Date: 2014-06-30
From: stealth campsite at mile 1199.4

To: Port Clinton PA
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm sitting in one of Jimmy's lawn chairs next to the one washer and dryer at the Pilot Truck Stop near the Comfort Inn. I Believe, No Name and I are taking turns doing our laundry. The day started at 1:30 am when I woke up to a light rain. If you recall, I went to sleep last night with my tent fly off, thinking there was no rain in the forecast. So much for that. The night before I'd put my tent fly in the corner of my tent just in case, but last night I didn't bother and last night, of course, it rained. I woke up instantly at the sound of the rain, grabbed my head lamp, and madly gathered up my down sleeping bag and tucked it the best I could under my sleeping pad to protect it. Next I unzipped my tent, tore off my pack cover which I routinely put on my pack at night (Rosie was right outside the tent door) and dug through the pack to find my tent fly. I draped the fly over my tent, threw my pack into the tent, and climbed back in. The light rain picked up. I was wide awake at this point, so when the rain let up I got back out to pee, and hooked the fly onto the tent so I was all set when the rain started up again. Salty Hat, by the way, was going through similar acrobatics because he hadn't put his fly on either. I Believe, No Name, Salty Hat, Geo and I were on the trail at 7:00. Geo had tented down the trail from us last night and when he got to our campsite this morning he showed us his video of the rattle snake he saw last night! He said he hung his hammock higher then usual last night. I still want to see one, but then I don't. More of the trail was rocky today. Like yesterday, it was a mine field of jagged rocks. They got tiresome, but just as I'd had enough already, the trail would smooth out for a bit. The soft, damp dirt and pine needles felt luxurious on the soles of my burning feet. The trail had very little elevation change today except for one short steep climb and a very steep descent over dry dirt and small loose rocks into Port Clinton. Jimmy met us in town and drove us over to the Pavillion (where hikers can camp in town for free) where we found Little Spoon and Longbow. Longbow had gotten a couple of days ahead of us, but it turns out he'd gotten an offer of a ride to CT and back where he lives, and had gone home for a quick visit, so we've caught up to him. Little Spoon had been chasing his hiking buddy, after he'd taken time off the trail himself and gotten behind Longbow. That happens a lot out here. Hikers get separated and the one behind, is always trying to catch up. Longbow was interviewed by the Baltimore Sun while sitting on Annapolis Rock last week and is quoted in an article written about the AT. Very cool. Next on the agenda was food. Jimmy drove Longbow, Little Spoon, Geo, No Name, Salty Hat, I Believe and me to the Cracker Barrel for a late lunch. Always the first thing I do in a restaurant is wash my hands with soap under hot running water (a town luxury), and my legs if they're muddy. Yesterday I was in the restroom at the Midway Diner and a woman came in while I was washing my legs and gave me a funny look. I must have looked like hiker trash. My grilled trout, macaroni and cheese, and salad hit the spot. Then it was on to Cabela's for more endless hiking gear and the post office for Little Spoon and No Name who had mail drops at two different post offices. I don't know how Jimmy keeps it all straight. I've been thinking for some time about sending home my rain jacket and getting a lighter weight wind breaker and I found what I was looking for at Cabela's. I will use the water resistant wind breaker with my light weight poly pro for warmth if I need it, and in town in rainy weather. In the rain on the trail in the heat, I don't need the jacket. I'm looking forward to my zero tomorrow...