6/29 26.5 miles. 2nd highest day, felt great! Great weather, beautiful farm land.
6/30 11.4 miles. Good short day. Still tired from yesterday. Hoping for new shoes in a few days. New shoes are already cut up.
7/1 11.3 miles. Rained the last 10 minutes of the hike so we ran! Happy to be in shelter when harder rained started.
7/2 17.5 miles. Tired, but good day. Saw fighter planes practicing bombing/shooting exercises.
7/3 17.4 miles. Saw 7 snakes today (6 copperheads, 1 Eastern Rattler)!!! Took a cold “solar” shower.
7/4 24 miles. Started the hike at 4 am! Hiked into Port Clinton, PA, for a free hiker feed! Yum! Leg hurt bad by the end of the day. Had to buy new shoes b/c others were falling apart.
7/5 0 miles. Decided to take a full day off and make my leg happy. Bought food, did laundry.
7/6 15.2 miles. Big rat snake at first shelter while resting/stretching. Rocky hiking as usual.
7/7 17.4 miles. Tiring but good day. Rocks stink (a mother-appropriate word). Tenting because shelter was so trashy and lots of bugs.
7/8 8 miles. Hiked into Palmerton, PA. Staying at a free hostel! Laundry and a few groceries to get me to Delaware Water Gap, PA. Happy to see familiar faces. Hope leg feels better tomorrow. New boots feel okay!