Date: 2005-07-19
From: Church of the Mountain Hostel- DWG

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I am heading into Jersey...and then on up the trail towards whereever and whatever. My feet held up great ove rthe rocks. It has been MUGGY and Raining with some darned serious storms that we have hiked through. At 1:30AM the other night, lighting hit as freaking near to us in the shelter as it could and not hit us. We are still not totally sure it didnt. My hair was on end and Toolman said he could feel it in his teeth...the fillings. Crazy stuff.Yes Pennsylvania, you are solid as a rock...but you did not break me and I can attest that there are many others you had trouble breaking as well. Still, I wish the trail was more "Scenic" than just a challenging getaway for the everyday hiker. I would love to see more stuff. My neck has a crick from looking down so much. But, I can dance with the rocks!!!Three nights ago it was a great time lsitening to Blues at the Blu Mountain B&B. Thanks to Ken, the owner, for letting me tent behind the place, taking my Nacho order off my ticket and letting me use the phone after hours to call my Mother. Sorry to hear about you sister and your manager.Two nights ago it was Palmerton where you stay at the so called "Jail" which is really a hostel under the municipal building. GREAT SHOWER ther and MUCH needed. The folks of Palmerton are super hiker friendly. Dinner at the Parkside and a local bought us a round! Nice, very nice. I karoaked a song to the Honeymooners and we got back by curfew. On OnDid a nice 20.5 to get in here and saw a HUGE bear drinking from a water puddle from a recent rain. He rain. I hiked.So, the craziness continues. Last night, got to talk to Deb for awhile, went and had apple pie, drank $2 coronas and pulled ticks off of me. Ah, the life...sometimes a bitter contrast.As I hike these days, the question of "what I am going to do after this" starts to linger in. I know that everything works itself out and that it is a bit early for these thoughts, still...I'll have to get my stuff out of storage and get back into the flow sooner than the reality of now. I do miss my events. I truly loved starting the Fine Art Festival and would jump at the chance to create another BUT NOT IN MIAMI!!!. I also love the Cookoff as a fundraiser as well as the Murder Mystery And Masquerade Ball. Man, come to think of it, I was pretty damn in tune and happy about recently starting a Shakespeare Festival that was different than any others that I have ever been witness. I do love events and Recreation programming in general for that matter. Love seeing people have a great time and making memories. It's nice to know that I have set up a forum for people to come together where, and yes this happens, MAGIC transpires. The MAGIC Imagined...WOMAN: "Remember when we first met sweetheart?" MAN: "Ah yes dear, it was at that chocolate tasting booth at the annual art event. You where the tasty thing in the room." WOMAN: "Well, I had already seen you the week before, silently whispering the lines of MACBETH at the Shakespeare Festival. I said 'THAT'S the man for me' as I went about enjoying the show and studying your reactions." MAN: " And now here we are, can you believe it, cooking chili at a cookoff presented by the World Champion himself. I Love you so......" I think I was born to recreate.Did you know that I have a "product" that I spent 6 months last year trying to perfect(and still have not...but have many prototypes)? Oh, it solves a problem for some people and If I could make it happen, I'd definately pursue putting it out to those people.Also, did you know that I have written stories for a Children's Book Series and as well as pursued interest and knowledge in and of the industry? Oh, yes, MORE than just one. It is a dream of mine to be published someday(even IF I have to self-publish). I image many many people have this dream. 'But what, with THAT spelling?' you say!!!Here is a 'sport' that can be done on the trail, in your hometown or anywhere for that matter. It is called Geocaching and I have been doing it for 5 years. www.geocaching.comDoes anyone know how one goes about staying in the federal government system and be involved in historical preservation? An inquiring mind wants to know.Any doctors out there? I've no insurance(other than the VA) and am SURE I'll need a Lyme Disease test before this is all over with. There are people out here who are recovering after thier Antibiotics but to the tune of $$$$ Thousands of $$$$....YIKES!!!! I just want to hike.......I heard a story of some hikers who met a Millionaire in the Shennies and he treated them well. Told them if they ran out of money he'd spot them $5,000 or more. Hmmm....why cant this happen to me? Hope this is enough reading for you today...even if it is not all good. Helps to clear the mind on this 'puter of all those things that go through(thru) your head while going up and down the MTNS and over and around the rocks, limbs, roots and snakes. Did I mention that its is NOW HOT!!! I love hot better than cold.On On!