Date: 2007-07-09
From: Wind Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: few clouds

As I write this, a crew of Japanese film makers is interviewing "Not Yet" about his re-supply strategies. These sort of oddball scenarios crop up all the time on the AT. Evidentally, a Japanese film maker got funding to create a documentary about the AT. The language barrier between the film maker and the hikers makes for amusing interviews! The film is scheduled to air in Japan this September, so stay tuned....I walked into Delaware Water Gap (fondly referred to as DWG) about 2:00 this afternoon. DWG is a "border town" between PA and New Jersey; Jersey being right across the river from where I'm staying tonight. I set up camp at the Presbyterian Church hostel where I was warmly welcomed by pastor Karen. It's a great spot, a bunk room in the cool basement of the church which provides showers (yes....I had my third shower in as many consecutive days!) and fluffy towels.The heat index today was over 100 degrees with humidity, but I chugged a TON of water on my 15 mile walk, and my body felt great. I think the heat partially melted my cartilage, making me feel more limber than usual! I saw two deer on the trail today, one who bounded across the trail right in front of me (has a hiker even been hit by a deer out here??). The other deer struck a beautiful pose turning his rump in my direction and looking at me coyly over his shoulder. It was a deliciously hedonistic day of walking in the woods with all of the sunshine, summer smells baked out of the earth, and beautiful views.So, I've been planning on visting NYC once I got to Pawling, NY where the commuter line runs literally across the trail. But, I found out, that if I wait until then to visit, I'd miss out on seeing my friend, Amanda, who will be out of town on vacation. I decided that a trip to the city without seeing her would not do, so I decided to take the bus in from DWG in the morning. I can always stop again for a day once I get to Pawling too! I'm really excited to see all of my friends and eager to see how the city will seem from my perspective as a woods dweller and thru hiker. I can't wait!There's a restaurant in DWG which runs a beer and steak dinner special for under $12.50, so without having to think twice about it, that's where I went to eat tonight. I ran into Promise Keeper and Oorah who graciously invited me to dine with them. I'd briefly met them coming out of Duncannon, but I haven't had a chance to really sit down and talk to them, so it made for a really nice evening.I found out that 1/4 Moon has done something fabulous. We created a hike challenge as a joke call "yogi-ing thru PA". To "yogi" is to beg without begging, and it's an invaluable hiker skill. If you happen upon a group of people having a picnic in the woods, say, and you manage to look hungry and pitiful enough for them to offer you food, you've successfully "yogied" from them. The rules behind the yogi act (named for the picnic rading Jellystone cartoon bear) are simple. Never ask for anything. Rather, you have to wait until it's offered. Subtle allusions to your hunger and on-trail hardships are permissible and are a popular tactic with the master yogi. Anyways, I'm proud to annouce that 1/4 Moon managed to walk through PA and Maryland using his Yogi skills alone to feed himself. Bravo 1/4 Moon! Now, I hear he's trying to get all the way to Maine only spending $15 of his own money on food, yogi-ing what he needs as he walks! If need be, I'll give the man the contents of my food bag to help him in his mission...