Date: 2008-06-28
From: St. Thomas Episc. CH Hostel, Vernon, NJ

To: St. Thomas Episc. CH Hostel, Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 0.0

This is my first ever zero day. It was hard to see the four others of the "Over-The-Hill-Gang" take off while I am not planning to follow them out as usual. But my body has to have some recovery time. And I plan to attend Church here in the morning before hiking out. And I have scheduled an appointment with a massage therapist today (Daniel Boone, eat your heart out!).The Over-The-Hill-Gang has been a real enjoyment to camp with in the evenings. Interesting conversationalists, and knowledgable about so many things. Plus, Silver has hiked this trail before and knows a lot about what is coming ahead (for instance, he know about the Unionville mayor putting people up in his basement). Two of them are flip-flopping in a few days anyway. That is when a hiker goes up the trail to a point - in their case, starting in Georgia and going to the NY border - and then getting somehow to the northern terminus in Maine (Mt. Katahdin)and hiking south. Five Stones and No Car are flip-flopping with hopes to miss some of the heat. I suspect they will still catch some of the black flies in Maine. But, who knows for sure what is up the trail!The whole Over-the-Hill-Gang is a bunch of heathens, according to my sweetie, Magda. They did not go to Church with me two weeks ago when they had the chance, and when I told Magda I was going to Church alone in Duncannon, she gave them the label. When I caught up with them that evening, I did not tell them as they lounged at the porcupine-attack shelter, because they had walked the 300 steps straight down the hill to the spring to fill up some gallon jugs, which they shared with me; I wanted to at least get my water before rebuking them for their heathen ways. But by the time I drank their water, their degree of heathenism had faded for me. Plus, there were four of them, and I was afraid they might beat me up; they are a group of middle-aged toughs not to be trifled with. Or I thought they just might somehow figure out a way to throw porcupines at me during the night. Actually, now that I think about it, they are probably more like Peter Pan's Lost Boys than true-blue Heathens.Pappy left right after them. I have enjoyed hiking and camping with him for the past several days. He is from Maine, so he has some knowledge of the trails up there. He and I have dry camped a couple of times in between shelters. The first time I wasn't too sure about him; I mean, after all, he is from Maine, where people get cabin fever and go berserk, chopping people up with their axes. It apparently happens all the time there. And while I never saw Pappy with an ax, his pack was big enough to carry at least a small one. Plus, he has shifty eyes, so I slept each night with one eye open. After all, his IS from north of the Mason-Dixon line, which automatically makes him suspect, according to my Southern upbringing!....A few days ago Pappy and gave Ray his name: "Tennessee Tuxedo". That is because he is from Tennessee. And he wears long pants and a long-sleeve shirt all day long, even in the humid heat. So he looks far more dressed up than the rest of us stylish bums who are all wearing tee-shirts and shorts. Hence the name. Actually, Tennessee Tuxedo has some places on his arms and legs that do not tan - they only burn; that's why he wears the long clothes. Kinda like Michael Jackson. I haven't seen this guy try to moonwalk yet, but I have seen him trip on rocks. Not the same...