Date: 2017-07-10
From:  William Penn Shelter Tent Site

To: Unnamed Campsite at Mile 1206.2
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: overcast clouds

7/10William Penn Shelter Tent Site to Unnamed Campsite at Mile 1206.216.6 miles Total Miles: 1206.2I slept until 6:15 this morning and wasn't ready for the trail until 8:00.  I received a pleasant surprise when I saw Speedy in his tent, which was set up near mine. He arrived after dark, after I went to sleep and before I woke up to write my journal.  He woke up long enough to say hello but was back asleep when I left.  I heard a dog barking when Gravity went to the spring for water. It was Maple, for Jason and she had also arrived late last night and camped at the site nearer to the spring. Just two tenths of a mile into my hike today, I passed the 1,189.8 mark.  This is significant, because at that point I was exactly 1,000 miles from Katahdin.  The trail was surprisingly good this morning for a few miles before the rocks set in.  There was a timeless feeling about today's hike because the range of difficulty changed frequently between almost rockless trail, to rocky trail that allowed for disjointed jitterbug walking, to rocky jumbles that required slow, careful choosing of each footstep.  After 1,200 miles of hiking, I have gotten pretty adept at knowing how fast I am traveling and when I will get to a destination.  Not so today.  It was actually a bit liberating to simply walk along until I arrived at a certain point, because my rate of walking speed was continually changing.  My first stop today was the 501 Shelter, which is considered one of the most deluxe shelters. It is quite fancy, indeed, and is completely enclosed.  There is even a caretaker that lives nearby.  The interior is well lit by a skylight, and there are hiker boxes, one with cast off equipment and the other with canned goods.  I didn't feel like eating a whole can of Spam (there were several), but I did settle on a can of Spagettios with meatballs. I had to pack out the can, but it was worth it. After checking out the solar shower and filling my water bottles, I moved on.  My  morning hike next led to two separate overlooks. Pennsylvania officially got into the scenic view business, as these lookouts, along with a few this afternoon, provided stunning views of miles of pastoral lands with farms, buildings, roads, and woods.  I watched a peregrin falcon circling below me, probably searching for its lunch.  I also met a little bird on the trail that I fear is not long for this world.  The little thing kept trying to fly, but instead would roll over on its back in a sort of somersault.  It looked old enough to fly and did not appear injured.  No frantic bird parent noises were present.  I spoke encouragingly to it for awhile (which I'm sure did a world of good) and ended up leaving it on its own.  When I asked if I could take its picture, it paused in its movements long enough for me to get a nice photo, but I am guessing this was a coincidence.  I'm fearful that the little guy will be some animal's snack if it doesn't get the flying thing figured out soon. I hiked on and was closing in on Round Head, another overlook where I was considering lunch, when I met Leapfrog and Extra Mile again.  Southbound slackpacking, they were kind enough to include Trail Magic for both me and Gravity, and they provided us with Gatorade, fresh fruit, and a huge chocolate chip muffin. Thanks, my friends, for the glorious and unexpected feast.  I still had room for lunch at Round Head (it's hard to beat a Spam and cheese burrito) and then took my now obligatory nap.  Refreshed, I hiked strong throughout the afternoon and evening of trail, again with vastly varying degrees of difficulty.  It is amazing how quickly something can become the new normal. Trail that I would have considered difficult earlier is now becoming commonplace.  I hope this continues when the trail becomes the legendary Rocksylvania. By mid-afternoon, in a clearing for a pipeline, I passed the 1,200 mile mark, commemorated with sticks and stones.  It's hard to believe that at this point, Mount Katahdin is 210 miles closer than Springer Mountain.  About six miles further on, I found a small, unnamed campsite area that will is serving as home tonight. Gravity showed up not long after I had my tent set up, and we ate dinner together before calling it a day.  We are a bit over eleven miles from Port Clinton and Hamburg, where we plan on our next resupply. A shower, clean laundry, and food all sound good as well.  The past few days have been strenuous, but I have enjoyed my journey through Pennsylvania so far and feel ready to take on the truly rocky road that lies ahead.