Date: 2004-07-27
From: 501 Shelter PA

To: Port Clinton PA
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: moderate rain

Free Bird wakes before I do. Heavy rain fall overnight, trail¢s gonna be sloppy today, rocks gonna be slick. I just can¢t seem to get out of my bunk. I made a big mistake by sending my sleeping pad home! I miss it already, when will I learn ?We both are running low on food. Free Bird is out of toilet paper, snacks and fuel, he says that¢s his incentive to get to Port Clinton PA today, quite a good incentive. He heads out into the mist.I soon arise from the dead and eat breakfast. These Penn rocks suck! 23.9 miles to town in this mess! There¢s no way we¢ll make it!Typical PA day, flat, rocks from hell everywhere. I watch where I put my feet. Yesterday Free Bird and I witnessed 2 huge rattlers mating, they were 6 ft away, and didn¢t seem to care that we were so close. The largest rattlers I have seen anywhere!I decide not to stop at any of the shelters. Heavy rain almost all day! Trail is like a creek. Walk around a corner and come upon ¢Squatter¢ and ¢Barking Spider¢!! What a blast it is to see them. Last time I saw them was at Kincora Hostel in TN. They said they had been close behind me for many miles. They are hiking this section south bound. Said they had found some of my trail magic I left back in TN. Seeing these guys made my day a little better.Pass through last shelter before town. It¢s raining, it¢s getting dark. I¢m gonna make a push for Port Clinton PA.Tons, and tons of rocks later the mountain begins to descend me, yep not far from town now. Very, very steep decent. The climb north bound out of town is worse, how do I know? I¢ve already looked at a profile chart.Walk into town starving to death, the only restaurant open is the Union Hotel. I had been told before-hand that sometimes hikers are asked to ¢dine¢ at the bar because of their hygiene. My hygiene today isn¢t looking very good. I stink, shoes are filthy and smell like a wet dog ( No offense to dogs).I put on my sandals, clean up my feet and wander in. Metallica is playing in the juke box. I find a seat. I decide on 2 hamburgers and large fry (I need the meat for protein).The waitress looks at me a little funny, then shakes her head. I think nothing of it. Soon I see her come into the room with an enormous amount of food, she puts it down at my table. The plate of fries must weigh 5 lbs!! I look at the fries, then her, You¢ve got to be kidding me I say! ¢Nope¢ she says. People in the restaurant are looking and laughing. I offer everyone in the restaurant free fries, no takers.Begin to eat, Free Bird comes in, he looks at the pile of food, and merely asks, ¢did you order all of that¢? I say nothing for my mouth is full of fries, I simply push the plate toward him . Now I¢ve got some support. To much amazement, we eat most of it.He gets a room at the hotel. I¢m going to sleep at the pavilion. It¢s a big open picnic type building just down the street, most hikers stay there. It¢s dry, and it¢s free.It¢s dark when I leave the hotel. It¢s raining, I¢m wearing flip-flops. Get to pavilion , one other person there. Can¢t see his face, but his voice, I recognize that voice, It¢s ¢Texas Kid¢!!Last time I saw him was the Fontana Hilton Shelter in Fontana NC. He said he walked with Gather (Adam) for a bit. I settle in.The outfitter is closed tomorrow!! I need fuel!! Texas Kid gives me some. ¢Gonna be a tough day tomorrow¢!! The rest of PA is supposed to be tougher than the first half!!