Date: 2009-08-19
From: Port Clinton PA

To: Boiling Springs PA
Miles today: 95.6

8/8/09 SaturdayRandall my brother arrived around 1:00 to pick me up. He brought two of my friends along which was an al some surprise. We bought ice cream, I fiddled a little then my brother shared some watermelon and grapes with the other Hikers. The way home was long. My knees hurt so bad, mainly because I¢m not use of sitting for so long. Seeing Home almost broughnt tears to my eyes, It looked so strange and different. Yet nothing changed. My room felt so different and so did my bed. It all felt like I entered into a stranger¢s house. It took some time to get used of milking the cows. The milkers were heavy. I must of lost a lot of upper body muscle. At the beach with my family was alsome. I think I deserved a vacation from the Trail. My bug bites somewhat healed. I talked to my Uncle and he said that my couson Daniel would be interested in hiking with me for two weeks. I am going to try to get him to hike the rest of the trail with me. At home I was able to resupply. My sister Lucille said she wants to hike a 26 mile section with me. So Friday was a long ride back with my sister, except with me driving. I had a hard time getting used of going so fast, amazingly fast. We started at the Bellvale Creamery were I left off and left our vehicle parked in Unionville at the Out house Hostel, better known as the Mayors house. Butch gave us a ride to the trail head were I had left off before. Starting again felt good but it was hard for my sister Lucille. She had to buy shoes that were never broke in. That night I mete little Dipper who was so exited because I met her before at the Bird cage. We night hiked to the shelter with her, so she could meet her Dad. I am hoping to get to know her better since she lives near in Bloomsburg PA.8/15/09 SaturdayToday went Ok. My sister developed major blisters. We stopped and rested about a 100 times. I helped put moleskin on her feet and stopped at a stream to cool off. We stopped at a ice cream and garden place were we had ice cream and peaches. I hope my sister is enjoying herself. Today we walk on a boardwalk that was about a mile long. It was awesome. Tonight my sister wants to see a bear. I am not that exited to see any bear around the shelter but any were elso would be fine. Water was not plentiful today but we came across trail magic, a cooler full of huge jugs of water. I plan to get to home again by Friday so once my sister leaves I will start doing some heavy miles. My youth group is planning to hike Port Clinton to Sand Springs trail with me. O I¢m looking forward to that. Also Home school said he would hike a few mile of PA. I can¢t wait!8/16/09 SundayToday was slow. Lucille¢s blisters were bothering her pretty bad. We put moleskin on in the morning. I seen a wild life preserve today, it was pretty much a giant swamp. I saw some swans too. It was a relief to get to the Out house in Unionville. We ate, lunch at a Deli and shopie. I played my fiddle and watch a movie. I was able to resupply with the stuff I brought along. I also sent my sleeping bag home and now I am using a sheet. It been way too hot for a sleeping bag lately. My next stop is home, then I might flip-flop and start in Georgia so I can end up at home again. Tonight I have a great Supper at the Outhouse and planning to do 25 miles days till home. So I can make it on time so that the youth group can hike with me on a weekend.8/17/09 MondayDid 27 miles today. Didn¢t get in till 11:00 PM. I drank over 8 liters of water today. Tonight I am staying at the Brink Shelter. When I came to the shelter a man there thought I was a bear and started to holler and clap. Well, sorry for that surprise.8/18/09 TuesdayDid a 31 miler, it was kind of fun. The terrain was extremely smooth. The Nobos are always complaining about the rocks in Pennsylvania but the first 5 miles was alsome. I stopped at a fire tower to take a picture of the sun set. The second picture was of the ground. I had the camera on a timer so the picture would get clear and a sudden gust opf wind blew it off the railing and to the floor. The water proof glass broke so I took it out completely and it still takes good pictures. I crossed the Delaware water Gap at around 7:30. At a picnice area a family from NY gave me some food., but a hour later I ate at a pizza place to celebrate my border crossing.8/19/09 WednesdayToday was another 30 miler. Still no rocks. These NOBO¢s are full of hot air. I had one mile rock scrample coming off the Mountian at Lihigh Gap. I did it in the dark. Today I was hiking a ridge for 14 miles straight. I can¢t wait to see home again when I get to Port Clinton. Halfway through the day I had to put some duct tape on my foot. I need to start taking it easy pretty soon. When I got to Leghigh Gap I decided that I will eat at any thing that is in seeing distance. Well there was nothing. As soon as I was about to make up my mind to keep walking a police officer pulls up and offers a Ride to a pizza place. A first I didn¢t know what to think but then I took him up on that offer. That was my first ride in a police car. He gave me his e-mail. And then even took me back to the trail head. I got to the Outerbridge shelter around 12:00 and found it trashy. Probaly because it is so close to the road and all the locals don¢t clean up the beer bottles and stuff. I can¢t wait till Friday. Port Clinton, Here I Come!