Date: 2014-04-11
From: Wind Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: scattered clouds

It just doesn't get any better than this! I spent the day in the Sunshine, hiking on an easy trail with two wonderful friends. Today, my friends Sam (Rammy) and Becky Cory joined me on the AT to hike to Delaware Water Gap. The trail was packed with families, lovers and hiker hopefuls trying out their trail legs. After picking up lunch at an amazing bagel place in Portland that makes their own bagels, we headed to the trailhead and began a moderate climb. I was at the front with Becky behind me and Rammy sweeping up the rear. I moved cautiously, trying not to aggravate my blisters or turn my ankle as I have so often this week. I spent two nights at the home of Sam and Becky and they made me feel like family. On Wednesday, Rammy and I dragged in after a tough day on the trail. The blisters on my left arch were screaming as the rocks tore through my boots. I rolled my ankle so many times that I began to wonder if I was able to continue. It was discouraging. As we sipped a beer in the waning sunlight on their back deck, Becky and Rammy reminded me that I needed to think about infection after last year's disaster. I made the difficult decision to take a zero day to heal. The even more difficult decision was to skip an 8 mile section in order to stay on schedule. I had already done that section so I chose to heal instead of re-doing a section that might cause further injury. With that decided, I sat back in my lawn chair and enjoyed my Ylingling lager. The next morning, Becky and I spent a good portion of the morning drinking nearly a full pot of coffee in our pjs. Sitting on the couch and chatting with Becky and Sam, drinking coffee and eating a breakfast casserole that Becky had made, could life get any better?I moved from the couch to the front porch to watch the yellow finches and bluebirds frolic in the woods around the bird feeders. The quiet of the day was only broken by the whispering of the wind in the trees and the birdsong. Sitting on the porch for most of the day was heaven. I may have been a slug, but Becky spent an hour at the gym then took a walk. Sam busied himself in the basement, building a rocking horse for their granddaughter, using plans that they had found in Becky's father's farmhouse. Their granddaughter would be riding a rocking horse, built by her grandfather with plans from her great grandfather. I was fascinated with the stories that Becky and Sam shared of their family history. Generations of their families had lived in this area and they played a role in the development of the surrounding community. They shared the history of the "Walking Purchase" and resulting atrocities. Their families were part of history, and the people of Bangor had played a major role in the development I American history. It was all so fascinating, and I am honored to know these people with such deep roots. Becky and Sam enjoy good beer, so we took off and drove to their favorite Irish pub in Stroudsburg. After a few Guinness and Smithwicks, we were ready to go home. I say home because Becky and Sam made me feel at home. Back on the trail today. My blisters are healing and the trail was kind. We reached the Kirkridge shelter and were happy to see that it was clean. We ambled along and stopped on some rocks with a view of the Delaware. The sandwiches were excellent and the cookies were really yummy. As we neared the parking lot, Becky exclaimed that my name should not be Slow n Steady because I was not slow. That really gave me a boost. I felt like I had my trail legs today, and I didn't roll my ankle once. It was a great day of hiking. We all went to the Church of the Mountain hostel and Father Bill greeted us. Rammy and Becky and I said our goodbyes, sadly. But I'm not too sad because I know that Rammy will be joining me again. I have his stove and pot. My mail drop never arrived, so he lent me his pot and stove. I visited the outfitter in Delaware Water Gap and bought other missing items then went down to some convenience stores to parse together breakfast and lunch foods. The cashiers all could tell that I was a hiker and exclaimed that I was the first one this year. I must have the look already. The hostel is clean and it's so quiet here without the other hikers. I was here in 2008, and it was packed. But that was in July. My bunk is calling me. It's hiker midnight and time to crawl into my sleeping bag. Life is good!