Date: 2003-06-01
From: Windsor Furnace Watershed 

To: Eckville Shelter 
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: light rain

Aloha! Another wonderful day in paradise! Where were you? You should have been here; I know you would have loved it. Next time, yeah?   This morning brought about another wet day but threw in a bit of a chill to make it even more interesting. I believe there were frost warnings for parts of PA. Burr.. It didn't really matter though because I spent the morning sipping coffee and chatting with Lucy. A nice way to begin a day.   We spent most of the morning chatting while waiting for Quasi and Tubs to climb out of bed. The guys didn't seem to be in any sort of hurry to get moving and neither was I. Too great of company and atmosphere to want to leave.   But leave we did. After a tasty breakfast of toast, feta cheese eggs with red sauce, fresh watermelon, cereal and whatever else, we were on our way. First stop was to drop Tubs off at his start point. I'll probably see him tomorrow sometime since he's a high miler hiker. I believe I've said it before - oh, but to be young again!   The next stop was the grocery store so I could resupply. That's one of the biggest problems with mail drops along the route - not getting them. This being my very first one was a bit of a disappointment finding it missing but such is life. A forwarding card should fix that. Anyway, Lucy was kind enough to run by the local grocer so Quasi and I could load up. Once again, very sweet of her.   Our last stop together was the spot where we found ourselves 6.1 miles north of where we should have been on our hike south - Windsor Furnace. With a weak smile it was time to say aloha to Lucy and let her get on to the next crew of dirty, smelly and hungry hikers. She is such a great lady. A real delight for any hiker that has the opportunity to stay at the Deer Path Hostel. Thank you Lucy!   On my way here I happened into ChuckLuck. You remember ChuckLuck. He's one of the campfire guys! As they all are, another really good guy. Anyway, he had originally decided to stop at the Windsor Shelter but altered his plans to join me enroute to the Eckville Shelter. As with Quasi, we chatted along the way but this time without going the wrong direction. Yeah!   Since the weather wasn't really cooperating the only stopping I did was at a rock outcropping known as the Pulpit. Another awesome view. Not long afterwards we came to what would have been a panoramic view of PA farmland said to be the best view on the AT in the state, but we were unable to see a thing due to the fog. Supposedly below that viewpoint lies a sheer cliff and a few caves. I'll leave that exploring to someone else on a better day.   We arrived at Eckville Shelter with plenty of time to play. This shelter is another one with a caretaker on premises.   Lazee, the caretaker, is kind enough to keep a refrigerator on the back porch filled with sodas, cookies and crackers; all paid for by donations. The shelter itself is a four-sided, six bunk building. Nothing to rave about but it certainly filled all needs. I mean I stayed. Go figure these days!   It has been a pleasant evening all in all. With me here tonight are, once again, Bono and She-Ra, Retread (haven't seen him in a few days), Quasi, and a guy named Echo (this is something like his sixth trail hike). ChuckLuck opted to pitch his tent across the road on one of the tent pads vice sleep on the recliner chair in the middle of the shelter. Probably the smartest one of us all. One of these days I'm going to stop using my tent as a pillow and pitch it. UP that is.   So folks, that was pretty much my day. Nothing major exciting, just a good day overall. As it stands, at the end of this day I'm still happy doing what I'm doing so life can't get much better than that. That's a promise.   Okay, bedtime. You sleep well and try not to work too hard tomorrow. I know I won't be.