Date: 2010-06-14
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Falls Creek Bridge
Miles today: 19.3

 Roadrunner woke me up. Someone left a whole package of Nutterbutters and Paydays on the picnic table. Rainbow Monkey was up next. Had intentions of starting out but the candy kept me in place. Southpaw up next complaining about Roadrunner. Southpaw thought he sounded like he was break dancing every time he turned over.Nice overcast skies and cool temps this morning. Thank God! Passed everyone that left the shelter before me this morning. Here I was thinking that I was being lazy, but everyone¢s poking along in this nice weather!Stopped at Cowell Shelter and talked to several boys and 2 older gentlemen. They had a few questions. One of the older guys hiked the trail in 1999, he claimed. He started showing scars and telling their stories. I couldn¢t resist showing mine. How¢d you get that, they asked. My reply, ¢the ground¢. They laughed and said that¢s where most scars come from. Chatted for a while because they were witty and I liked the conversational flow. Thought Southpaw would be along, but couldn¢t wait anymore. Restlessness seems to be more prevalent these days.Water is of concern again because the well is dry here at Cowell. Alumni-section hiker told me there was a spring 2 miles up. It¢s not listed on the guidebook. I found one but it wasn¢t where he had described. 2 Deer startled by my presence were blowing their noses at me while I was gathering water. Not smart if you ask me. To alert possible enemies to your presence by honking your nose at them?Stopped for a lunch break at the spring behind the hemlocks. Met Dodger. He¢s going North but he¢s flipping south to meet his wife.I¢m ready for the second Devil¢s Racecourse! Glad it¢s not hot today! Not bad going up but I definitely soiled my nice, clean smelling shirt! Rainbow Monkey asked to pass me before going up it. I let him but he was slow. I slowed down so he didn¢t feel bad or embarrassed. He¢s 20 and growing dreads. His pants look homemade and he¢s a vegetarian. He recommended ¢Love in a time of Cholera¢ when I told him how Ishmael had effected me so. He went to the shelter and I kept moving so I could move faster.I love these new boots! I decided to wear those boots I got as replacements back in Waynesboro. We make a good pair, these boots. If it ain¢t broke don¢t fix it. No problems with these new shoes. Thinking I might be okay and won¢t have serious blister problems. It hasn¢t rained yet though. Well, I¢ve been smart enough to keep them dry when it did two days ago.On a tip from one of the young boys I checked out High Rock. It¢s okay. Graffiti everywhere on the rocks. I can tell they painted over it all. They painted every rock this dull gray color and it made it even worse. It looks like a fake rock climbing area. 2 bikers from town were there. They told me that this was a favorite hang-gliding spot. Wonder how it¢d feel to just leap off this thing. All pastures, farm lands, plantation houses, silos and trees out there. Storms brewing! Just missed me a minute ago. Looks clear right in the center where the clouds are straddling me on my path today.LOVED the decent from High Rocks! This be a good place to take a Gorilla if you wanted him to be exhausted. That or to take your 5 year old so he/she will take a nap afterward. VW sized boulders for 12 mile then it became what I imagined what PA would be like. Feet hot but holding their own. Lots of white blazes to mark the way. So rocky it¢s hard to know where it goes. No worn footpath visible. No path obvious to me. Got off a couple times and took the scenic routes.Penn-Mar Park beautiful! Sitting here now watching the sun go down as Moravian kids play on the playground. The Attendant here didn¢t have change for a $5 so I couldn¢t get a Pepsi! Dinner on the porch overlooking the sunset horizon. There¢s a dance floor and they have ballroom dancing on Sundays! One day late. Talked to Lish about her urologist appointment. Sounds like she¢s going through with the surgery. I¢m scared for her and terribly worried. Somewhere inside my mind, not my heart, I know this must be the plan for us. Just like all those ledges, mountains, and thunderstorms, I¢m not afraid. I know if you just be patient and trust your heart and soul with the right decision, things will be okay. I don¢t have any answers but I know she¢ll be alright. She¢s the strongest, most endurable person I know. I¢ll be there for her. She even still plans to finish with me.The suns setting but I know we¢re just getting started. This will be a long night. Tomorrow is another adventure, even though the next couple of weeks might be the hardest part yet.