Date: 2017-09-22
From: Tentsite at 887.7

To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

9/22/17 Day 115 - 14.9 milesTentsite at 887.7 to Kirkridge ShelterThe days are getting shorter very quickly. I usually wake up and start packing in the dark and the sun is up by the time I'm done. I"m still amazed that I can't get my pack up time under 45 minutes. The time goes so fast. Anyway, I was up a little earlier today and since I'm up on a ridge, I was hoping to get a sunrise view. I came up on Racoon Ridge and the sky had a little bit of pink in it so I found a spot on a rock and had my breakfast. The colors were incredible and I'm pretty sure I used half the memory of my phone taking pic after pic. So glad I got to see this. I feel like I cheated the system since I didn't even have to wake up super early to get to see this. Fleet came hiking up just as the sun was up and was able to catch the tail end of it while he ate his breakfast. I got hiking and was excited to be crossing in to PA later today. The Delaware Water Gap has some nice park facilities with a campground, bathrooms, sinks (Woohoo), and hoses to fill up water bottles. Fleet had made it down to the gap just as I was getting ready to cross the bridge into PA. This guy walks fast - takes tons of breaks and then flies by me. Walked into the town of Delaware Water Gap PA and went straight to the Post Office to pick up a resupply box that Lisa mailed me. I tell her how many meals I need and she puts them in a box and mails it off to me but she always puts some nice surprises in there. It's like trail Christmas every time!! I usually scarf down everything extra to keep my pack weight down and this time Fleet was there so he got some trail Christmas too. Hard time finding a place in town to charge the phone and battery back up. There was a little bakery with coffee but not very hiker helpful. They were nice people but most trail towns have outlets (and sometimes even WiFi) everywhere because hikers buy stuff when they need to hang out and charge equipment. Everytime I come across situations like this, it makes me appreciative of the technology that I have that hikers from years ago did not. They had heavy gear and external packs with metal frames. Heavy tents and big leather boots. Probably had to carry a big heavy trail guide that couldn't possibly have the up to date info that my phone app has. Gotta give them credit - as hard as the trail is for me, it was much harder for them. I do think about that a lot when I'm run down and feeling sorry for myself. Found a pizza place with outlets at the tables and decided to have a few slices and charge up. Fleet still needed to resupply and the only option in town is a gas station mini mart down the road (which is why I had Lisa send me mine). So I headed out and had no doubts that he would catch up later. The trail went straight up Mt Minsi and into the rocks of PA - not so bad yet but I'm certain that will change. I'll enjoy this while it lasts. Came up to the shelter and look who it is - Destiny. Haven't seen Stokes or Shoe Wizard in a while now, not sure how far back they are. At shelter with Stretch, Wild Child, Fleet, and Destiny. Hung out till it got dark and then went to my tent