Date: 2005-06-13
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: broken clouds

Eagles Nest Shelter to Port Clinton, PA"Things come together"It was wonderful yesterday to get to camp so early, doing only 15 miles.  I didn't think an hour would make much of a difference but we actually reached camp at 3:30.  That's a solid 2 hours earlier than usual and it felt downright luxurious.  I had time to rest and read and Gravity even cooked dinner while I relaxed.  It ended up being a little tent village there with Red Rover and Throw and Fetch even showed up later.When we last saw Throw and Fetch in Harper's Ferry, he'd mentioned that in a couple of weeks, mid-June, his parents would be down and there'd be a possibility of plugging into some slack packing if we were around.  We thought that Throw had said this would happen around the 15th but when he came in last night saying "boy are you guys lucky!"  We realized that they would be here sooner.  This news was especially good at this particular time because I've been feeling tired the past couple of days and the way things were looking we'd be pushing somewhat aggressive miles over the next 2 sections.  The heat and bugs have been getting to me some and it didn't look like we'd be getting showers or laundry until Palmerton, 3 days away.  At that we'd have to do an ~18 mile day into town, a full resupply and town chores and a ~16.5 mile day out the next day.  This just sounded hellish to me, and having no near future reprieve in sight I was developing a consuming anxiety.  One thing I have learned about myself is that I can only hike for so many days in a row before I need some quiet time alone.  Preferably this alone time involves being clean in a cool, comfortable place.  This becomes especially important to me when I feel the miles have been more aggressive and in the ever increasing heat and humidity.  The way things were looking, there would be no quiet time for at least five more days.  Ten straight days with only one chance for showers and laundry and no chance for quality quiet time in a clean cool place was sounding on the verge of unacceptable.But, as they always do, things just worked out.  When things were looking grim and rough, Throw and Fetch show up with promise of slackpacking, several nights in an air conditioned hotel room with a shower, real meals and quality quiet time:  Hallelujah!!!  Hear angels singing and see rays of light shining down through the clouds on all.The short 8.5 miles into Port Clinton were a bit tougher with more rocks and an extremely steep descent into town.  We were hot and sweaty by the time we reached the railroad tracks where the trail spat us out.  It was the historic Reading Railroad which was pretty neat.  More neat was the river flowing below the tracks, to which we promptly scurried and jumped in.  Aaaahhh, refreshing bliss!  Red Rover, Throw and Fetch joined in shortly.  Fetch found an enormous dead branch that she insisted we throw into the water for her to retrieve.  We all laughed hilariously at her persistence with the unmaneuverable log that caused her to swim around in circles trying to get it under control to bring back to shore.Eventually we drug ourselves from the refreshing river to seek out lunch.  Port Clinton is a very strange little 2 street town.  The town's one motel (with restaurant) is closed Monday's so the only other food option was the 3C's diner.  We were directed that it was just up the street past the picnic pavilion.  We walked up and down the street 3 times before we walked far enough past the pavilion to find the diner.  The 4 of us enjoyed a wonderful lunch and just as we finished up, Throw's parents showed up.We're now clean, fed and cozy in bed with the glorious sound of A/C pumping cool air into the room.  Once again we are indebted to Throw (and his trail angel parents) for saving the day, and ever grateful that once again things are working out splendidly.  We continue along showered in good fortune ever encountering grace.Danger