The 6th April, the end of week 2 (around 10 days walking ) finds Frank and his 1000 mile companion Alex in Cumberland, Maryland. This location is famous for the Cumberland gap, a pass between two hills, epitomized in a song originally performed by Lonnie Donegan . They have reached the end of their first stage of 186 miles, which is the end of the C&O canal along whose towpath they have walked steadily for 10 days. The temperatures have risen from sub zero to around 75F (23C) and the sun is shining. The next section is uphill as they about to head into the West Virginia hills, part of the Appalachian chain. They now have blisters on their feet. Frank would not reveal whose walking boots he is wearing, nor go into detail of how serious they are. They blame them on the hard gravel they have been walking on for the last 10 days.During the past week Alex "cheated" a little by hitching a ride to buy groceries when they stopped in a very small 3 house hamlet and asked directions to a grocery store. He returned in an enormous truck with lots of goodies! Again they are going to find a warm bed in a hotel instead of the tent for this Friday night. They are due to have a route meeting with all their maps open to discuss the strategy for the coming week, no doubt a few cool beers may help with the decisions! Cumberland is shown below.