(Daily Mi: 13.1) Uneventful day. Light rain off and on. Grim shelter. Big holes in the back wall. Fortunately not much wind.

Starts to rain lightly. Brother comes in an hour or so behind me. Neither of us say much. Roll our cigarettes. Smoke. Cook dinner.

I will be in Damascus in a few days. The logical -- though not actual -- halfway point from Harpers Ferry to Springer and more than 3/4 of the way through my hike overall.

I guess I am continuing from there to Springer.

I have had the idea in the back of mind that if I want to, I can stop in Damascus and finish my hike next spring.

It has been a useful tale to tell myself when confronted with exhaustion, hunger and plain old homesick blues.