Date: 2017-06-05
From: Delp Spring Campsite

To: Travel Inn, Wind Gap, PA
Miles today: 10.6

6/5/17, Travel Inn, Wind Gap, PAMiles hiked: 960.8 Miles to go: 1229.0It rained off and on all night. I stayed dry under my tarp; however, I had to pack up the wet tarp in the morning. Have I mentioned that I hate packing up wet equipment?1st Sgt and I were the first ones out of camp this morning - as usual. Older hikers always get started earlier than the younger ones; but, they also tend to get passed during the day. Younger hikers also tend to take more breaks while older ones continue to trudge ever onward. Sort of a tortoise and hare kinda thing. So, we end up at the same place in the evening. It works out really well. The rocks continue unabated. We have moved from the big slabs of rock to little pointy rocks that just shred your feet and twist your ankles. Although my feet hurt, mainly because my boots are a little tight, 1st Sgt's feet are really torn up and blistered. As a result, he is really suffering. We were making for Wind Gap, 10.6 miles away, where I had a new pair of size 14 boots waiting for me. It threatened rain all morning; but, the rain held off and we finally made our way into town. The plan was to hike the 0.8 miles into town, go to the pizza place and order pizza, run to the Post Office next door while the pizza baked and grab the boots, eat lunch, and head back out of town. The best laid plans of mice and men...The pizza place was closed, so we walked to the Beer Stein. The Beer Stein was closed, so we walked to the Broadway Cafe. The Broadway Cafe was closed, so we moved on down the street looking for somewhere open to eat. All the while, 1st Sgt was hobbling along. Pretty soon, we were almost two miles from the trailhead. We eventually decided that it would be a good idea to rest 1st Sgt's feet and get a room at the Travel Inn Motel. The Travel Inn is not only the trashiest motel that I've stayed in on the trail, including the Doyle and the Franklin Budget Inn, it is without a doubt the trashiest motel I've EVER been in. It appears to have many guests who live here full time, with grills and Big Wheels outside the rooms. Our shower has no cold water, just water so scalding hot that you can't stand in it. The only light in the room is a lamp. If you turn on the air conditioner, the lamp goes out.  There are pieces of plywood where I assume the closet used to be. There is an old cathode style TV on the "dresser" that is missing a drawer. While 1st Sgt rested his feet, I walked back to the post office and picked up my boots. I now have happy toes. I also stopped by the CVS and Autozone and picked up Epsom salts and a pan for 1st Sgt to soak his feet. His toes are also happier now. Our friends Matador, Tin Man, and Dirty Harry are in the same motel. Matador came to visit and introduced us to our next door neighbor who he had met while looking for us. She invited herself in and told us all about the "vortex" behind the plywood boards. She was very nice and just a little crazy. At least, I hope she's crazy and there's not really a vortex in our room. Tomorrow we have to hoof it 16 miles to Delaware Water Gap (after walking back across town) to be there by 4:00 PM to meet Marguerite. She's coming to town for a day for an early anniversary celebration. Our 20th wedding anniversary is on the 13th; but, her schedule worked better for her to come this week. We will take a zero day on Wednesday.  1st Sgt plans to rest his feet at the hiker hostel while Marguerite and I stay at the nearby Hampton Inn and take care of zero day chores, such as resupply, laundry, getting my hiking poles repaired (they both lost their metal tips on the rocks), and drive back to Eckville Shelter to pick up my Kindle that I left there last Friday. Happy anniversary, indeed!Hopefully, after Delaware Water Gap and the PA/NJ border, the rocks will finally let up and our feet can get back to normal. In the meantime, I'm really excited about seeing Marguerite tomorrow and taking a zero day on Wednesday. That is, if we don't get sucked into the vortex tonight...