Date: 2004-07-06
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept in. Always nice to sleep in. Sometimes, the quiet rush of mornings at the shelters is not conducive for sleeping in. I always wonder about people who are able to do so. I had talked to Paul and there was a remote possibility that my maildrop wouldn't be here. BlueBell and I walk to the post office together. We run into Mouse coming in. We're both lucky, we have packages ay the post office. Back to the hotel. Like children at Christmas, we open our boxes in anticipation and anxious that we're not stuck with more then we need. The next leg of our journey is less time then my original plan, therefore Paul has sent more food then I need. I repack part and call him to short the next maildrop. I end up going for a walk to the bakery down the street and to the outfitter. The outfitter is more focused on river trips, but they do have goop for repairing shoes. I buy a tube knowing Adam and Mouse need to do some repair on their hiking shoes.I report back to the guys that the bakery is a good place for lunch. But before lunch, we have a sit down to discuss what kind of mileage we plan for the next week, a tentative goal for our next zero, a challenge to do two high mileage days in the week ahead. These days ahead are challenging in many ways. The further north we go, the less hiker amenities are available. The trail also goes through towns that are higher priced for hotels. Resupply points are further off the trail. There are shelters with no water at the shelters. The spacing of shelters is awkward, 12 miles. Twelve miles is short but we really don't feel good about 24 miles. We find acceptable sheltering and a somewhat extended mileage for a few days. This next week should be interesting for me. I know I can do twenty miles but can I follow it with an eighteen? I will find out. Lunch at the bakery. I take my jump box with me. After the post office, I move in with Mouse. We bath take a nap. I love to nap. Didn't I say that the last zero? I wonder if I take a nap in the middle of a twenty mile day, if the remainder of the mileage would go better. I can't ever seem to find a good place to nap on the trail these days, so I don't. When we go to the lobby for supper gathering, a new batch of thruhikers are getting ready for supper also. Ray-el is in the group as is NowOrNever. And a few new faces and faces I thought I wouldn't see. Scholar has driven up. She may get back on the trail, but no decision yet. We take up a large table at the diner. Separate checks. The waitress is pleasant and efficient. I try to eat less then last night. I think I did okay. During supper, conversation turns for awhile to who is where on the trail. I am sitting next to Garcia. We've met before but we can¢t remember. I tell him that isn't important. We talk about the trail and what brought us here. Garcia is developing insight. Me, listening to the little voice. I think I will commit myself for another leg of the trail. I talked to my sister about the voice saying, time to go home. I told her maybe I need some rest. Tonight, I have no feelings one way or the other. I suspect getting back on the trail will stir up something. I need to listen. Today¢s bonus: meeting up with Ray-el. Seeing Scholar again. Epsome salt soaks for my feet. Watching TreeFrog practicing his penny whistle out on the yard. Life is good. The weather ahead is looking good. Tomorrow will be a short day, so sleep in a tad.Namaste'