Kirkridge Shelter to Delaware Water Gap

Below is a pic of our little tent city last night. 50/50, Tatiana, Murphy and I. Mambo decided to push the extra 6.5 into DWG yesterday. 

We got moving early for a nero in to DWG. Made it to town by 10 and the eating began. (And laundry, showers etc) 50/50 arrived a little after us which he later confessed was because he got a little lost on the trail again today. That was good for a laugh and we discussed changing his name to 70/30.

Pennsylvania provided us with a few miles of good trail and some scenic views to try to make us forget the pain of the last week or so .... But sorry PA, too little, too late.

We are staying at Church of the Mountain Hostel here. They provide a bunkroom and showers for those hiking through.

Ate pretty much non stop today, but this is the must do here.

Picked up my trail runners at the post office (thanks mom!) and kicked the others that have eaten my feet to the curb. Actually, I mailed them to Maine just in case I want them for the last rocky stretch.

(Disclaimer: no shoes were actually kicked in the making of this photo. They are so hard, that it would have been the ultimate irony if they had broken my toe when I kicked them)

All of my clothes were so filthy that I had to wash everything so it was a rain skirt and puffy jacket day. (Temp was about 90 degrees) Yes, I walked around town like this...

Went to dinner with a big group.

Dirty Harry, Bug Bear, Murphy, Pelzer, Lyons, Tatiana, 50/50 and Mambo. 

In 3/10 of a mile tomorrow morning we'll be in to New Jersey!! Only 75 miles there and we are going to try to push through to get to Greenlake NY by Sunday at 6 to watch USA in the World Cup.

Smith Gap Road to Kirkridge Shelter

Packed up early and left our little garage haven. Mid morning break with Tatiana, Murphy, Mambo and 50/50.

Today was 18 miles of consistently rocky trail. Small to mid size rocks spaced just enough that we can never really just get in to a rhythm and cruise. 

Deleware Water Gap in 6.5 miles. I am switching back to my trail runners there, and Murphy, who has hiked through Pennsylvania in trail runners, is switching to hiking shoes there. Bottom line.... Our feet are just going to hurt sometimes no matter what shoes we wear.

So.... Pennsylvania is now the state of rain, rocks and....rattlesnakes!

My first sighting. Everyone else has seen several! This guy gave me plenty of advance warning, so as far as rattlesnake sightings go, it was not too terrifying. He rattled, I stepped back a bit, he posed for a few photos and then slithered creepily across the trail.

Tomorrow we are all neroing in to Deleware Water Gap. 6.5 quick miles and then a day in a cute town. 

I am hoping there is a suggestion box at the end Pennsylvania because I have a few .... :)

Bake Oven Knob to Smith Gap Road

 Hiked nine miles and hitched in to Palmerton with 50/50. At the civic building there, they have a hostel in the basement. You check in with the clerk (or if it is after hours, you check in to the police station)

We got in at about 10:30, so too early to stay the night, but we wanted to see it. The climb out of Palmerton is sort of legendary. 

This is the ridge that we climbed from a distance.

It was a rock scramble. Very fun!

We had planned on going another 10 miles but ran into Mambo and Murphy and they were going 13 to a road crossing. There is a guy there who let's hikers sleep in his garage and there is rain forecast, so we all went. Although 50/50 took a detour. He got his name because he is directionally challenged and 50% of the time he gets lost. He ended up at the ski resort somewhere down the mountain. It was a pretty rocky, rough day and our feet were aching (surprise surprise) but we got a shower and ice cream at the end of the day. It was worth it, but after 22 miles of hiking, we were all pretty exhausted and this guy was a talker. A non stop talker. It was shocking how much he talked. It got  to a point where it became comical and we all were suppressing laughter. After he went upstairs, we all just burst out laughing like a bunch of kids at a slumber party. 

Oh Pennsylvania. You have been an interesting place and I can't say that I will miss you when we leave in 26.5 miles. Not that I'm counting. The rain. The rocks. The land of garrulous people.

Eckville Shelter to Bake Oven Knob Shelter

First... Happy Fathers Day to my Daddio!!

Hope you had a great day! Love you!

So, let's talk about 'the Pennsylvania Rocks' that we've heard so much about. Don't get me wrong. There are definitely rocks. But there were also rocks in Virginia and Maryland. Today there were more rocks and from what  I've heard, there will be even more tomorrow. But we only have 45 miles left in PA. Maybe they don't seem so bad because it's been sunny for two days, and rocks sans rain, just don't seem that bad. Or maybe they don't seem that bad because when you hear something is 'really, really terrible' and then it's only sort of terrible, it almost seems good? Or maybe they didn't seem terrible because I was blasting my music and singing today. Who knows.

Ran in to Jersey Girl again on the trail.

She started a thru hike a few years ago, but after about 800 miles had to stop because of injury. Now, she is finishing the trail in long 185 mile sections. She's  had both hips replaced and if you look closely, she has what is left of two black eyes from face planting on the trail a few weeks ago. She is an inspiration, and a testimony to just how tough some of these folks out here are. Her husband Ron, is still doing trail magic while she's hiking so I got a mid afternoon beer! Deelish.

The rocks got a little more challenging this afternoon. Pics here are of the Knifes Edge. A bunch of big boulders kind of standing on end that we had to scramble over. I actually love spots like these! Fun to mix it up a little.

Tomorrow, I'm going to jail. :) A hostel housed in the old jail in Palmerton, PA. I will be there too early to spend the night, but I want to see it and hopefully get a shower! Two and a half days to Deleware Water Gap and my beloved trail runners!

Port Clinton to Eckville Shelter

SUNSHINE!!! Yahoooo!! Beautiful day today. Sunny and cool. Hiked up out of Port Clinton and came to 'the Pulpit'. Nice overlook and with clear skies, we could actually see the view!

Did 15 miles today, which is just about perfect. My feet are still a disaster, but better. As I set off, one of the blisters on my toe was rubbing, so I put on some salve and a piece of duck tape and I was good to go. Duck tape is amazing stuff!!

Back in my tent tonight. I missed it! Got into camp around 4, set up, and even had time to read a little. 

Rest day

So the word from everyone up and down the trail... Everyone's feet are sore and swollen and blistered from 5 days of walking in wet socks. I decided to take a necessary zero in Port Clinton and Tatiana decided to take another. We spent the morning at McDonalds in Hamburg, eating and relaxing with our feet elevated!!

Ran in to hikers all over town. Everyone got here with the intention of moving on, but their feet were having none of that. So, I have decided I am switching back to trail runners and ditching these hiking shoes. I'll have to stick it out five more days til my shoes and I both arrive in Deleware Water Gap.

A little side note to demonstrate how wet it's been...

When I hiked down the mountain yesterday and landed in a parking lot in the pouring rain and couldn't figure out where in the heck the white blaze was to lead me in to Port Clinton, I saw a beaver crossing the parking lot. Sometimes you just gotta laugh.

Ran in to Hoss, a hiker I saw a lot at the beginning of this trek. The last time I had seen him was at '700 mile stile" so about 500 miles ago! He's from Iowa, so we Midwesterners have to stick together! There are very few of us here.

Kept my feet up most of the afternoon. Then, got word that Mike would be rolling  in to town about 8. We had a few beers at the Port Clinton Hotel. I am hiking out tomorrow and he's taking a zero, so it was great to catch up!!

501 Shelter to Port Clinton

And the rain continues....

Last night it poured all night long. At first, I just thought about how happy I was to be under a roof where it was dry. Then as the storm continued, I started to worry about my friends out in tents up and down the trail!!

Got up and on the trail by eight. It wasn't pouring but it was drizzly. All day. At about 8 miles, I came to trail angel, Ron, and got some chocolate milk, apple and kit Kat. His wife, Jersey Girl, is out hiking so he is supporting her and does trail magic while she's hiking.

I was planning on doing 15 miles to the next shelter, but got there at about 2, so decided to do nine more into the town of Port Clinton. Great idea until about mile 22 when the proverbial wall hit me

In the face. First, let's just say that the last two miles were more like 5 miles. Of rocks. In the rain. There could have been some yelling involved. But not profanity. Ok, there may have been some profanity, but no one was close enough to be offended so no harm done. :) THEN, to add insult to injury, the last half mile into town was literally straight down. The steepest decent I have ever encountered on any hike. Ever. My legs, feet and head were already way done for the day. Finally got down into Port Clinton and things began to look up. As I was walking past this door,

A guy  came out and said it was a 'private club' but they served free beer to hikers. I veered right and a random stranger signed me in as her guest and I had a beer on the house. 

Meanwhile,in texting others, found out that Tatiana and Mando were staying at the Port Clinton Hotel. I am here, showered, dry and sharing a room with Tatiana. Everyone's feet are hamburger after hours in wet shoes and socks. I am not leaving here tomorrow until they drag me out :)

In touching base with everyone up and down the trail, everyone had similarly wonderful experiences 

Lots of wildlife here in Port Clnton. :)