Date: 2017-06-01
From: Eagles Nest shelter, PA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: clear sky

6/1/17, Rock and Sole Hostel, PAMiles hiked: 900.3 Miles to go: 1289.5Today was a funny day of ups and downs - old friends, sore feet, good food, rocks, and a disappointing Cabela's. We were up and on the trail by 7:30 AM. With only 9.3 miles to town, we expected to be there by 11:00 AM. Since the post office where 1st Sgt was picking up his resupply box didn't open until noon, we would have time to grab lunch first. Then we could hitch a ride to the Cabela's in nearby Hamburg to look for a new pair of shoes for me.When I went home for Memorial Day, I replaced my worn out trail runners with Keen boots, which could better stand up to the Pennsylvania rocks. I had bought these boots before the start of my hike and had broken them in well. Unfortunately, my size 13 feet have gotten bigger with 900 miles of walking, which apparently is not uncommon. As a result, my toes have been cramped, leading to pain and discomfort. I was looking forward the past few days to getting to the Cabela's in Hamburg to replace them. The hike into Port Clinton was uneventful (but rocky), except for the last mile. The last mile was straight downhill which, of course, jammed my toes to the front of my boots. Ouch! We arrived in town around 11:00 AM and made our way to the Port Clinton Hotel to have lunch. As we were putting down our packs, we heard a squeal and looked up to see Hoops (aka Courtney) running across the street to greet us, with Sitting Bull close behind. They had zeroed in town and were just getting ready to leave. We invited them to join us for lunch. We went into the hotel restaurant and said we'd like a table for four, at which point the waitress apologetically told us that customers were required to shower before they could eat in the dining room, but we were welcome to eat at the bar. We told her that we had indeed showered. She then clarified that last week didn't count. Oops! We, of course, were happy to eat at the bar, where we proceeded to eat the hugest plates of nachos we'd ever seen. While sitting at the bar, we started talking to these cute young thru hiking sisters who also apparently hadn't showered this week. As is customary when thru hikers meet, they asked our trail names. I said mine was Beaker and they exclaimed, "Beaker!? Cool! We've heard all about you!" My partner in crime then said, "And I'm 1st Sgt!" To which they replied, "1st Sgt. Hmm, that's nice." As you can imagine, I have had a great time all day recounting that encounter. 1st Sgt doesn't appear to have much of a sense of humor today...After retrieving 1st Sgt's resupply box, we set out to hitch a ride to Cabela's, which was located 3.4 miles away in Hamburg. Towns near the AT are used to hikers hitching rides, so it's usually not a problem. I had switched from my kilt to pants all the same, figuring small town drivers might not be ready for the kilt. It didn't matter. We didn't get a ride. We walked to Cabela's. Now you have to understand something about thru hikers. We'll gladly walk 2200 miles over all kinds of terrain on the AT; but, we HATE to walk any further in town than is absolutely necessary. 3.4 road miles was an eternity!We finally arrived at Cabela's, parched and exhausted from our long, lonely sojourn along a busy highway, being passed by so many cars that had so much room for two old, broken down thru hikers. I took the time to put on my not so smelly town shirt and replace my toxic socks with clean ones before entering the store. We made our way through this huge store to the huge footwear section. Guess what? Cabela's has no shoes larger than 13! Argh - I put on my not so smelly shirt and nontoxic socks for nothing!We went back outside and I changed back into my smelly shirt and toxic socks and called Marguerite, who has been very worried about my feet. She, of course, sprung into action, called REI, ordered size 14 Keen Targhee II mid height boots (brown Shitake color), and arranged to have them shipped to the Wind Gap, PA, post office, where they will be waiting when we arrive Monday. I love that woman!Our original plan had been to get the resupply and boots and hike out of town about six miles to the first shelter. It was now 4:00 PM and we still had to get the 3.4 miles back to the trail before we could hike the six miles, including a steep 1000 ft climb, to the shelter. While I was working on the shoe issue with Marguerite, 1st Sgt made the executive decision to call the Rock and Sole Hostel and make arrangements to be picked up at Cabela's, fed dinner, shower, have our clothes washed, spend the night, have breakfast, and be dropped back off at the trail in the morning. What a great guy!We are now at the Rock and Sole with full bellies, clean clothes, clean bodies, and comfy beds. What a great day this turned out to be!