Date: 2004-07-12
From: William Penn Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: moderate rain

Start William Penn ShelterDestination 501 ShelterI woke up to the sound of rain splattering on my tent. I glanced at my clock. It was 2:30 am. I dashed out of my tent and grabbed my clothes from the makeshift clothesline. I let down my food bag and got back to my tent. Not one to miss an opportunity I thought this rain wasn't very cold at all. In a flash I got my washcloth and stripped off my sleeping clothes. Right there in the middle of the forest, I proceeded to take a shower. I was so sticky with sweat, bug spray and dirt and more sweat. It felt wonderful albeit slightly cool. My clothes would still be dirty, but at least I would be clean. I got back down in my sleeping bag and went back to sleep. I felt really refreshed. Of course it took me awhile to fall asleep. When I woke up again it was to thunder, then lightning, and lots of rain. I knew that my feet could use a rest, so I planned to wait and see what the weather was going to do before I headed out. I willed myself back to sleep trying to ignore the rain drops that occasionally made their way thru the back opening of my tent. Finally hunger and a screaming bladder got the best of me, so I put on my raincoat and ventured outside between thunderstorms. I went down to the spring and filled my bottles with water. Sitting in the front opening of my tent I fixed some oatmeal for breakfast and a big cup of tea. For the next several hours, I drank tea, corrected the mistakes in my journal and listened to the sound of rain hitting my tent. I had finished reading the book I was carrying last night, and my electronic Bible had succumbed to the moisture, so there was nothing for me to do. It was after lunch when the sky seems to get lighter. I walked down to the shelter, making a stop at the privy on my way. There was no one there so I read the latest journal entries, left the book I had finished and headed back to my tent. I passed a man and his family on the way. He told me that the rain was supposed to let up this afternoon. It had already been over an hour since the last rain. I hurriedly packed up and set off up the trail. I hoped to do 10 miles today, but just as I got close to the next shelter, the rain started again. I had already fallen once on those slippery rocks, so I bailed out and into the shelter I went. Now this is no ordinary shelter. It is completely enclosed, with six sets of bunks minus the mattresses. There is a gigantic sunroof for light. There is a solar shower and a water spigot to get our water. There is also a port a potty outside. Why is it that I always get to a place with a solar shower when the sun has not shown that day? There is a long table and real wooden chairs to sit in while you cook and eat. I grab a bottom bunk and spread my tent under the bunk to dry. Before long in comes Ersa Minor and Swan who had gotten a ride into town. By supper time the shelter is full. Bumpo makes it in between rain showers. He had gotten off the trail for work for a couple days, then got back on and has already caught up with me. One of the girls here is meeting some friends who are hiking. She has a car and volunteers to go get us pizza. Before you know it we are all sitting around this huge table eating pizza and drinking cold drinks, swapping hiking stories. The weather forecast predicts more rain for the next few days. I am hoping to get to Port Clinton by Wednesday. The trail between here and there is flat but who knows how rocky it is. We do know that the last five miles are nothing but rocks with a very steep decent into town. For tonight I am dry and stuffed with pizza.Total miles 4.1