Date: 2018-05-21
From: 501 Shelter

To: Rock N Sole hostel PA route 183
Miles today: 9.3

I slept okay. Just okay. The man in the bunk above me dropped something on me while I was sleeping. It woke me up but it slipped off my quilt and onto the floor making noise. He then proceeded to recover it, putting his headlamp on which shown down between the wall and the bunk onto my face and he climbed down and under my bunk until he finally got it. I went back to sleep after and awoke with the sun as usual. This shelter is neat. It was a potters studio so it has a big skylight in the middle where the potters wheel once was. The ATC acquired it some time ago and it serves as a nice shelter for 14. Professor and another man, I think it was Bama Dog have a full conversation. I do wonder why some people might think that because they're awake everyone else should be too. I think that only applies on Christmas! Regardless, once they leave I decide to get up and slowly get ready. The 5 of us are still wondering what the heck ran us over yesterday and we're slow moving. It's my son Kyle's birthday today so I call him to wish him a special and happy day. I get to talk with him and his girlfriend Lisa also and we talk about what they may do to celebrate his special day, which he's taking off work. I hope whatever they do they make a beautiful memory. It's latest I've left a shelter and it's 9am before I am fed, brushed, packed and on my feet. Today's plan is to head to Rock N Sole hostel. I'm super excited to get there and get my supply box from Brian. Last night before bed I texted the hostel owner Craig and reserved Trashy. A 1958 restored camper for 1-2 people. I'm going to sleep like a baby in my private boudoir!This morning Rx suggested taking a zero at the hostel because the forcast is for rain Tuesday and he's got shin splints. I thought for about 10 seconds and I was sold. A zero makes sense to me with my tired feet and my left eye feels like a stye forming. Before I left the 501 I heated water and got a warm compress on it. I Texted Craig and told him to make it a double for me. Thumper wasn't sure she wanted to zero so we hiked out of the 501 with 4 on board and 1 on the fence. What a gorgeous blue sky day! Terrain was not as bad as yesterday but still lots of rocks and some slow going. An easier day emotionally too, knowing that we have a place to stay and we don't feel pressured for time. Thumper and Rx are ahead of us and River is behind. Myself and T-Bird in the middle. But we're not near each other and I am enjoying hiking alone right now. I like to be alone sometimes, at my own pace with my own thoughts. I'm just taking my time today. When we get to 183 we'll call Craig and he'll come get us. I forgot to tell you something about yesterday. As we were hiking up near the top of the never-ending climb, scrambling on the Rocks, two uniformed gentleman approached us from behind in Army khakis. Except they were British. They stopped and spoke to us for a minute and said they were headed off to wrestle a bear, jokingly. An hour or two later we saw them headed south, and they stopped and had a further conversation. I'm not sure they understand what the Appalachian Trail is, but they are here working with the American Marines on the local base where we heard the artillery from. They're doing exercises and they come here every year for a couple of weeks to train together. They were up on the trail scouting it out so they could bring their troops the following day to perform some exercises. It was fun having a 5 or 10 minute conversation with them about how early our troops get up in comparison to them ( how they hate that morning horn), and how there not unhappy that they missed the royal wedding! Interesting men. Their advice on how to wrestle with a bear? Well they told me just to use a sharp stick. I've got two of those, they're called trekking poles.There were more gorgeous views today, inside and outside of the woods. Beautiful fern covered forest floor and scenic overlooks of the farmland in the valley below. Almost all day today was a ridge walk. This was one of my most enjoyable days on trail thus far. Despite the last section of trail. I truly enjoyed each step, and I stopped at each View and rested relaxed and just took it all in. It feels so incredibly great to be out here. At one view I met a young family with four children who came up a trail called shower steps as I was sitting on the Rocks enjoying the view and chatting with River who would caught up with me. The kids were fascinated with what we were doing our backpacks Etc. And it was encouraging to see at their young ages how much they really like to be out in nature. They wanted to walk the additional two and a half miles down the trail to see the waterfalls where we were headed, at Hertline campsite. What a great family vibe, and so nice to see the parents so interactive in nature with their children. Being on the trail makes me look at people a little differently. I have the time to be more inquisitive about them, and I'm less likely to pass judgment. I feel very good about that. When I arrived at Hartline campsite bumper RX and T-bird were already there. Thumper and RX had already eaten their lunch and soak their feet, and T-Bird was grabbing a snack. River was right behind me and we dropped our packs. I grabbed some tuna fish, crackers, cheese, my water bottle and a bandana and I headed off to sit on the rocks and soak my feet and enjoy my lunch in a spot that Thumper had suggested. It was such a gorgeous day. I bet we were there for over an hour having lunch soaking our feet and soaking in the day. I turned around to see T-Bird napping on the shore of the stream behind us and everyone looked so much different from yesterday. At peace and in love with the trail. Thumper was taking pictures of these neat little frogs that were all around us, and RX was doing a little rock hopping. River was sitting next to me soaking her feet with a wet bandana on her head. I can't really describe the feeling but it was wonderful.Eventually Thumper and RX progressed North up the trail with T-Bird myself and river behind. Not far up ahead, the trail became washed out. It was no more. This made it difficult to navigate, and we were forced to follow footpaths around what once was the trail which was now flowing with water. In addition, this is the most poorly marked section of the trail that we have encountered. Without the aid of Guthooks, it would have been almost impossible to know if we were still on trail. Thumper, being unsure if she was backtracked all the way to us. Once we realize that we were still on trail and still headed where we should be, Thumper texted River to let her know to stay right at the fork and so that she would also know there weren't any white blazes. After about a mile and a half to two miles of this, we came out to a monument. We waited there for River and when she caught up we proceeded to the road. Rx gave Craig at the hostel a call and let him know the 5 of us were there for pickup. Within minutes Craig arrived with a pickup truck. He hopped out and with a big smile welcomed us. We put our packs in the back of the pickup truck and all piled in. Willie Nelson and Hank Williams jr. on the radio bopping down the road, was a really great time. I could already tell that Craig enjoyed being a hostel owner. We arrived at the Rock and sole hostel. Professor and Sandals are here. Craig gave us a tour of the property which was very inclusive and descriptive about the amenities and the location of such. The hostel is amazing and these people Craig and Jody and their children go out of their way and truly enjoy making hikers comfortable and welcome. They don't treat us like trash. They understand who we are and what our Journeys might be. The two car garage is converted to a bunkhouse that holds 8. An honor System is setup and the refrigerator and freezer are stocked with Gatorade soda and ice cream. They sell canister fuel and other items, and free of charge they Supply mason jars filled with Q-tips Band-Aids and other things that hikers do not often have the ability to pack but find extremely useful. There is even a Keurig coffee maker and a microwave. Outside there is a sink with soap and an outdoor spacious shower with on demand hot water. There's also a chemical toilet which Craig built a custom privy surrounding for out of old used doors it's really a fun place. There is a hiker Lounge, which is a cleared area with about eight chairs and a couple of benches and in the center is a fire pit. It's close to the river and you can set the chairs in the river to soak your feet. Sugar is an 11 year old yellow Lab who runs the property and loves the hikers equally. A night here includes a free shuttle to the Dollar General dinner and breakfast. Unlike some hostels, dinner is not frozen pizza and breakfast is not frozen waffles. Jody is an amazing and thoughtful cook who supplies wonderful well-balanced home cooked meals to all hikers with such great pride. Our first night here we had grilled chicken breast sandwiches with roasted brussel sprouts and for dessert freshly baked cookies with ice cream. Dinner is served on the front porch of their home next to the bunk room. This is a lot of work. For $3 they wash, dry and fold my laundry. There are inspiring messages in the bunkhouse and on the porch. This is the day the Lord has made Psalms 118:24. Our daily bread booklets for the taking. I asked Jodi what inspired them to open this Hostel in 2016 and she couldn't tell me exactly why, because they didn't know they just felt a calling. But they use the income from this to provide college education to their children. Craig is a retired state trooper who contracted a disease from a tick a couple of years ago and has been struggling with that. He's quick to warn us that the most dangerous thing on the trail are the ticks. I'm not staying in the bunkhouse. I'm staying in a little 1958 retro camper that they have completely redone, and named Trashy. She's adorable, perfectly outfitted and extremely comfortable. I can have my privacy and yet enjoy the community here at the hostel when I feel like I want the company. It's my turn for the hot shower and I enjoy it 100%. There are fresh towels here, the beds have Linens and there are even loner clothing and loner flip flops near the shower house. Very comfortable clothing flannel pajama bottoms and tops just extremely cozy.Before dinner I skip off to the hiker lounge area and I call Dad it's his birthday too we have a wonderful conversation and he shares with me that he's the healthiest he's been in years and feeling awesome after his annual checkup. He's been working hard at exercising and eating well. I'm really proud of him and I'm so happy because it means that will have him around a lot longer. He's really an inspiration to me in so many ways. After dinner I get some journaling done in the privacy of trashy and as much as I think about watching Lucille Ball's Long Long Trailer, I'm tired and this feather bed is so comfortable so I'm just going to Drift Off to Sleep. Tomorrow we will have Chase Drive us into Pottsville so that we can take a tour of Yuengling Brewery and enjoy a lunch together at the Roma. And by the way, Thumper is staying 2 nights too and taking a zero with us tomorrow.