Date: 2007-10-21
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter

To: Iron Master's Mansion
Miles today: 15.5

mi. 15.5sleep hosteldest. Iron Master's Mansion day 101 After arriving here last night in the dark, I woke up and early and got a great start. I ate breakfest, packed up, and was walking out by 7:15. Eariler than usual and before everyone else around was awake. It felt good to be back on my own time schedule again. I get along with Torque and all, but he moves a little slower than I do. Nothing bad about it, just different styles. With him it would have been 8 or later until we got started. It was funny today. I met 2 people, well 1 person than 2 people, on very opposite ends of the spectrum. I was walking early in the day and saw an older woman taking a picture of the trees. Almost straight up. I looked and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. So I had to ask what she was taking a picture of. She said that the way the light was shining through the trees and the colors of the leaves was spectaular. I looked again and it was. We talked for a minute and it was someone after my own heart picture wise. It got me started up again on taking pictures. Later on close to the pine groove furnace, probibly a mile or so, I came across a man and woman. She was sitting on a rock. They were at the top of a little bump. They asked me if they was anything senic back where I was coming from. I was a little taken back. All I could come up with for a response was more of the same you see here. I think they are the type of people that if it isn't a view than the!y don't think it is anything great. Coming from Ohio I never saw views per say. I got used to finding the little things and enjoying them. I got to the midpoint marker and throw my poles like spears in the ground in celebration. This marker is another one of those historic ones that is a few miles off now. I was celebrating none the less. I sat down in front of the sign. I decided that I would wait here for a hour if it took it for someone to come along and take my picture. About 2 minutes later an older couple comes up. We got to talking. They ended up giving me a few dollors to pay for my ice cream. They said they do that whenever they are there to thru hikers. They just said to mail them a picture when I get back. A great bit of trail magic for me. I got to the hostel to find gator there taking a zero. She just started her section hike and is taking it easy. I'm glad she was there, it gives me someone to enjoy my celebration with. Now the big tradision is to eat a half gallon of ice cream here. Luckily I was here on a weekend. The store is only open weekends now. We went into the store. I looked around and I ended up getting the last half gallon they had. So choclate it is. Tough choice. I was eating away when a family walked up. It was his 20th aniversery of his southbound hike. His wife I think wanted to see him try it again. I think h was a little glad that h did not have t eat one.                                                                                                                              After I got done I was done with ice cream, for now, but still hungry. So I went in an ordered a chz burger and onion rings. About this time Torque rolled up. Sorry but no ice cream for him. I would have shared, but that would have defeated the purpose. Tonight in addition to the 3 of us there is another guy, Aaron staying at the hostel. This one is actually part of Hostels International, and not just one someone started up. He is traveling to the 4 corners of the country via motorcycle. He is passing through on his way to Tampa. I didn't really need to do laundry, except for my sleeping shorts. I'm not going to say that it has been since Unionville off in NJ since I washed them. I am usually wearing them while I am doing laundry. All of us through in a buck and piled our laundry. While laundry was going we found part of a ping pong table setup. I think it was half a table. Aaron crushed me in 2 straight games. Playing on half a table really changes the game. After that it was movies and chatting. This place has tons of books and some VHS movies. It seems to have comedies and Kung Fu movies, the old voice over ones. We watched what had to be the best worst movie I have ever saw. If you get the chance watch Kung Pow. There is only 3 or real characters. The rest are bodie doubles. It is a computer generated into an old Kung Fu movie. Just with funny voice overs and a pointless plot. Aaron and I thought it was funny, everyone thought otherwiose. All I know is I was rolling. Aaron offered to take me around Gettysburg tomorrow. If wanted to see it, but not alone. I am thinking about taking him up on it. I always wanted to see it and I am only 20 or so miles away.