Date: 2005-04-08
From: Sleeping in Deer Lick Shelter, Pa.

To: Pine Knob Shelter, Md
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: overcast clouds

22.3 miles todaySleeping in the shelterPine Knob Shelter, Md I slept well last night. I only woke up a few times when I heard a lone owl. I got up this morning and made coffee and ate the rest of the pizza that I packed in. I had my mind set on staying here today, maybe all day depending on the weather. I was going to read that book I talked about yesterday. It was supposed to rain most of the day, but when I realized that the sun was starting to shine through the trees, I decided to get ready to walk. I started walking at 7:25am and felt great. I can't believe how good it always feels to be back in the woods. I walked fairly slow today because I knew I wasn't going to go too far. I'm trying to make this section last until Monday or Tuesday. I didn't bother getting any water because I knew there was a spring coming up in a little over a mile. When I got to the spring, I tanked up and filled my litre water bottle. These springs are so nice. I'll never take one for granted again after hiking in Florida. I crossed the Mason-Dixon Line about 9am from Pennsylvania into Maryland. Not long after that was Penn-Mar Park. I thought I'd get to use a phone, but it was locked up. I was the only one in the park. I've hiked through here before when it was packed with people. I enjoyed the view from an overlook there and then hiked on. It's pretty rocky and a few climbs in this area. I even missed the trail once. Hey Hippie and John Galt, remember getting lost in here 3 times a couple years ago in the middle of the night?? That was fun. :-)) I passed by a northbound group of young backpackers. I could see that they had stayed at Devils Racecourse Shelter and were only just leaving there when I walked by. I didn't stop there because it was .3 miles off the trail. I continued walking slowly today. I stopped at Ensign Cowall Shelter and took an hour eating lunch and reading the register. I hiked on and found another nice spring, so I tanked up again and filled my water bottle. I came to a side trail that was 1/4 mile out to Annapolis Rocks. I went out there and sat for a while enjoying the warm sunshine and the views. One of my favorite views is when you are way up high looking down on a valley below and there are hawks, eagles or even buzzards flying below you. It give the whole scene kind of a three dimensional feeling. Today it was half a dozen buzzards flying around below me. This was the first time I've ever came out to this area. I'm still seeing things on this trail that I've missed before. It was still early, but I was thinking about cowboy camping on those rocks until people started showing up, so I hiked on. I got to Pine Knob Shelter and went ahead and ate an early dinner. There's a nice spring here and I've got the shelter to myself. I got into my sleeping bag about 2 hours before the sun set and journaled, then started reading. By the time the sun was getting low I was having a hard time keeping my eyes open. Sometimes reading puts me to sleep. I was able to stay awake long enough to watch the beautiful sunset right out in front of the shelter.Another great day on the A.T.