Date: 2015-06-07
From: Campsite @ Mile 1196.5

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning started with a lot of rocks. I saw an animal run across the woods in front of me and I initially thought it was a very short deer when I saw its long bushy tail and realizes it ran more like a dog but wasn't a pet. So I may have seen a coyote. Then I got off trail and when I got back on, I discovered I had been going southbound for about 10 minutes when I ran into a northbound hiker Ozone(?) and he told me after I told him a had started in GA. Of course I had climbed back up a hill! Back on track, I hiked along passing my 1200th mile and stopping for a bit to chat with a father and son who were out for the weekend. It was the son's first hike and he was struggling. He had been asking his dad how people are able to hike and not work so I described the different types of hikers on the AT. The younger ones, the Retirees and the anomalies like me. A couple miles later I found a trail magic cooler with one last bottle of ice cold water. It was refreshing! I also chatted with a mom who was wrapping up the first campo it with her young daughters. She also ran the Boston marathon this year. Another trail magic box had a few first aid supplies left. By then, I had only made it a little over 6.4 miles in 3.5 hours! I started moving because I wanted to get to Port Clinton. The trail alternates between very rocky and nice. I decided I preferred to hike 5 steep climbs back to back rather than hike 5 miles of PA rocks. I knew about the rocks. I have hiked 115 miles of northern PA rocks which are even worse last December. So I was prepared for the rocks but I do not like hiking on them. The bottoms of your feet hurt and as you step on top of the rocks. Every other step one of your feet lands I n a less than comfortable position. And you never know which rock will move under you, including the bigger stable looking ones. So it's a dance and I have never been very good at two step. As if the trail head my thoughts, I turned and got a very steep and very rocky climb straight up. Ha ha!I passed a couple of section hikers who had just started from Port Clinton and we chatted a bit. I also almost stepped on a black snake who did not seem to mind me at all. I have seen at least one snake each day in PA! I was about 4 miles away from town and anxious to be there. The last two miles were very rocky and the steepest descent I can recall ever. At one point I looked at my feet and it looked like I was pointing my toes. Straight down for a long time. I don't know how people climb up! Finally I was down on the railroad tracks and walked into "town". I found the hotel which has a restaurant and bar and laundry! I washed my clothes while I ate a veggie quesadilla and huge basket of fries. I had been told they were good and had been thinking French fries for 24 hours. I met a NYC section hiker.I headed down the street to the hiker Pavilion and set up my tent. I met Finn who is a character and told me all about his new shoes, his YoYo hike last year (he hiked northbound then turned around and went southbound in 10.5 months), how he wanted to break the record and hike unsupported in 45 days as well as the 7 types of meat on a snapping turtle and how to cook it. All within 15-20 minutes. No Hurry was also there. Loon was at the Pavilion and has been a couple days ahead of us but the NYC hiker told me she has Giardina and is on antibiotics. Finally everyone disbanded and I waited in my tent until Crafty arrived. She had caught up!