Date: 2004-07-01
From: I81 overpass

To: PA 501
Miles today: 11.0

The day starts out with the ball of fire coming over the horizon once again warning me of another hot day. Ginny isn't up as early today but she is still up by 6am preparing breakfast. We have grown very fond of Duke & Ginny, they are two of the sweetest people we have ever met. We feel right at home with them. We will miss them when we leave. I'm sure we'll stop here on our way back if they are home. We say our goodbyes and we're off to the trail. As we get back to the construction area I noticed a white blaze on a tree just beyond a bridge on the right. Navi lets me off and I head for the bridge. I looked to the right and figured it would be a roadwalk for a short distance. The blazes kept me in a NE direction for awhile but then the blazes became few and far betwen. I was getting a bad feeling again about where this was taking me. After not seeing a blaze for about 200 yards and private property signs on both sides of me I thought I better turn back. By this time I had wasted over 30 min in the wrong direction. I was frustrated to say the least. I went back to the construction area and saw a sign that read AT detour with an arrow pointing up a very steep road. I start the climb and it wasn't very long before another sign said end of detour and the blazes went to the right. Now I have to try to make up some time. My 20mile day is starting at 9am. The terrain isn't too bad for awhile but then the rock garden started and that 6pm meeting at PA 183 is not looking very good right now. For awhile there were larger rocks that are easier to traverse and much kinder to the feet. I was focusing on getting cross the rocks real fast when all of a sudden I hear a rattle. Two feet in front of me I see a black rattle snake with yellow diamonds on it's back about five feet long. It uncoiled itself and moved to the left on the rocks. I have seen other rattlers in Florida but not this color. What a beautiful snake. I kept my distance and took a some pictures! of this awesome creature. I felt like was making good time until I reached William Penn shelter where I saw Salt Lick and Sharon. At this point I still had 13 miles to go and it's 2pm already. I was thinking I might have to rethink this hike. As I keep hiking I soon reach another area I call a mine field, where rocks are looking to make life miserable for you and your feet. This slows me down once again and by the time I reac PA 501 I'm beat. I was undecided what to do, push on the 10 miles and not get there until around 8pm, which I'm sure by then Navi will be worried or try to get to phone and call her. I went to the 501 shelter which is only about 200 yds from the road and by luck the caretaker lives right near the shelter. I went to the house and knocked on the door and asked if I could use his phone. I think he had been taking a nap but he was kind enough to say sure even though I woke him up. I didn't get his name but thank you very much if you happen to read this journal. There was a good storm rolling in as Navi arrived so we decided to stay at a motel. The Comfort Inn had an inside pool and that was the first thing we did. This was sure what the doctor ordered because my feet were really singing to me. Now for a good nights rest before hitting the trail again in the morning. I even get to watch wrestling tonight which I haven't seen in months. This day turned out pretty good after all. Not 20 miles but it will do! I can't believe it's July 1 already.