Date: 2013-08-03
To: somewhere in PA
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

I guess you've noticed I haven't written in a while.   I owe it all to my dead iphone. I lost my pictures, documents and a lot of other things including several days of journal I hadn't sent in. I took my phone to Verizon who told me they couldn't retrieve anything, that I may need to talk to Apple, which I did, and they told me it would cost a minimum of $20 to talk to someone since I don't have their protection package. Since I was getting back on the trail, Deb is taking it to the Apple store soon. Thanks Deb. What all this means is I now have a new phone which I'm just figuring out how to use and I'm still learning how to write and send in my journal entries.   I'm not 15 anymore and it shows when I use and abuse electronic devices. Now to the missing journal... I believe I left you before my 7th day on the Shenandoah River.   I'll have to summarize based on my memory. Though I have a photographic memory, it's not yet developed. After 6 days in a raft I was getting anxious to start hiking the trail once again. Rafting was fun while letting my ankle heal, but I thought I'd had enough. I talked to Thistle and Sunshine and they both agreed with me.   But Thistle was waiting for her good friend Ericka who she'd already told we were aquablazing on day 8. Because of this we decided to stay on the river through the 8th day.   Since we knew we were on our last day on the river, it became a special day.   Everyone felt festive so we had a good time, forgetting we'd been on the river for 8 days. The weather was perfect and the river was nice, except when we went through that maze of cow manure. All was good and everyone had a good time but we were definitely ready to hike again.   As planned, once the aquablaze was done, we all (Thistle, Puddin', Sunshine, Cannibal Curious, Ducky, Mountain Man and Nomad) drove the rafts and equipment to my house which was about 3 hours away.   I had leftover beer and spirits from the wedding that I offered to all so everyone except the neighbors had a good time.   I didn't drink much, but then I usually don't. I was just happy to see everyone else having a good old blowout.The next afternoon, everybody left to get back on the trail. I stayed home because I'd just learned that my brother-in-law, husband of my sister who recently passed away, was found lifeless on the side of the road. It's so hard to comprehend them both passing a month apart, a real tragedy for the family, and especially for their son Todd who lost both of his parents and Todd's five year old son who'd lost two of his four grandparents. Before we left for the funeral, I called Thistle and asked her to be on the lookout for anything strange because it appeared one of the group had stolen most of our toilet paper.   She was horrified that I was upset because they'd hid it to play a gag on me.   I was the one truly embarrassed because I'd fell for it hand and foot. It was ridiculous I didn't see it since it involved a lot of toilet paper.   I felt ashamed that I accused my honest friends of stealing when it was so obvious.   I felt like an ass.Before I could get back on the trail, I received a call from Sunshine telling me they were leaving the trail for the year. I hated to hear that because I really liked her and Cannibal Curious. Then I found out that Mountain Man and Nomad were going back home to Ohio and Ducky was doing the same.   Looks like it was just Thistle and me once again. My hiking group was suddenly reduced from 7 to 2 in a flash and it was back to as it was before the 2013 Experience was formed.Deb drove me up to Pennsylvania where I met Thistle at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, a strange name for sure It was named after an iron furnace with a long history.   The furnace was used for many iron needs including building the railroads, and played a major part in making munitions to support the Civil War. For two nights, we camped with Thistle's sister Bridget and Bridget's son Jack who came from New York to spend time with her while I was at the funeral.   The first day, we left our gear at the campsite and slack packed about 11 miles. Bridget picked us up and brought us back to the park where we could get a shower before she went back to NY. It was so good to get back to hiking again. My hurt ankle still gave me some pain, but the hike went well regardless. Since we'd had a ride back we didn't need to carry a full pack and I could hike without too much stress on my ankle. It helped that the hike was an easy one without a lot of hills or too many rocks. Ready for a full pack tomorrow.   Can't wait! After our hike, we went to the general store to attempt the half gallon challenge where almost all hikers attempt to eat a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting.   I won a cheesy wooden spoon for my victory but almost hurled in the process.   Thistle only got through half of hers before giving up. It was really hard. I'll never eat cherry vanilla again!Well, this little summary semi-catches me up enough to move forward with my journal. I'll be continuing on my hike for my next journal entry.