Date: 2005-06-24
From: Port Clinton, Pa

To: The Cliffs
Miles today: 29.5

7:50I'm walking, I got up really early this morning. I took a 1 mile walk down the street to the 3-C's restaurant, where I had a few cups of coffee, a few glasses of water, and a Grand Slam breakfast. I was eating by 5:30 am.I got back to the hotel and got myself a Lipton's 20 ounce Iced Tea. I grabbed my stuff and started hauling ass out of town. By 6:30 this morning I was on the Trail. It was a little rough going for me this morning, mainly because I just drank 40 ounces of water, and the 20 ounce iced tea. I'm carrying a full load, with 5 full days of food in my pack. I've got 2 full liters of water that I'm carrying also. So, there is easily 15 pounds more in my pack and on my self than I walked in with. Of course, it's a hike uphill.It's very steep in some places, it probably feels steeper than it really is. It's 1,000 feet in elevation gain, one section is 500 feet in a half a mile. I'm huffing and puffing pretty loud. I hope to make a good 20 miles today, if not more. I want to get into Palmerton tomorrow, as early as possible. I'm trying to meet Nicki, but she won't answer her damned phone! I'll keep trying to call her. It's a great day to walk. The temperature is already up to 72 degrees. It's a pretty good indicator that it's going to be a very hot day. Yesterday, my thermometer hit 91.This shirt does a great job in keeping me cool and wicking away the sweat. I'm going to go listen to the news.12:30   I'm back to walking after dropping into Eckville Shelter. I got a couple of Cokes and a grape juice and a few snacks out of the fridge there. Eckville Shelter is actually a shack with some bunks and a house next to it. Across the street there are some tent platforms. The old white fridge on the front porch of the house is filled with sodas, snacks, and ice cream sandwiches. You leave a donation in a jar for whatever you take.I did over 15 miles in less than 4 1/2 hours this morning. It felt good. It's a very dangerous feeling for me, I'm starting to feel indestructable again. The harder I push, the better it feels. It's a real temptation to break into a run and start running the flats again, which of course, would trash my knees. It's like a drug, to feel that good. It's a pretty incredible feeling to be in this kind of shape. I'm actually thinking of running off 36 miles today, running just short of Palmerton and getting there in time for breakfast. I just passed a southbound section hiker. I could tell because he has about 50 pounds in his pack. OH CRAP!!!! I just passed a rattlesnake! That scared me!! I'm thinking that southbounder didn't even see that snake. He probably just stepped over him, or stepped within inches of him. He's a lucky guy, that he didn't get bit. He was wearing shorts and no gaiters, it's a good thing that snake was lazy.The Trail this morning has been most excellent. There were 2 climbs, one I'm almost done with now. The one out of Port Clinton was 1,000 feet and the one out of Eckville Shelter was also about 1,000 feet. Other than that it has been pretty good grade. Very few rocks. There was a good bunch of them going 1/2 south of Eckville Shelter, and then for a mile going out. Most of this morning was good. I actually had a long, extended walk in places, which is why I have been hauling ass for so long. The Trail has been good. These New Balance 806's are just kick ass through the rocks. I have been doing so well with them, it's like I'm gliding across them. They feel wonderful, a big change from walking on thses rocks and getting beat up. It's like nothing to me this time. 6 pmThe Trail proved me to be a liar, as soon as I turned off the recorder last time, the Trail got really, really nasty with the rocks. I kept running through a smorgasboard of rocks. I got to Allentown Shelter at about 3 o'clock, and who should be there but Horizon and Montana Lush.Being a smart ass I said, " What the hell are you guys doing here? Let's go eat!" They had already been thinking about it. I signed in, turned around and ran out and said, "Last one there, buys!" They took me seriously, because 10 minutes later, they went running by me on the Trail! I tried like hell to catch up to them at my fastest speed. Those little bastards would run 100 yards ahead every time I caught up with them. We did 4.1 miles in about an hour. Blue Summit Restaurant is actually a pretty decent restaurant. We ordered NY Strip Serloins and drinks. We did it up right. I told them to order anything they wanted to, and they did. I was glad, it was my treat. I am once again walking, after a stop of about 2 hours at the Blue Summit Restaurant. 27 miles already.I was thinking of doing 36 miles, but it would be pretty stupid of me to do that.I can be in Palmerton by 10 o'clock, depending on what time I wake up.I'm going to look for a place to crash. So, I didn't do 30 miles, but this is what happens when you drink and hike. It was still a respectable day. I am still very close to Palmerton, which I can hit by 9 am. It's almost 7:30. I am beat to hell. My stomach is full. I could use a couple of tall glasses of ice water, but I will have to settle for some lemonade mix. I'm going to lay down, and I'm sure that when my head hits the ground I will be asleep. I'm tired. That stupid race with Montana Lush and Horizon wore me out. I had 10 more miles on my legs than they did. It was alot of fun. I owed up to my end of it. It sure was alot of fun.That's it.