Date: 2014-07-10
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Rattlesnack Spring
Miles today: 13.5

Had a great night of sleep. The church hostel in DWG is basically a basement with a hiker lounge and room crammed with bunk spaces. We packed the place and I assumed we'd be sleeping in pungent hiker stench and chainsaw snores but someone had strategically moved a couple large fans into the bunk room. One fan was pointed at me which was great while also providing white noise.Since talking to my brother and figuring out the best place for me to come off the trail to visit him, I realized I should take it easy so I can see him during a convenient weekend. The hot day made it extra easy for me to be lazy. Basically spent most of the day hanging out with hiker trash. Breakfast consisted of a visit to the bakery. By the time everyone either left, lapsed into a sugar coma, or was off joining the usual cigarette chain smoking party, I was getting lulled to sleep myself. Was reading a book while in a comfy lazy boy. It does not compare to the lovesac I had in college, but that's a recipe for dozing off whether or not you like it. Woke up to Golly Green Giant procrastinating from facing his predicament. Last night he set his intent to do 30 miles right out of DWG because that's how far you gotta go for a shelter. His mom had sent his hammock/food resupply to Unionsville NY. She could have taken out the bagels and put his hammock in the package he picked up yesterday but that's too sensible. Considering how it was now late afternoon and zero progress was made during his two hour nap, I invited him to join me at the ice cream shop which is located on the edge of town/the trail. I had a package on the way to Unionsville containing prescription contacts and I didn't want to wait until Monday to pick it up. The ice cream place adds 10 steps of progress to our procrastinated day and gave us a quick energy boost to conquer the rest of PA and step into our 7th state.Golly was obviously not going to make it to the shelter tonight and would have to cowboy. We were both excited to be done with Pennsylvania but... There was more rocks. And even more rocks. Topped off with rocks on top of the rocks on rocks. Where was the end of this!? Obviously not New Jersey. Golly an I distracted ourselves with conversation. Until the rain came. I was fine with the rain because it washes away the Mosquitos and takes the heat down a couple notches. Golly got gloomy. He was clean and wearing fresh laundry. And now his feet are going to be soaked (I carry like 5 pairs of socks so it's not a big deal for me). We walked in silence through the rain, rocks, and foliage as if every leaf was a child with outstretched hands covered with snot and wanted nothing more than to touch you with them. I deliberately walked behind Golly and let him blaze the way (hehe) and after 2 hours of not talking he quietly said "Not cool, New Jersey." Couldn't help but laugh at his misery which was compounded by socks turning into kiddy pools, bushes drenching his pants like he just walked through a car wash, and slipping past rocks like cartoon banana peels every other minute. He seemed to light up a bit when the rain died out and a group of underage girls camping in the woods complimented his beard. We didn't want to camp anywhere near them though because let's face it - teens are loud and obnoxious. Dam kids *shakes fist*