Date: 2010-05-30
From: Port Clinton Pavillion

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Happy 29th anniversary HomeGirl. The rain ended and the day began under clear and sunny skies. I refilled my water with a full supply and hiked out of another town. Everyone else was still in their sleepingbags when I left. A short but steep hike up out of Port Clinton quickly got me up top for some good level hiking. The trail crossed a service road a couple of times before turning back into the woods. At one point I did not see a white blaze so I determined that the trail used the gravel road for awhile. I saw a post with white on it up ahead so I continued to hike up the road. When I got close enough to see it turned out to be a mile marker for the pipeline that was buried below. I saw on my guide that the trail and road meet again up ahead so I marched forward. It was just over 3 miles before that intersection but when I got there I did not know which way the trail went. I never saw if the trail crossed the road again or if it skirted the road a ways before turning back in. I took off my pack and walked a ways on both sides. Each side headed dead east and did nothing to clue me on which way to go. I just blueblazed 3 miles and had to guess which side of the road to go. I made my decision and was soon doubting my choice. I needed the trail to turn to the south or right but every time it did it would quickly swing back to the left. After awhile I was sure I was going the wrong way. I was right. The trail came out and through high grass before hitting the road where I began a blueblaze. A blueblaze is supposed to be in lue of the actual trail but my luck had me doing both. I then hiked back up the road another 3 miles to get back to that junction. I was sure which way to go when I arrived. Bummer. I tried not to let it bother me and I knew I would have to hike long and hard to make up for the 6+ miles that didn't count or get me closer. I made a choice to cut the day short and make up for it in the next 2 days. The water source was the determining factor. A .03 blueblaze trail led to a spring and a nice shelter. I like having an unlimited water supply at camp and when I head back out the next morning. The water has been unreliable at best so carrying a full load makes sense especially in this heat. I was just getting set up in the shelter when about 20 people arrived. They were with the local hiking club out on their yearly gathering and group day hike. They were fascinated with me being a thru hiker and had all the usual questions. I shared my opinion about the trail conditions in general and about how they differ from area to area. Over the past few days I felt the blazes were inadiquate and not placed in areas that help the hiker easily identify the correct trail. At lookout areas that are frequented by many day hikers and trails are scattered every which way it is often hard to follow the proper trail. I felt qualified in this matter and freely shared my opinion. The general feeling was that they agreed and that was one reason why they were out today to identify improvements and set priorities. They appologized for invading my solitude. I assured them that solitude was not what I needed and I enjoyed the attention. They were gone soon enough and I was left there alone. About 1/2 hour later another day hiker showed up and was supposed to be part of that other group but got the meeting place wrong. He was asking about a thru hike when my buddy Picker came rolling in with General Lee and Wildman. I was glad to see that they had also had enough hiking for this day and decided to stay the night. It was good to not be alone and especially good to be with some familiar faces. Wildman and General Lee I didn't know very well but we had a chance to change that there at the shelter. With Picker being the common denominator it allowed us be unrestricted and the development of new friendships to begin. Before dark settled in we were all reading or journaling waiting for each of our particular clues to call it a night. As usual my headlamp was the last one to go off.