Date: 2008-06-22
From: Vernon, N.J.

To: Vernon, N.J.
Miles today: 0.0

After being in the woods for several days I look forward to a town day. Wednesday Hometown and I hiked 6 miles from Kirkridge Shelter to Delaware Water Gap. DWG is a small tourist town located on the Pa. N.J. border. After arriving in town at 8 o'clock we headed for the Water Gap Diner. I just love those small town diners. The coffee was great, all 4 cups. The breakfast was delicous and very large portions. Hometown and I joined Padre, the Catholic Priest for breakfast. I have had questions about Catholic beliefs and here was a great opportunity to get answers. It was a special time in that diner talking about redemption and the difference between being religious and being spiritual. We then went next door to the Farmers Market and Bakery. They had a special of a hot dog and a slice of fresh Apple pie for only 1.49. I also ate a chicken pot pie just out of the oven. Ice cream finished my second meal. While eating in the Market Vagabond walked in. I have been chasing him for several months. I have been reading his shelter entries and wanted to talk with him. He is from Canton, Ohio and is doing a 7 year walk around the world. He joined us and had a good conversation about his world hike. He was taking several days off to go to Philadelphia, Pa. to meet a girl. We warned him about the implacations this trip could have on his journey around the world, but to no avail, he is already in love and hasn't even met her yet. We spent the night at the Hostel in the basement of the Presbyterian Church of the Mountains. There were about 9 hikers there. I saw a notice hanging on the wall about a massotherapist in town that gave treatments to hikers. I thought this would be a good chance to reassamble my skeleton that Pennsylvania had pulled apart. When I arrived at the house I realized the age of Aquarius had dawned and set and a New Age had dawned. The Indian gurus, Baba Rama, and crystals were dominant in the house. But I was not there to learn about the saving power of crystals, I just wanted my body put back together. I noticed a moon chart on the wall and made the mistake of mentioning the beautifull full moon the night before at the Kirkridge Shelter. She said she was also on Kirkridge Mountain that night with 11 other people. They were having a moon celebration. Of course wondering minds wanted to know what that was. Apparently the 12 people chanted and sang and brought out a crystal chalise filled with water and in some fashion gave praise to the moon. Somewhere nearby a bullfrog started croaking. Someone started counting how often the frog croaked. I thought, different croaks for different folks. According to her a bullfrog usually only croaks 3 to 5 times. The croak counter kept on keeping track, and soon the unthinkable happened, the frog started croaking and didn't stop till it had croaked 12 times. They were almost hysterical, one croak for each person. It was a full moon miracle. If you removed the frog from bullfrog what remains is what I thought about that ceremony. The next morning I was hiking out of town and came to Sunfish Pond, the pond I described in last nights journal. I stopped for a break and soon a huge bullfrog started croaking. It croaked 3 times then 5 croaks several times. I had just put on my backpack and was leaving when mr frog filled his jowls with air and started croaking, 3 times 5 times 6-7-8- all the way to 12, I am not making this up, that old bull trumpeted 12 times. Oh miracle of miracle, now I'm a believer, I'm not crystal clear yet on all the tenants of my new beliefs, but Charlie Pride please send me that crystal chandalier for my hallway, I'm crystal Blue persuaded. Ask not for whom the frog croaks, it croaks for thee.