Staging… (2023)

I guess most epic adventures begin with a setting up of the pieces. Not that I consider anything I do to be epic, but returning to the trail after 6 years will have to be enough.

So, setting up the pieces…

The action of staging is a day of trains and of train stations. Much like last time, I was up before dawn for the drive to South Station in Boston to catch the 6am Acela Express. Debbie took me this time around, and it was a quiet ride; both of us were coping with short sleep, and I with the normal travel nerves. I often have serious separation issues just before going away, and this time is no different.

But we were perfectly on time, and goodbyes were sadly shortened due to the drop-off logistics, then Debbie was driving away in the pre-dawn darkness.

I was able to grab a coffee and breakfast sandwich from the Au Bon Pain, and we boarded soon after.

I sometimes imagine the staging process to be a little like the first part of The Lord of the Rings, where the hobbits are traveling to Rivendell. Well, except without Farmer Maggot, the Old Forest, Tom Bombadil, the Barrow Downs, Bree, Strider, or the Black Riders.

…

Alright, it’s nothing at all like The Lord of the Rings. In fact, it’s a day full of mostly nothing but waiting, although I find train rides very pleasant (train station layovers somewhat less so).

The last leg of the trip, though, was stepping into a true-crime expose’. I spent an hour talking with a man named Carmine about having recently been released from Federal prison as the head of a organized crime family. He has gone straight because he has two grandchildren that he adores and wants to protect.

He seemed to really warm to me, and went on and on about his time in prison, his most recent businesses and the questionable activities of the rest of his family. He asked me a few questions about my hiking the Trail, and he seemed impressed with me (!!!).

I have to admit I wasn’t entirely convinced that he wasn’t spinning tales. But if he was, he was a very, very good story-teller.

Once, I got to Harpers Ferry, we wished each other luck, then I was on my way through the old town up to the Cherry Tree hostel.

I had a great conversation with the woman who runs the hostel, Laurel. It turns out that she started the Teahorse hostel where I stayed my first night on the Trail back in 2017. Her son had taken over running it by then. We both were amazed at how entwined things are.

I had a quick bite of supper out in the back yard, then came in to settle in for the night. Tomorrow: I get my hiker tag and then take my first steps back on the trail, Whoo hoo!