Date: 2007-09-03
From: Lehigh Gap

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: clear sky

Pennsylvania is great!(morning journal entry) Boy, the hiking these days couldn¢t get easier. You go up for about 500 feet, then cruise for miles. Yeah, there are rocks in some places, but after flying on a ridge for hours, it¢s almost like taking a break to slow down on a rock ledge.I stayed in Lehigh Gap last night (at Slatington ¢ I passed up the jailhouse hostel , I¢ve run into enough Pennsylvania police already!). The people in Slatington were a little scary at first (I must¢ve seemed the same way to them), but once they warmed up to me they were friendly and hospitable.And wouldn¢t you know it, I hit yet another Karaoke night at a bar-restaurant ¢ good times had by all, ¢¦ (sigh). I swear though, I¢m going to have to start staying out of local bars and motels for a while or the price of this trip is going to skyrocket! Oh well, this won¢t last forever. Soon enough I¢ll be forced back on to the trail for 3 days or more, ¢¦ dying for bars and delis.Thinking about the halfway point again last night, and talking with the people at the bar also has helped shape my current mindset. It¢s very easy out here to take the trail TOO seriously. When the weather¢s bad, and the miles are tough, or if you¢re hurt and can¢t get a hitch into town, emotions start flying in all directions. Have to remember, I put myself in this situation. Enjoy the moment. And another thing, as I was waiting on the hotel shuttle yesterday evening, I met a family on vacation. They were very nice, open, and interested in what I was doing. It sort of bugs me sometimes that a few hikers would try to take advantage and ¢yogi¢ something from them just for the sake of yoging (and then brag about it). Please don¢t confuse this with genuine ¢trail magic¢ which is offered freely, unexpected, and often just in the nick of time. But by mid-conversation, it occurred to me that had they offered, there was nothing I needed (to survive on the trail). Things are going as well as they can, and all I have to do is keep walking. It¢s a great place to be in, and I hope I stay this fortunate for the remainder of the trip.(evening journal entry)I¢ll keep this short ¢cause it¢s time for bed.Excellent day today. Great hiking. PA is awesome. Staying tonight at a fantastic shelter (Eckville) at some nice people¢s house, then it¢s on to Port Clinton tomorrow. If all goes to plan, it¢ll be 4 days to Duncannon, then 5 more to Harper¢s Ferry.I¢m not planning on doing the 4-state challenge since: (1) I¢ve proved to myself already I can do it via the Connecticut Challenge which was 53 miles over arguably tougher terrain, (2) I have a couple borderline injuries (right ankle and left knee) that I do not want to aggravate, (3) I want to stay and hang out around Harper¢s Ferry, and (4) my mileage is good as it is. If I keep feeling healthy I¢ll be averaging over 25 miles per day pretty soon anyways.Also, today¢s the 3rd, so my parents will be here in only 10 days! That means I have an extra day to spare in case I get held up, and I¢ll be able to meet them in Harper¢s Ferry. That would be SO ultralight.I love this frickin¢ trail!Thanks for reading.   ~ Obie (Dr Jekyll)PS: Can¢t see taking advantage of people just for the sport of it.