Date: 2011-06-10
From:  Church hostel in deleware water gap. 

To: the not so secret shelter
Miles today: 25.3

Woke up getting eaten alive by vampire bugs. We got out of there as soon as possible. We headed to town. Spaceman spiff joined us. Jim got me a coffee and a donut. We went to a bar to get water. Jim got a couple beers. And spaceman spiff was a darling and had the correct cords to charge my iPod. We walked a bit, the very last part Jim had of his section. Jim had given me a bunch of food, denatured alcohol, batteries and bug spray. I'm so happy for the bug spray! He handed me a 20 before we parted. It was strange saying goodbye. Spaceman spiff left with him, as he was meeting his family in town. I headed out once again alone. A couple miles in I ran into a bunch of guys at the top of a mountain. There was a tower and the were assembling their own radio tower. They were very sweet and offered me a seat in the shade under their tarp and a cold pepsi. They told me how they were in a competition, where the winner makes the most contacts with their radios. This team had only five. The team on graylock has dozens and they only ever lost three times, apparently it was a huge deal. These guys have been doing this for longer then I'm old. I listen to my music hiking when I came upon a pavilion atop another mountain where there were two guys, one talented fellow jamming away on his guitar. Most likely high on something. The only time they talked to me was when they left. I told the guy I liked the music, he said he liked that I listened. I crossed a dad and son hiking. I asked them if the bugs were bad at high point shelter. They said it was. so I decided that I'd pass that shelter. once I got to the shelter I just had to check if I knew anyone there, so I dropped my pack and came upon a group of three guys. They all turned out to be real friendly. I asked them if they saw my German. Apparently they have their own German. we described and decided we weren't talking about the same people. They then informed me of a secrete shelter just 7 or 5 miles down the trail. So that was my goal. I hiked some and ran some down the mountain. And found fields and ponds below. There was a farm and a trail through a marshy area. I was tired and just wanted someone to pick me up and give me a home. Once I got to the road a man stopped by the trail. He was taking his six dogs out for a swim in the bog. He described for me what obstacles I had before the secret shelter. I thought about just sitting by the side of the road and wait till he was done swimming his dogs and see if he'd let me sleep on his porch or something. But it was getting dark and I didn't want to camp near that most likely big infested swamp. So I trudged on. It got dark. I saw some deer. I heard gun shots which scared me, I had seen just a bit earlier a sign that said something about wearing orange or bright neon colors. It made me feel better when I realized my bright pink shorts and blue shirt are flashy enough. Finally I came to the sign and got to the shelter. I cooked on the porch and got a bit creeped by a massive spider. It had a bunch of little babies. The shelter is like a cabin. But just a floor to sleep on. Its warm.