Date: 2008-06-07
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: US11 Harrisburg Pike, Pa.
Miles today: 83.2

Reached the halfway point yesterday. I now have more miles behind me than before me. That is a good feeling. There is a tradition for thru hikers to eat a half gallon of ice cream at the Pine Grove Camp Store. It's called the half gallon challenge. I told another hiker if it weren't for that word challenge we would not attempt it. I bought a box of Chocolate and in 38 minutes it was gone. It was actually easier than I thought it would be. I drank a 16 oz. mountain dew with it. A half hour later I added a cheeseburger with the works and a can of Sprite. We then went swimming at Fuller Lake. We stayed at the Ironmaster Mansion Hostel which was part of the underground railway. The manager gave us a tour of the secret rooms where they used to hide slaves. It really makes you realize that our country used to tolerate the buying and selling of people. There was a group of young girls and parents at the Hostel and us hikers got to eat their leftover tacos. I had so much energy today I just kept hiking for over 27 miles. The last two days the flies and skeeters have been trying to eat what's left of my body. I think they have territories that they patrol. Then they yell to the next battalion, Fresh meat coming your way. The cacadias are also climbing out of the ground. Today the woods sounded like a hundred cars with slipping fan belts. 2005 was the year for the 17 year locust but there are still many out this year. Then you have the Gypsy Moth Catterpillar infestation and you have a forest full of unwanted insects. I am enjoying hiking in Pa. The path is well marked. It is frustrating to be hiking and coming to an area with no blaze. Pennsylvania is very well marked. Even the rock piles. A week ago while hiking from Front Royal to Harpers Ferry I was hiking through a weeds field up to my chin. I arrived at a rock pile and did not see the blazes. Soon I was hiking through another weeds field and met 2 hikers I had spent the night with at the shelter. They asked why I was hiking back the way I had come. That's the first time that happened. I got confused on the rock pile cloverleaf. I'm sure the trail maintainers think we have the sense to figure out the right direction. We quit our jobs and are hiking 2,200 miles. Does that sound like we have any sense? The storm I went through on Wednesday is still very vivid in my mind. I will talk more about it when I can better describe what happened that day. It was a life changing event. I told someone the only way it can get worse ia if a tornado actually picks me up and blows me away. If that happens I hope it blows me North following the trail. Although my feet would have to touch the trail or I would have to come back and rehike it being the purist hiker I am. I saw something the other day that was really interesting. I came across a dung beetle on the trail. I have seen documentories on TV where dung beetles in Africa would rush to the great globs of elephant dung and roll nice tidy balls of poop and store them in their dens. This beetle used his back legs to roll up a delicate ball of poop. It is about the size of a melon from a melon baller. I guess our equivalent food would be rolled oats. I was very facinated watching him work and got a good picture for you all to enjoy. I did not realize we had those beetles in the US. Or perhaps they are visiting from over seas and are in the States sampling the cuisine. Once again I am all over the place with this Journal. I enjoy all your guest entries. Tomorrow I will hike to Duncannon, Pa. and will be staying at the Doyle Hotel.It was built in 1900 by Anheuser Busch and is a must stay for most thru hikers. Today I hiked many miles through corn and hay fields. I enjoyed being let out of the jungle for a while. I am at US RT. 11 at a Super 8. Across the road is the Middlesex Diner. It is a really good place to eat. I am in the Carlisle Shippensburg area. Many really neat farms. I crossed over the Pa. Turnpike today. I seem to have better cell coverage in Pa. so perhaps I can journal some of my pressing concerns that I have been mulling over as I walk. If any of you have anything you want me to worry about while I walk I will do so. There is no charge but if you give it to me to worry about you are not allowed to worry yourself. I have way to much free time.