Date: 2004-06-29
From: Eagle's Nest Shelter

To: Hamburg, PA - PA 61 - Microtel
Miles today: 9.3

Woke up to another chilly morning. The guys got up early and I announced I wanted to sleep in. They stayed quiet as they fixed breakfast and went off down the trail. I only slept in another hour. Mouse announced it was 60 degrees. I asked her if this was usual weather for PA. She told me no. Funny how our perception of temperature changes. A month ago, we would have thought this was a heat wave. I went ahead and put on my tank top and headed out. I guess Mouse decided to walk with me; she waited while I slept in. We had planned to room together tonight in a hotel. Another day of PA rocks. Another day of PA blueberries. We passed TreeFrog and Adam late morning. Our goal was Port Clinton. When we got there, we were in for a shock. The B&B was closed; the hotel said there were no rooms available. The outfitter had no supplies. But the post office people were nice. After TreeFrog and Adam showed up, we had a discussion about what plan B was. After consulting with handbooks and guide books, we elected to walk farther on the trail to PA61. A Microtel is listed one mile from the overpass. Since we had a short morning walk, one mile was no big deal. Off we go. Walking up the hill to Hamburg was a crazy thing. The walk is right on the highway. No big deal, but one car actually yelled obscenities at us as we walked. Makes me wonder what bad mannered hikers had done to make people so hateful that they are compelled to yell obscene comments as the whiz by us. We got here early enough to get an "economy double". Boy is this a luxury room. Mouse headed off to the Cabelas across the highway for a new hat. I choose to do laundry. Sitting in the laundry room editing some journal entries when Adam shows up with their laundry. He is amused with TreeFrog. He has no town clothes so is sitting in the room with no clothes. Adam tells me TreeFrog and I have too much clothes. Maybe, Mouse has the same clothes amount as Adam, two changes. I just feel I like to sleep in something other then what I've been walking in all day. Besides that, my sleep clothes are cotton. A small luxury I feel makes my journey a little ore comfortable. To each their own, I guess. Later, Mouse and I end up at the CrackerBarrel for supper. TreeFrog and Adam have gone somewhere. I thought maybe we'd see them at the eatery, but no. I've never been to this chain before. Lots of food, plain but good. I eat a Chef salad. I really miss fresh salads and veggies. I insist on a dessert, blackberry cobbler to increase our berry karma. Back to our room. I visit with Adam and TreeFrog before heading for bed. We're planning for a late morning start, after taking advantage of the free continental breakfast here. I just wish they'd start at six and not six thirty. I really like to get going early, but we don't do this every time, so it'll be okay. I've gotten a couple emails from folks that have dropped off the trail. It's interesting how some feel a need to justify their departure and others are just dropping me a line. I also heard from Peter(SweetThing). I really miss them all. It's only been three months but it feels like a life time. In a few short months, this will all be over. An experience of a lifetime. I hope I can keep up the good work, ha-ha.Namaste'