Date: 2004-07-20
From: Wind Gap, Pa.

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: few clouds

Start Wind Gap, Pa.Destination Delaware Water Gap Trail Dog, Spincycle and I had banana muffins with glasses of water for breakfast this morning. We were more than ready to get back on the trail. The night's events had soured my attitude and I was in a foul mood all morning. I am officially tired of the rocks. I loathe the rocks. I hate the rock. I just want to get out of Pennsylvania and its rocky trail. The fact that the sun was shining was lost on me. The steep climb out of the gap was more to my liking. It gave me something more to complain about. Don't get me wrong, I love being out here, but the constant barrage of rocks under my feet is wearing on my nerves. I think I have one nerve left and it is wearing thin. There is no way to get any kind of rhythm going when every step is a stumbling groping step. So I fumed all day long. Such a productive day for me. I had this irresistible urge to just throw down my pack and start screaming. How could there be so many rocks in one place?? One of the books says when you enter Pennsylvania you will experience those much talked about rocks, but they are only what you make of them. Well, pardon me but exactly what else can you make of a rocky trail? A moon walk perhaps? No matter what you make of it, the trail is still rocky beyond belief, and it makes your feet hurt beyond anything you can imagine. Then as if the state could hear me and wanted to make amends to me, the trail once again followed an old road bed. Tomorrow I will be hiking along the New Jersey/Pennsylvania border. You can be sure I will keep to the New Jersey side. Now for some reason I have chafing issues where I don't need them. I just got a bout of poison ivy calmed down only to be replaced with diaper rash? My boots have begun falling apart and the thought of having to break in a new pair of boots only darkens my already sour mood. Now the little toe on my right foot has decided it wants to have a blister all its own. That figures, since I quit wearing duct tape over a week ago. What is going on here? Poison ivy, blisters, two ticks, chafing? Between the toe and the chafing I am walking like I have been horse riding for a week. That makes getting any kind of stride almost impossible. I must look like a crab with a prosthesis going along the trail. I just wish I could drag my tush behind me instead of my leg. I think it would be less painful. At least I would not look as stupid as I do now. I stopped for a snake and to check my data book. Dumb idea. According to the book I have 1.5 miles left to go. That brightens my spirits immensely. In 45 minutes I will be at the hostel, having a hot shower and resting my feet. It took me 90 minutes to get into town. It was way more than 1.5 miles. The hostel here is sponsored by the Presbyterian Church. It offers bunks in an air conditioned basement. For the last several months it has been under going renovations. There are some bunks, but no shower. At least it does not smell like stale cigarette smoke and moldy carpet. I put my pack on a bottom bunk and head for the outfitters in hopes of getting something done with my boots. I had no luck there, as it is a very small outfitter. The free donut from the local bakery made the downhill walk worth my trouble. Well, almost. The lemon meringue tart made the uphill walk back to the church worthwhile. By this time I meet up with my hiking buddies and we walk back down the hill for supper. The spinach pie and small Greek salad I order for supper fills me up quick. Spincycle helps himself to the olives and some strange looking sausage thing that is on my salad plate. I don't care for olives or strange looking sausage things that look like beach sand wrapped in seaweed. He comments that he likes eating with me. I enjoy eating with him, because nothing goes to waste with him at the table! Back at the hostel I wash what mud I can from my legs and massage my feet. There is a sitting room here with several sofas, recliners and table and chairs. A jigsaw puzzle sits on a coffee table invitingly. I manage to fit in a few pieces until my body demands that I stretch out and relax.Total miles 15.6