Date: 2014-07-13
From: PA 443, Green Point, PA

To: William Penn Shelter
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: few clouds

I took my time packing up with the pretense of letting the tent dry before packing it. I was still deciding on the best way to cross or get around the creek. I also needed water because I had only a pint left for the next water source. The creek was a little clearer and I could treat it and let the mud settle to the bottom but since it was right beside the highway I didn't trust it.I finally put on my pack, got both trekking poles out and headed for the creek crossing. I was thinking if I fell in I would be sorry I had not gone around but the log was now dry, so I eased on across with no problem. I decided I would hike to Swatara Gap and go into Lickdale to Wendy's for a breakfast of bacon, egg and cheese biscuits and get water there also. I had to climb a good sized hill and did not see any good campsites before the gap. This reaffirmed my decision to camp by the creek and of course a 100 yards from the highway. It was a busy highway with an intersection also, so besides the cars and trucks speeding by you could hear motorcycles speeding away from the stop sign. In spite of all that noise, I had no trouble sleeping through the night. I tried lying awake and listening to the rushing water of the creek but fell asleep almost instantly.I had two options to reach Lickdale, 2.5 miles away. I could hitch a ride or walk the Swatara rail to trail path that followed the route of the Union Canal. The trail came out right in a curve of the busy highway, so I walked the path to town which came out a hundred yards from Wendy's. However this Wendy's didn't serve breakfast, so I opted for brunch. I started with apple juice (no orange juice here) milk, coffee, double cheeseburger and fries. Next was a strawberry tea and later two root beer refills. I finished off with large chocolate frosty and bought a chicken sandwich for later. The root beer made a good float with the shake.Most people paid no attention to the thru-hiker but some were aware of the AT. An old man on his way to church said he just brought in two hikers off the mountain. One soldier said he was from Front Royal, VA and saw lots of hikers there. Another soldier said he had hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and a twelve year old boy said a leader in his scout troop had thru-hiked. As I was leaving a man said he was recovering from Lyme disease and warned me about that. He had heard cedar oil was a good natural repellent, so I will check that out.I crossed under Interstate 81 one more time. I think it will diverge from my direction now. They should call it the Appalachian Thruway since it intersects the AT so often. I have an idea for a road trip to drive I-81 and stop along the way to check out the small villages and historic sites.I could have probably gotten a ride back to the trail but decided to walk back. I crossed the valley between Second Mountain and Blue Mountain, which I am back on top of now. I last hiked Blue Mountain before the Susquehanna River Gap.After a long climb to top of the ridge, I followed the relatively level trail along the ridge. I wondered if coal mining had occurred here also because it looked like pieces of coal and shale were on the trail. It was mostly smooth walking, but some parts went through fields of rocks. I can't imagine the rocky part of PA will be that different, but think it will just be unending stretches of stepping from rock to rock.I was planning on reaching the 501 shelter tonight another four miles away, but opted for the William Penn shelter to avoid the threat of thunder storms and to have a quieter place to stay. By stopping early I hoped to get some trail journal posting done.We have a severe thunderstorm watch so I am glad to have stopped here. After all, if I'm in Pennsylvania, I should stay at the William Penn Shelter.Tonight I met Rare Breed and his black lab Sadie who are southbound to Georgia.It was energizing to get some food today and also nice to have all the water to drink I wanted. It was worth the five extra miles of walking and exploring another trail.Perhaps I could say my Frosty was to celebrate my achievement of reaching the 1,000 mile left to Maine which is generally recognized at this shelter. Rare Breed celebrates reaching the 1000 mile mark from Maine.