Date: 2006-06-26
From: Windgap, PA

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: moderate rain

Third day of rain, but another good day. I enjoy walking in a warm rain. Again, another way to see the trail. Yesterday at Betty's it just seemed too daunting to venture out. Besides, we were all feeling lazy and Betty was more than glad to keep us all around. Sitting in a diner in DWG. Mute Snail just came in and sat down. All others sleeping in. At the hostel John + Lily, Uberdude, Sidewinder, Charlie Foxtrot, Kutse, Gary, Dead Bear, Mamma, Leprechaun (the older one), Texas, Firefly, Snail, maybe a couple more and three dogs. Damn, hiker smell is even worse when wet.Hiking in the rain over PA rocks actually makes them more fun. The only problem is blisters from wet boots. My feet are a mess. When we woke to rain at Betty's it was tempting to take another zero, but enough is enough. Betty shuttled us out to the trailhead where a ridgewalker congratulated us for hiking on. That's what we do. One rest day is fine, but two is too much. I need to be on the trail. Hiking in the rain is part of doing the job. It's not like we're the only brave soulse out here. There's a steady line of soggy hikers moving forward on the trail. It's raining all the way up the East Coast, so all of us are wet.Hiked on and off with John and Lily and nibbled cherry poptarts. A mile or so up the trail I spotted Charlie Foxtrot. He'd tented out all night and was only breaking camp at 11:00 after the rain let up a little. I kept a decent pace for Pennsylvania and enjoyed the hike. Seven miles in I reached Wolf Rocks. A bare cliff with good views and a good spot for a break. John had shared part of a huge WalMart sandwich with me earlier in the day. I ate another lunch from my own food bag now. Uberdude and Soren, his dog, were already there. Soren got lost in the rocks below the cliff and Uber had to rescue him. Charlie Foxtrot showed up and joined the picnic. I had a little trouble keeping my balance across the cliff from Wolf Rocks. Took yet another fall. Luckily I've learned how to land and narrowly avoided a tork fracture of my left leg. A little swelling but still intact. Charlie gave me a little lecture about overdoing at lunch time.Once the rain started again I slowed down on my wet, blistered feet. Uber was far behind like he usually is. Every one else was up ahead. I got to the Delaware Water Gap around 5:00 and like in Duncannon, hiked right on out of town completely missing the hostel. I crossed the highway bridge over the Delaware River in to New Jersy. I watched the traffic in the pouring rain. Even soaked to the skin I was happy and relieved to be on a walkway, not stacked up at the toll booth in a car. I started shouting at oncoming vehicles, "This is where I want to be! It's better here!"Once turned around I wandered back into DWG. I wasn't far when a girl called out from her door asking if I wanted a cup of coffee. I thought about my sore feet, aching back and a nearby hostel. Then what the hell. Be spontaneous and take up offers. Glad I did. Jay and Gina were hanging in her hippy style apartment. Totally laid back, she didn't mind me dripping all over everything and stinking up the place. I was on my fourth cup when we spotted Uber and called him and the dog in. Soren got a porcupine earlier in the day and I pulled out the last quill while Uber held him down.The hostel was packed when I got there. All beds full, but there's an AT style shelter out behind the church. Lots of folks here I hadn't seen in a while. Firefly was playing Scrabble with Mute Snail, Kutsa was pretty down because she had to break with the group she was in for the past month. Also in residence: Gary and Karen, Miel, Texas, Sidewinder, Leprechaun, Mystic, Dead Bear, and the rest.Laid out my wet stuff in the wet shelter to be ready in the morning for another wet day.