morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-11
From: Alec Kennedy shelter

To: Cove Mtn shelter
Miles today: 25.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Temp: 65It was cold this morning. I really didn't want to get out of bed. It was about 700am when I finally did. I quickly packed my stuff and ate a pop tart and was out on the trail by 730am. We got into Boiling Springs just before 900am. We meet up with Bear Fodder and headed for a diner. When we got there the sign said closed on Sunday. We asked a guy at the Tavern next door if there was any place to get breakfast. He said he didnt know but he made a phone call then told us there wasn't any place around here. Disappointed, we went over to the Getty's gas station and ate a bunch of junk food. I had 1500 calories of junk with a Italians sub I would carry for lunch. We said goodbye to Bear Fodder since he was staying at the next shelter and we were pushing on to the next. About a mile out of town I realized I forgot to buy a spoon from the outfitters. I left my spoon ate the hotel the other day and had to use Yeti's spoon. I have to remember to get one in Duncannon. The trail was beautiful and mostly flat. We pushed hard today because we were doing 25 miles and trying to beat the rain. About 2 mile away from the first shelter we sat down in the middle of the trail and ate lunch. A lady and her dog came by and we said we would move but she said she would walk around. I ate the sub with a snickers and I was satisfied. After lunch we pushed on to the second shelter without a real break, and made it there by 530pm. I had to use the privy the first thing. Then I washed my hands and made dinner. Spanish rice with grandma cookie, crackers and hot chocolate for dessert. I'm down to the last day of food. I just eat whatever is left. I went down to the spring to get water and when I came back up how do I see, Bear Fodder. He had missed the sign for the last shelter and keep hiking until he made it here. The funny thing is he said this has happened before. I'm glad because we get to hang out with him again and maybe have breakfast in Duncannon, if there's a place open. I read in the trail registry that a porcupine come around ever night looking for food so we had to hang everything up. A sign on the shelter says it likes the salty sweat of hikers and we saw were the hikers sit the wood is all chewed up. We all have our cameras read if he comes around tonight. It's raining pretty good know and I'm glad me made it before it hit. Hopefully it will let up in the morning so we can hike into town dry. I didn't have a strong cell signal today but I was able to get a text message through to my mom. Happy Mother's Day, you are the best Mom and I love you.
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Cove Mtn shelter

To: Peters Mtn shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: light rain

No porcupine last night. I'm disappointed I didn't get to see him but it rained all night and that probably scared him off. It was cold in the morning and we all didn't want to get out of bed. I had some hot chocolate to get started since we were going to eat breakfast in town. It was a 4 mile trek and Bear Fodder met us at the diner Goodies. I had the western omelets with home fries and sausage. The other guys had the Hungryman special. We talk to another hiker, Spruce. He took a zero yesterday and was there having breakfast. I haven't seen him since Harpers Ferry. He said he was meeting his sister for lunch later today and would try to make it to the shelter we were headed for. After breakfast I went to the laundry mat to dry off my clothes. It had been raining stead all day. After I put on some dry clothes we when to Mutzabaugh market for a 3 day resupply. I believe it was kosher. Then we went to the pizza shop for lunch. Bear Fodder ordered a stromboli that was huge. He couldn't finish it so he took it up to the counter to get a box and a piece of it fell on the floor. He quickly picked it up and called the 5 second rule. Out here if food is on the floor for 5 minutes we still eat it. Well we headed back up the trail around 130pm and we walked through town for 2 mile before we were back in the woods. We took a break at the first shelter just to dry off. Bear Fodder showed up just as we were packing up. He gave us some good and plenty's for the road. The rain finally let up when we got to the shelter at 600pm. We didn't have any water so we had to walk down a steep hill with 300 stone steps. It took us 8 minutes to get down to the water. Thankfully it was a nice piped spring. We filled up with as much water as we could carry. On the way back up I had to switch hands 3 times because the water was so heavy. When I got back to the shelter Bear Fodder was there. We let him have some of our water because we didn't him to have to make the hike all the way down there and back. Yeti, Toddy Bear, and I had macaroni and cheese for dinner. As usual it was very good. For dessert I had hot chocolate and a skors bar. The shelter were staying in is really nice and it looks like you could fit 20 hiker in here. There is another shelter down the hill that Earl Shaffer built. I haven't gone down the hill to see it, maybe tomorrow. Spruce didn't make it to the shelter. Maybe he got a late start and only made it to the first shelter. The weather man says its going to be nice tomorrow, we'll see. Long day tomorrow, trying for 30.8. Hope I got it in me. Better get some rest.
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Peters Mtn shelter

To: William Penn shelter
Miles today: 30.8
Weather: few clouds

Temp: 76It was cold last night but it didn't feel so bad because we stayed on the second level and the shelter shaded us from the wind. We were suppose to get up early but were unable to get out of bed do to we were tired. I finally got out of bed and made oatmeal and mint hot chocolate. We left the shelter at 730am and said goodbye to Bear Fodder for real this time. I don't think we'll be seeing him after our 30 mile day. I stopped by the Earl Shaffer shelter on the way out. It was short and didn't fit many hiker. I'm glad they built the new one. I started hiking in the front today. I hiked very fast so I could warm up. By 1000am it was hot and I striped off some layers of clothes and ate some trail mix. I hiked a little slow and by 1100am the guys caught up to me. By 100pm we stopped for lunch near the Rausch Gap shelter. I ate 3 everything bagels with nutella and trail mix. We left there at 200pm and hiked 4.5 hour straight until we finally made it to the shelter. First thing I did was blow up my inflatable mattress and layed down for 15 minutes. Then I got hungry so I went and got water. My dinner was Spanish rice with Southwest chicken and mashed potatoes. I wish I had dessert but I was just to tired. I think that will be my last 30 mile day. Got to get some sleep. See you in the morning.
Date: 2008-05-14
From: William Penn shelter

To: Eagle's Nest shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Temp: 48/77Tossed in turned all night. I woke up one time I was grinding my teeth. That can't be good for my teeth. I got up late, 715am, and Toddy Bear was already up making breakfast. I struggled out of bed and made some oatmeal and hot chocolate. We hit the trail at 830am and made it to 501 shelter at 1000am. The 501 shelter is fully enclosed with a big skylight in the middle. There was a picnic table in the middle with bunkbeds all around. Outside they had a solar shower. I Tested the waters and it was to cold for me. We had a snack there and headed to Eagle's Nest shelter. About half way out we ate lunch at a nice scenic overlook. I finished off my 3 bagels with nutella and changed my socks. we got to Eagle's Nest shelter at 430pm and the shelter was nearly full. Yeti and I have to sleep on the foot board, I hope no one steps on us. For dinner I had a new one, it Rice Medley with Southwest chicken and crackers with a king size snickers for dessert. Get in camp early sucks. I got done with dinner at 530 and I didn't know what to do. It usually getting dark by the time I get done with dinner. I looked at the maps for awhile and planned my resupplies and I was in my sleeping bag by 730pm. It was still light out but I had nothing else to do so I started my journal. The bugs are getting worse. I use a bandanna draped over my headed to keep the bugs out of my eyes and ears. I suspects it looks funny, I should take a picture next time to see. It's actually getting dark now. I guess it time for bed. Port Clinton tomorrow. We have a big day planned and I'll let you guy know about it tomorrow. You'll just have to wait.
Date: 2008-05-16
From: Port Clinton 

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: moderate rain

I woke up this morning and it was raining. It's going to rain all day and I hate hiking in the rain. We got up about 700am and went to 3C's diner. We all had the Big Big Breakfast and it looked bigger than the Neighborhood Nibbler. I was watching the weather channel while we ate and it looks like rain all weekend. So on the way out I stopped by theYe Olde Backer to get a pack cover. So far I haven't needed a pack cover because it hasn't rained that much. Most of the time it rains for a day and my pack dries out the next day. I use a thick trash bag to line the inside of my pack. So far this has keep all my gear dry but my pack gets soaked and become heavy. (Ye Old Backpacker were very nice and helpful I would recommend them to any thru-hiker). We got out of town by mid morning and it was big climb out, especially in the rain. We hiked straight through 5 hours and 15 mile to get to the shelter. I noticed that when it raining none of us want to stop for break. We just want to get to the next shelter. When we got to Eckville shelter we were amazed that it was more like a hostel than a shelter. It was fully enclosed, bunk beds with a light and an outlet. It was nice to get in some dry clothes, but it was chilly today and I wish I hadn't sent my fleece jacket home in Harpers Ferry. We hung out clothes up to dry and I got in my sleeping bag to warm up. I'm such a baby when it comes to being cold. I don't know why, it was always cold in Ohio I should be use to it. I guess living in South Carolina for 7 year thinned out my blood. Velveeta shells and cheese for dinner and a snickers for dessert. There was a flushable privy so we all use that. There was a solar shower, the water was cold so none of us used that. Update on the weather, slight chance of rain high in 70's. The weatherman seems to be wrong allot.
Date: 2008-05-18
From: Palmerton, Pa

To: Leroy A. Smith shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

Sleep good in the bunk bed. It was a little too short for me but its better that a shelter floor. I got up and packed up my stuff and went to breakfast at the diner. They were still playing the Beatles. I think if I worked there I would get sick of the Beatles. We talked to a couple about the trail. We noticed that the same questions are asked every time. Where are you from? When did you start? How far are you going? Did you meet on the trail?On the way out we meet an older gentleman named Kurt. We talked for a moment and he offered us a ride back to the trail when he was done with breakfast. We said that would be great and we would meet him back at the diner. We went off to re-supply and stopped at Rite Aid so Yeti could get some more Glucosamine/chlorititin pills. They came in pop-out packets. That¢s going to be fun pushing out all those pills. As we were leaving to go back to the diner, Kurt pulls up. He said that he thought he had miss us and went looking for us. How nice is that, our hitch came looking for us. So we go a ride back to the trail and Kurt told us some history on the zinc mines. His brother worked on the mines and said he lived to be 90 years old. Kurt dropped us off and wished us luck. I got a picture.The climb out of Palmerton was amazing. This is what I thought all Pennsylvania was going to like. It was a hard climb but extremely fun. At the top you can see how bad the mountain top had been stripped. It looks like the vegetation is having a hard time re-growing. From here we just ridge walked all the way to the shelter. It started to rain and progressively got worse the closer we got to the shelter. Just before the shelter we saw another bobcat. That¢s the second day in a row. Either we¢re extremely lucky or bobcats aren¢t that hard to spot. When we got to the shelter the rain stopped. We saw a rainbow through the trees. I tried to get a picture. I¢m not sure if it came out.At the shelter there are multiple springs to choose from. The first one we went to was dry and I think it has always been dry. Even if it rain for 40 days and 40 nights it would still be dry. Actually I don¢t even think it a spring at all, it just a hole someone dug in the ground and called it a spring. Second spring was good and I just wanted to eat and get warm.We talked to Bad Hummus and got an update on the crowd behind us and trail days. He¢s doing well but wishes he was on the trail. I ate dinner in my sleeping bag. I was cold and I wish I had my winter clothes.
Date: 2008-05-19
From: Leroy A. Smith shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap, Pa
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: light rain

Slept in this morning. It was hard to get out of bed. The guys were waiting on me again as usual. Fairly easy hike today a couple of climbs but no problem. Thats the greatest thing about having trail legs, those climbs seem so much easier when your in shape. We knocked down 20 miles today like it was nothing. The last down hill into town was a little rough and confusing but I managed to find my way. I was happy to get into town and to the hostel. I knew I had new blisters on my feet I could feel them. Thankfully I'm getting off for some needed rest. The hostel is run by the church and I thank them for being so hospitable to the hikers. We meet two hikers, Sunnyside and Peebles. They stopped here last year and decided to start here to finish the trail this year. We dropped our stuff and headed out on the town.Its cold out today. I notice I complain about the cold allot. I should just carry a winter jacket all the time. We stopped at the outfitter and Yeti picked up some new SuperFeet insoles. We walked around looking for something to eat. We ended up eating at the pizzeria. We each had a 16" pie with a 2 liter of soda. I watched Sponge Bob Square Pants on the TV and laughed my butt off. That Sponge Bob cracks me up.Back at the hostel we just hung out. I took a shower, feels good to be clean. We talked to Sunnyside and Peebles for awhile then went to bed. I was on the top bunk and I hate that. I always feel like I'm going to fall off. Going home tomorrow. When I started the trail the one condition my wife had was that I had to come home to celebrate our 1st wedding aniversary together. We booked a cruise to Bermuda. So I'm heading home to be with my wife.
Date: 2008-05-20
From: Delaware Water Gap, Pa

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I slept ok for being on the top bunk. TB and I were the first ones up and we gathered up our stuff and started packing. We went to breakfast and on the way back to the hostel I said my goodbyes and we parted ways.I caught the bus out of town and got to NYC at 1000am. I quickly made it over to Penn Station and bought a ticket for the trail. I barely made the express train by two minutes. When I got to Freeport I walked to CVS and surprised my Wife. She wasnt expecting to see me so she was very surprised. We're leaving at the end of the week to celebrate our 1st wedding aniversary. She was hungry so I went over to the deli and got some bagels and coffee. I sat down and ate with her and then she had to get back to work. I drove the car home and caught up on TV with all those shows I have recorded on TIVO. Oh TIVO were would I be without you. Lost I tell you.
Date: 2008-05-21
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up and took Liz to work at 730am. I came back home and went to bed. It¢s really nice to be home. I sleep until 1100am. I got up and went to Wendy¢s for lunch. I came back home and watched all the Doctor Who that I missed and some movies I recorded. I wish I had more to write but that¢s it. Oh yeah I did get some Epson salt so I could soak my feet and get rid of these blisters. I picked up Liz from work and went to bed. Hard day.
Date: 2008-05-23
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

We slept in yet again. I can get use to this. Liz is going into the city for a manicure. I¢m staying at home to get the luggage ready. I dropped her off at the LIRR and picked her up around 600pm. We ate some sushi near the train station. It was really good. When we got home I finish packing my stuff and went to sleep. We got to get up early so we can beat the traffic.
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Home

To: Baltimore, MD
Miles today: 0.0

Got up at 300am and started packing the car. After going to the bank we left around 500am. Traffic wasn¢t bad and we got to Baltimore at 930am. Since we can¢t technically get on the ship until noon we went shopping at a near by Walmart. We pulled in the shipyard at 1030am and parked our car. We went through check-in really quick. We waited about 20mins before we were allowed on the ship. Once on the ship we looked around to see where everything was. We saw where our dinner table was. It was wedged by a serving station and a wall, it had to may chair for the table and we new it was going to be a problem, so we asked the maitde to move us to the center. When we went to went to dinner that night our table was in the middle of the dinning room right in front of the live music. It was great and also we were the only ones at the 8 person table. Back at the room we unpacked our stuff and got ready for tonight¢s show. After the show we were exhausted and went right to bed.
Date: 2008-05-25
From: Baltimore, MD

To: Bermuda
Miles today: 0.0

We slept until 900am and went to the caf© for breakfast. They had every breakfast food you could want, eggs, bacon, sausage, pancake, waffles, French toast, omelets, I could go on. We hung out on the deck for awhile then roamed the ship the rest of the day. Tonight is the Captain¢s Dinner. We got dressed up really nice and had cocktail hour with free drinks. We got to meet the captain and the whole crew. It was nice we got free drinks, I was feeling tipsy after that. We headed off to dinner to our personal table, so nice. I love the live music, it two guy, one plays the violin and the other piano. Unfortunately I¢m not writing this on the day of so I don¢t remember what we had for dinner but I do know that every night on the cruise I had 2 appetizers, 2 dinners, and 2 desserts. After dinner we just went back to the room since we¢ll be in Bermuda tomorrow.
Date: 2008-05-26
From: Bermuda

To: Bermuda
Miles today: 0.0

We got up between 800 and 900am. We got our stuff ready for Bermuda. We found out yesterday that today is a holiday, it the queens birthday. None of the stores are going to be open today. We also realized that the ferries are going to be on a different schedule because of the holiday. The cruise ship gave us the ferry time table but it didn¢t have holiday times. We had to go to the Purser¢s Desk to tell them it was a holiday and we need the right schedule. When we got off the ship we went looking for the visitors center thinking we could get all our questions answered. They didn¢t know crap. So we walked back to where we started and waited for the ferry. Just a few people took the ferry to St. George, most people went to Hamilton to see the parade. When we got to St. George we wanted to get to Tobacco Bay to snorkel but we weren¢t sure how to get there. The map the cruise ship gave us only showed the downtown shopping area. We needed to get to the other side of the island to the beach. We didn¢t know how far it was so we needed to ask someone or find a taxi. On the map we started on the bottom corner at the ferry dock and started walking towards town. We walked two blocks and arrived in the middle of the town. So the map was not accurate at all be cause we walked half the map in two block. So we asked a guy for directions to Tobacco Bay and he said it was only 12 mile down the road. So we walked. The water was soooo cold. We usually go snorkeling in the Caribbean or Mexico. The Atlantic ocean is cold in Bermuda. We did see a bunch of tropical fish. We took pictures underwater of them following us and we got a picture of a parrot fish (one of Liz¢s favorites). We could hear him eating the coral as we swam by him. We also saw brain coral. It was getting late and we had to grab the next ferry or we would have to wait 2 hours for the next. The ferry stopped by the dockyard but we stayed on to go to Hamilton. When we got there they had a parade going on. Most of the stores were closed, but we found a bar open so we stopped there to eat. I had a local favorite called ¢bangers and mash¢. It¢s just sausage and mash potatoes. After the parade was over there was nothing to do so we just went back to the ship.
Date: 2008-05-27
From: Bermuda

To: Bermuda
Miles today: 0.0

Happy Anniversary! We got up this morning with a big day planned. We had breakfast and meet on the Dockyard for a Segway Tour. If you don¢t know what a Segway you just have to look it up because I can¢t describe it. It took just took a few minutes to get use to the controls but after that we were riding like old pro¢s. We went on a guided tour around the dockyard. One of the ladies on the tour ran into a car. She was trying to take a picture while driving. After the tour we did some shopping. Once we were back on the ship we decided we wanted to try the rock climbing on board. It was fun, exciting both of us made it to the top. It was a fun anniversary and I definitely want a Segway now.
Date: 2008-05-28
From: Bermuda

To: Baltimore, MD
Miles today: 0.0

We had a great anniversary yesterday. Today we are out to sea leaving Bermuda. We don¢t have much planned for today but I¢m sure we¢ll stay busy. We did some shopping at the boat¢s gift shop then went back to the room. We haven¢t been in the hot tub the whole trip so we got our suits on and went up to deck 9. When we got up there we realized that it was raining. They had the automatic sliding door turn off because the wind was blowing the rain in every time the doors opened. Tile floors inside made it slipy. Since we took the time to get ready we figure might as well go in anyway. So I pulled open the door and we went out on the deck, set our towel on a chair out of the rain and got into the hot tub. It was great, there was only Liz and I in one hot tub and 4 kids in another hot tub across the pool. The rain was cold and the wind made it feel like hard pellets but it was nice in the hot tub. We stayed in for awhile, and watched as the kids would get out and jump into the freezing pool water and run back into the hot tub. After all that fun we went back to the room and took a nap.After dinner we went to a show. It was a juggler/comedian. We had a good time. I didn¢t tell you much about the other shows because I can¢t remember what days they were on. We saw 2 comedians both very funny, we missed the magician and we saw 1 musical. There was a game that the passengers played called the quest. The room is divided up in teams and they have to bring an object to the front when it called for but you only have so much time to do it in. For example the cruise director called out 2 men wearing women¢s bras, or two people showing there favorite sexual position. We actually saw to men up there doing this. It was quite funny. Well that was our cruise. I wish it was longer.