Date: 2013-06-24
From: Philadelphia

To: The jacuzzi!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We are out of our minds with joy. Our amazingly kind and dedicated friends picked us up and drove us to Philly for a few days of R&R, good food, soft beds and very hot, clean showers. Jeff drove out to get us, wearing a clothespin on his nose. When we got in the van a swarm of bugs entered with us. We were squishing them the whole 2 hours back to Philly. This began Jeff's questions of "Why?", which continued through the night. He said this was pretty much his definition of a nightmare...every bit of it... the bugs, the stink, the lack of food, the heat which has induced a nasty heat rash on most of us, the blisters,...for us, the joys of the trail. The night before we left one of our favorite hikers had a grand mal seizure at midnight. The whole shelter got up and helped him, in particular and luckily, a nurse who was in Afghanistan named Handstand. She was so calm and kept everyone reassured. Eventually the young man was able to talk and asked for an ambulance. Luckily we were in a shelter close to the road with caretakers(a first for us) Beastly Boots rode in with him. He spent the night in the lobby. I am sure that hospital loved getting those two trail-perfumed hikers. Jeff graciously took the kid for groceries and then back to the trail. We conned him into a stop at McDonalds (I think Jeff just wanted to get out of the stinky van) Badunkadunk ate 3 fish sandwiches in under 5 minutes. We all grossly pigged out, greatly needing the fat and protein. Good luck to our hiker friend who hikes with a smile, the lightest pack ever and just pure joy for the AT experience, we look forward to spotting one of your bonfires and knowing we are once again back in your company. Be safe and in good health. Jeff, Jack and Shelby made us the biggest pan of lasagna I've ever seen, a huge salad (which is so indescribably good after vast amounts of junk food) They always spoil us. We stopped by Target, which Badunkadunk and I found so overstimulating and vastly annoying. We could not tolerate being around so many people. It was agitating. I have never felt like this. Badunk said to me "This really makes me know why I am on the trail". When we get home in 6 months we will need to be slowly worked back into society. Diana almost urinated in public in a park, behind a bush when suddenly she realized she might get arrested for her natural behavior. After talking to our friends we realized that we should probably define some of the terms we use for those of you that haven't hiked the AT. Hikers are NOBOS (Northbound)or SOBOS (Southbound)or Flip Floppers like us or Leap Froggers or Section Hikers. Flip Floppers start in one place, usually head North and then return to that starting point and go South. Leap Froggers skip sections, usually due to snow and go back and fill it in later. The section hikers hike whenever they can for whatever amount of time they have. Most take years to complete the entire trail. A shelter is a three sided building of varying size and quality. They are mostly made out of logs or local stones, with a tin roof. There is just a wooden floor which you roll out your bedding on. Sometimes there are bunks. There are almost always mice, which love exploring us and our belongings. There is often a picnic table. Some times there is a porch, which we all love to hang out on and talk. There are a lot of good story tellers out here! Local groups volunteer to keep them maintained. One, Quarry Gap, was maintained by one man who even provided hanging flower baskets, games and magazines, a roll down rain flap and a box to put our food in to keep it away from the bears. Usually we have to tediously hang it in a tree. They have a close-by Privy, which has shown my girls all they need to know about the outhouses of the past. They have a very keen appreciation of indoor plumbing now. Amazon really screwed up on our recent order. They did not get our package here, which we really need because Cub's boots are in it and her old ones have been obliterated by the PA rock system. My boots are soleless now as well. If the pkg comes tomorrow I will sing their praises. Holding our breath! Will be using the old duct tape trick if not. Thanks to EVERYONE who has written to us. I am not sure how to individually answer so please know we read your comments and it made the girls and I so very happy to hear from all of you. We are still having a blast out here. Love to all and to all a good night....