Date: 2019-06-09
From: Microtel to PA183

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a nice breakfast of a bagel and peanut butter, an apple, an orange, 2 cups of hot chocolate, and a cup of hot tea while watching the latest episode of The Amazing Race.  We packed up and checked out of our hotel room and waited in the lobby until Buzz picked us up about 9:30 or 10:00.  He dropped me off at the trailhead to hike back toward Port Clinton.  While we were there, four middle-aged guys hiked across the street.  As soon as they crossed back into the woods, they stopped for a break and I hiked past them.  I expected them to catch me again quickly.  I hiked 1.8 to the first creek crossing and stopped for a snack break.  Since it was Sunday and I was alone and on fairly easy terrain, I enjoyed reciting James and Philippians out loud and meditating on them. I had not yet decided if I would stop at the shelter after 6 miles or try to do the whole 15 back into Port Clinton.  While I ate, two young guys passed me, then two girls and a guy passed  me. Once I started hiking again, I came across one of the girls and a guy who had stopped to eat.  They are from Titusville FL, a father-in-law and daughter-in-law.  She is a middle school English teacher named Booboo.   He is One Croc. He got this trial name when blisters caused him to hike in one regular shoe and one croc.  He had cellulitis in one of his legs and had to come off trail during his thru hike attempt a few years ago; now he¢s back section hiking.  Three of the four middle-aged guys passed us while we chatted. I caught them and hiked with them for awhile. Two are from Fort Payne Alabama and one from St.Louis.  After hiking with them and chatting for some time, I realized I was hiking their pace and tiring out.  I stopped for a drink and let them hike on so I could hike my own hike. I've spent several days hiking without Susan this trip.Even taking my time, I got to the Eagles Nest Shelter before 2:00.  The fourth guy (Papa Smurf) got here after a bit.  The father in law and daughter in law team from Titusville FL here too.  One other female thru hiker from Tampa, Won¢t Get Up, also arrived.At some point in the afternoon a hiker with a purple bandanna came into the shelter area which was .3 off the trail, sat on a rock by himself, looked at his phone, then got up and left without ever saying a word to any of us.  After he left, the others all filled me in on how they had camped with him before and  how argumentative he had been. Won't Get Up recounted an earlier confrontation she had had with him.  I was glad he had moved on.We all had a leisurely dinner, got our water, set up our sleeping spaces in the shelter, hung our food bags, and had lots of time to talk.  There were five of us in the shelter and four or five more tenting.  Won¢t Get Up asked if it was okay if she burned a little incense at bedtime and we reluctantly agreed.  She says it helps her sleep. Then she walked behind the shelter while talking on her phone and came back giggling and smelling like pot, She said it was medicinal. It was forecast to start raining in the night or early morning.  Everybody talked about getting up early to try to beat the rain into town.