2002 RTR Picnic/Trail Angel Day

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I wasn't sure who was going to show up for this picnic, which was scheduled for Saturday, June 1, 2002. Not alot of people responded to my picnic invitation. But I figured that if no one did, I could at least give out food to thru-hikers passing through Pen-Mar Park, MD. My wife Nancy said that she would go with me. Then Bill Isham and Chris said that they would come. That made me feel better. So Nancy and I showed up around 10AM that morning. Bill and Chris showed up around 10:45AM along with Charlie Johnson. So I felt alot better then. They brought lots of food as we did. So we fired up the grills, then put on the hamburgers and hots, put up the signs and waited for the thru-hikers to come. Charlie J spotted the first one. He ran across the park and brought him in. Then others followed. Before we knew it, we had 4, then 6, then 8, then 10, then 13 and finally 14 thru-hikers. Then, Doug Knowles, the Rag Tag Ranger from MN droped by on his way from Baltimore back to Minneapolis. So we now had 6 Rag Tag Rangers serving 14 thru-hikers. And they had some voracious appetites, having been on the trail for almost 4 months. They ate, and then ate, and they went and took naps and came back and ate some more. While we were serving them food they were telling us stories about the trail and we told them about our group. I think they appreciated having some trail magic bestowed upon them. And we really enjoyed giving it. The trail names of those that we served included 'Fautz', 'Lub Lub', 'Glacier', 'Baloo', 'Pine Cone', 'Cracker' along with his dog 'Jack', 'Radio Flyer', 'Fly Kitty', 'JumpStart, 'Tommy' (he hadn't gotten a trail name yet), 'Smudge', 'Stumpknocker', 'Monkey' and her husband 'Bearded Monkey'. The day went by very quickly. And the thru-hikers did not want to leave. At about 4:30 that afternoon the food started running low and we were getting tired. So we fired down the grills, packed up, took a quick hike to the Mason-Dixon line and back and then went home. This was truly a fun day. I think that we gave a mental as well as physical lift to these men and women who were almost half way through what will probably be one of the most satisfying accomplishments of their lives, thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. So the picnic turned out just fine. I hope that we can do it again next year! More Pictures Mike C

Charlie J watches thru hikers eat. By Bill Isham Pavilion 2 at PenMar Park, MD. By Bill Isham Thru hikers chowing down. By Bill Isham More thru hikers chowing down. By Bill Isham Chris, Charlie & Doug. By Bill Isham