Date: 2003-05-15
From: Tumbling Run shelters

To: Toms Run shelters
Miles today: 25.9
Weather: light rain

I guess yesterday's relaxed pace had us all a little disappointed. We were all business, or mostly, today. Actively hit the Trail at 7:45 and had reached US 30 by 11 a.m. Walked .3 down to Taorominas Pizza. The three of us split 2 large pies and polished off ice cream for dessert. The kicker was being able to watch not only an episode of the Wonder Years but also one of Saved by the Bell. Brought me all the way back to 1995. We actually didn't spend all day there and walked back to the Trail by 12:30. Walked all afternoon under threatening skies. Got drizzled on for a few minutes. Took a short break at Quarry Gap shelter an Birch Run shelter. The design of the Quary Gap shelter is brilliant. It's two shelters adjacent to ech other with a picnic table betwen them and a roof over the whole area. Very well maintained. Met a fellow at Brich run named PapaBear who is section hiking. He liveds in Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan. It's always cool to meet other NYC residents on the Trail. We cruised all afternoon and made it by 6:15. Subman greeted us with is typical "Hey, young punks". He has been sitting there since 3 p.m. Fishead is also here. Started drizzling on us 15 minutes before we got here but is now coming down. Temp has dropped. Suppposed to be cold and rainy all weekend. Fishead gve us the rice and bean mix he couldn't finish which was a lot and I rolled it into the handy corn tortillas I am carrying. Didn't even have to cook dinner - how easy. The woods in Pennsylvania have been very pretty and green ann I've enjoyed them a lot. Problem is we are really out the woods so to speak. We cross roads every couple of miles and are nver far from civilization. I assume it'll be this way until much farther North. It's quite different perspective walking with two Southern guys. They think this is real "Yankee" territory and I almost consider this the South. I guess the people in this area are pretty confused themselves. WE ran into an older gentleman this morning named "Moose Kills" He's a southbound seciton hiker. He earned his name by being attacked by a moose in Maine. He said he had a 50 minute staring contest with the bull. Kinda scard me but hey, let's go to Maine anyway! We've just 3.5 miles from the official 2003 halfway point. We'll stop at Ironmasters Mansion Hostel and hopefully get our picture taken. Unfortunately the campstore is closed during the week this time of year. That's where the traditional "Half Gallon Challenge" takes place. Thru hikers attempt to eat a half gallon of ice cream and ususally succeed and then get sick. maybe we'll try at the grocery store we were planning on eating luch at. Well, it's been 2 1/2 months and I'm halfway. It makes us all excited to now we need to average just 14 miles a day to make it by August 1st. I definitely want lots of time to swim and play and soak up the views of the Whites and Maine and not have to worry about miles. I don't feel rushed at this pace but it'll be nice to relax more and kick back expecially when the bugs and heat increase. My bro's wedding is calling for 4-5 zero days. Grunt, Squirts and I are also gonna take 2 zeros in NY in a couple of weeks. Life is great!