Date: 2004-07-15
From: Port Clinton, Pa.

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: light rain

Start Port ClintonDestination Eckville Shelter Cabela's van came to pick us up this morning and took us to the store where we stuffed ourselves from their breakfast buffet. After we were through we made a swing by the motel to pick up T and Rally before heading to Port Clinton. Cabela's driver dropped us all off at the trail in town. The outfitter here in town does not open until 10:00 am so I hung around until then so I could get some denatured alcohol for my stove. I picked up a couple of snacks for lunch, and then I found out that they were out of alcohol. There was no place else for me to get any alcohol, so I will have to try and make it stretch. As I left the store, a wasp got up my shorts leg and proceeded to help himself to a quick meal. I gotta get out of this town!! The skies remained overcast, but the rain continued to hold off. I was glad; the rocks were bad enough to climb over dry. The trail today goes through a section of game lands. The Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary was camped out all through the area. Somehow I missed the first shelter where I was going to get some water. As I reached Pulpit Rock I dropped my pack and exclaimed "How did I miss the shelter? I sure needed to get some water for lunch." Swan and Ersa Minor were there, as were a couple of Air Patrol senior officers. They offered to let me fill my water bottle from their water wagon that was parked just across the trail. The rest of the day was windy and overcast with the sun peeking out once in a while.I decided to take a blue blaze trail up to the pinnacle of Hawk Mountain. During mid August to Oct, there are hundreds of hawks in this area. I was hoping some of the hawks could not read a calendar. I was rewarded with about six or seven hawks flying close to the rocks, searching for a tasty morsel of food. I sat fascinated with the birds. They seem to just soar on the air effortlessly, looking for their meals, not the least concerned about the weather, or lack there of.   I had almost four miles left to hike when the trail turned onto a dirt road. For the next three miles I kept checking for the blazes. I just could not believe that this was the trail. Relatively smooth more importantly free of rocks. It was so nice to just be able to walk through the woods. Yesterday's rain left the trail pretty muddy, but I could walk around most of the puddles. I was really looking forward to the shelter tonight. There is supposed to be a well stocked refrigerator. Drinks, snacks, cookies. That was my motivation to help me through the last few miles. About an hour from the shelter, a Jeep with more Air Patrol people passed me. As they passed the driver rolled down his window and asked me if I wanted a cold Gatorade, then before I could answer, he asked, how about an oatmeal cookie, Doritos, oh and you need to try these Ritz crackers. I laughed and asked if I had died and gone to heaven? Once again, the kindness of strangers has made an impression on me. Something as simple as offering a drink to a stranger. I reached the shelter which is just off of the trail and has a resident caretaker. The modern marvel of Trail Dog's cell phone had us eating pizza, chicken wings, garlic bread and fresh salads. There were only six bunks in the shelter, so I set up my tent across the street. There were ten of us sitting around eating supper, once again sharing hiking stories. Total miles 15.2