Date: 2008-05-21
From: Harrisburg PA

To: Harrisburg PA
Miles today: 0.0

Much better nite than last nite. No food poisoning, and we both feel much more rested.Today started off sunny with the promise of rain this afternoon, so any day I dodge rain inside is a good day in my book.We got up and ate breakfast then came back up to the room and watched the Deadlist Catch (which was Persistent and mine's traditional town show). I think this show is on like 24\7, so Karen and I predict there will soon be a Deadlist Catch channel on cable.The crappy hotel situation continues, we had a letter slipped under the door stating the phone lines are not working now. We're just laughing at this place now.We called the cleaners and they said our laundry was ready (poor people having to handle our gross laundry), so @ 1:00 we retrieved it, I purchased more pepperoni, Karen put gas in her car ($3.85\gallon!!), and then decided to try and find this other outfitter called Wild Wear. See, yesterday @ the Bass Pro Shop Larry (the guy who directed us to the right section) told us about Wild Wear and that it has more camping stuff. Somehoe Karen made it out here with only 3 stakes for her tarp, but I had an extra because I break them so much, so she wanted to buy another before she forgot. Oh, and Larry (a pretty big guy), when I told him I was hiking the AT, he like bear huged me ad pulled me into his armpit! He was excited apparently, but it made me laugh.Well Larry's directions weren't great, and we eded up in downtown Harrisburg, which was fine, but not right. Karen lived in this area 13 years ago and said it has unfortunately not changed that much.We just decided to go back to the hotel, and right before our exit, we see the outfitter!We died laughing because this place was literally 1\8 (if that) f a mile down from our hotel, but Larry's directions were totally off. Hilarious we spent 2 days wondering where it was, and everytime Karen tried calling them to ask, the line was busy.So we go into this nice place. It was small, but well equipped. Karen "had" to buy an OR Sombrero like mine and different gaitors, and I "had" to buy some tiny dry sacks to keep my extra warm hiking clothes in while hiking.We finally left in blowing driving rain, man was it coming down, and I got my pack all ready to go (it feels like 75 lbs now!)Then I emailed my buddy Persistent with a huge favor. My mom has been doing my journal\pics this year, but she's more than likely moving to another state, so I asked Persistent if se could take over for me. As usual, she was totally willing (sort of ecstatic actually) and she pointed out that it was 1 year ago tday that we split on the trail, and now we've come full circle in our way. So thanks SO MUCH Persistent! I told her 'd pay her back by purchasing her first hammock for her!Then we watched a sad sad public access show, the Steelton Memorial Day Parade (don't ask me why.) For as long as we watched it, there were only people in cars driving by...no music, no commentary, no floats, but there were 5 horses with letters spelling ZEMBO. I hate to say it, but it could easily have been mistaken for a funeral.Finally, we wet for dinner @ the Outack. I was craving their cheese fries, so we had a nice dinner, got back to the room full and tired, and called it a nite. Back to hiking in the a.m., and Karen goes home (BOO HOO!!). Goodbyes suck no matter how many times you've done it. It was so fun having her out there with me.So tomorrow is another day. Gonna put the pedal to the metal..I'm feeling great.~CertainEditor's Note (well, really I won't be an editor, just a cut and paster so Cut and Paster Note): I WAS ecstatic when I found out I'd get to transcribe Certain's journal. I know how big of a deal the journal is to her - as mine was to me - so it's really an honor. I've asked Certain if I can make some "guest commentary" along the way and she agreed! She did tell me that I have to keep the hammock comments to a minimum though so that she's able to defend herself. It will be hard but I'll try to keep those comments in her guest book so she can at least put up a fight. That Hammock Cult...so particular! Just kidding, Certain. Let the games begin! - Persistent