Date: 2004-07-21
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: few clouds

Start Delaware Water GapDestination Mohican Outdoor Center I could not believe it when someone's alarm went off this morning. Luckily I just rolled over and went back to sleep. I joined Spincycle and Trail Dog for a late breakfast, and then I went down to the outfitters to catch a ride into the bigger town of Stroudsburg. I needed to get some medicine refilled. A super Wal-Mart did the trick. While I was waiting I checked my blood pressure on one of those electronic machines. 150/98 pulse 61.Hmmmm...Not a good blood pressure, but as bad as my toe hurts, maybe that accounts for it being high. Of course the pulse was good. So if I have a stroke, at least my pulse will not be an issue! It was after lunch before I got back to the hostel. I had toyed with the idea of trying to get some new boots while I was in town, but decided to try some extra cushioning on my toe and some sock liners instead. Even though these boots are coming apart, the thought of breaking in a new pair of boots unnerves me... Of course, more ibuprophen will also help. Trail Dog had already left by the time I got back from town and I met Spincycle in the Trail's End restaurant. He had already found a hair salon and had his head shaved. I didn't even recognize him. He was finished eating when I got there, but Mama's Boy was there and he invited me to sit with him. This restraint was a really nice change of food. It is more like a bistro. I ordered a Veggie Delight which was a whole wheat pita, grilled and covered with saut©ed vegetables. Zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, slice tomatoes and onions, then some sliced cheese, topped with some fresh sprouts and served with soy sauce and freshly ground pepper. I had a bowl of tomato garlic soup for starters. Maybe all I needed was a trip to Wal-Mart to jump start my appetite! I could not resist dessert, a cinnamon tortilla filled with vanilla bean ice cream, sliced bananas, and topped with both raspberry and chocolate toppings. What a heavenly treat! It was a hot trip across the Delaware River, hiking along the interstate until finally the trail turned back into the woods once more. At least the climb out of town was a gradual one and along a road bed once it turned into the woods. The trail has been following the ridge line every day now. There is very little shade today and the sun beats down unmercifully. By late afternoon, I caught up with Spincycle taking a break at Sunfish Pond. Sunfish Pond is a 40 acre glacial pond that the trail follows along its bank. Spincycle had just seen an otter, and while I was sitting there, a field mouse came scurrying out of the bushes. I walked to the edge of the water to wash my hands and when I turned around, a three foot rattlesnake came crawling out of the bushes, headed directly for our packs. Billy the Kid came up about then and had never heard a rattler snake, so Spincycle set about with his hiking stick to get the snake to rattle. It was the most docile rattlesnake I have ever seen. Even as it was picked up and moved with a hiking stick, it never struck. It was a good thing Billy the Kid heard what the snake sounded like because shortly after that he encountered a mama bear and two babies. As he was backing away from them he heard the rattling behind him. They say if you have not seen a bear by now, you will see one in New Jersey, so I am looking all around as I hike. I just do not want to see one at the end of the day as I am setting up my tent! I am hiking with Spincycle when we come across a black garbage bag and trash strewn all around. At first glance it appears to be where someone has dumped their trash. But upon closer inspection, the cans of food all have puncture holes in them. There are some empty food packages. Evidently someone hung their food bag and a bear got into it and strung it everywhere. You can bet I was on the lookout for a bear at every turn in the trail then. At a vista we stopped and rested, enjoying the breeze and the scenes of farm land below us. Pretty soon some other hikers join us and before we know it an hour has passed. It will be a challenge to get to the outdoor center before dark now. I get to the Mohican Center just minutes before they close. For $12.00 I get a bunk, and a towel. There are six sets of bunk beds in our room and a shower. Trail Dog has been here for hours already and he tells me there is someone in the bunkhouse waiting for me. I am at a loss for who it could be. When I get over there, it is Calamity! He has jumped forward to find me and to hand deliver homemade chocolate chip cookies from his mom. I figured I would never see him again. After I shower and get halfway presentable I go over to the common area where there are some firefighters sitting around talking. Within minutes I have talked them into taking our packs 17 miles up the trail and dropping them off for us. This will give us another long slackpack, with hamburgers and cold drinks to look forward to at the end of the day. I fix some macaroni and cheese for supper, and then crawl into my bed. My feet hurt so badly. I will be glad to get out of this rocky terrain. Pennsylvania has been called the boot graveyard of the AT.I think it might be better called the foot graveyard. I meet Spare Pocket who has been hiking for several months and has jumped forward. She is going to slack pack with Calamity, Trail Dog and I tomorrow.Total miles 10.3