Date: 2006-04-27
From: Toms Run Shelters

To: James fry Shelter
Miles today: 13.2

The first stretch of the day was up to Pine Grove Furnace St. Park where we stopped at Iron master's Hostel. It is a big place with a huge chessboard game outside on the lawn. I bought some fuel there since the general store was closed. After eating my lunch at 10:00 we continued North. A mile later we passed by a school group and they asked if we would mind talking to them about the AT. Mr Stinky slipped right out of the pack and took over as usuall. The students asked a lot of questions and we had a lot of fun. half a mile later we ran into a couple that were out dayhiking and we talked to them for a while too. Now it was time to make our way to the mid-way marker. This is an older marker and as the trail changes every year it is no longer the exact half-point, but in no way am I about to argue about a few miles here and there in the big scheme of 2000+ miles. Can I really make it? I have been wet, hot, stinky, clean, warm, freezing, sun burned, shivering, tired, happy, excited, dirty, exhausted, and everything inbetween. Now drawing on my last strength I finally have the mark in sight, I gather up my courage to be able to crawl the last few feet and with all my mental power I will myself to reach out my arm and and... and I MADE IT I am really half way. "Suddenly" I have regained all my strenght again and I am ready to walk another 1000+ miles. I am thinking back on the past 1000 miles seems like so much has been discovered, explored, happened, seen, and eaten! I only hope I will experience as much the next 1000 miles. This is a great journey. Reaching this mark was not really an epic moment, a big source of pride, or sadness that I am half-way done. No, I was more busy thinking about what to cook for dinner, what the next shelter would look like, any interesting side trails to take, or any other cool thing that might happen. I believe it is true "The journey is the reward" I do not need a medal, a prize, or a trophy, the reward will come from inside yourself. Well, speaking of reward there was one I wanted to "win" today. The "half-gallon challenge". It is a challenge to yourself if you can eat half a gallon of ice cream in one setting. If you can do so you become a member of the half-gallon club - the reward - you pay for the ice cream and you alone get to eat it all Unfortunately the place was closed as we passed by so that challenge will have to wait. On our way to the shelter we found a side trail to the steeple pole - whatever that was? It had to be investigated so Dodger and I took a left turn and walked down that trail. It turned out to be this great rock outcrop with a most gorgeous view. Couldn't let this opportunity of taking a short nap in the sun slip by so I found a nice spot on the rocks and closed my eyes for a while. Waking up Dodger and I agreed to stop already at the next shelter (so as to avoid getting to a closed post office in Duncannon on Sat evening or Sun). Instead we would get there Monday morning. At James Fry Scott and Terry were there so they kindly watched our packs as Dodger and I went to "town" to do our own little ice cream challenge. About a mile away from the shelter there is a little convenience store. Here Dodger and I bought Half a gallon of ice cream together. Not a true challenge but then I do not have to worry about getting sick. Back at the shelter we thanked Scott and Terry by giving them a 2-L Pepsi. Tehn I cooked up some scrambled eggs (bought at the store) with wild onions we had dug up along the way to the shelter and toasted a couple of bagels. It was an awesome appetizer. For dinner I cooked pasta with peanutbutter sauce it too was good.