Date: 2005-06-07
From: Fine Lodging - Slatington, PA

To: Jailhouse Hostel
Miles today: 5.3

Miles hiked today : 5.3I woke up this morning at 7:30 a.m. after a fairly restless night. The temperature in our tiny room had been way too hot, despite the fact that we had a large box fan running all night. I ate my leftover pizza for breakfast, packed up and Turtle, Streetfighter, and I were shuttled back to the trail and began hiking at 10:45 a.m. Earlier this morning, Turtle had negotiated down the cost of our shuttle, so all I ended up paying was $16 for the combined cost of the shuttle and overnight stay.Hiking as a pack, we reached George W. Outerbridge Shelter at 12:15 p.m. and stayed for a 40 minute rest break. Continuing on, we reached PA873 at 1:10 p.m., where Dad's Grin had been dropped off this morning. We stopped for 15 minutes at the very friendly auto dealer and drank cold water from the water cooler while relaxing in the air conditioned waiting room.I only had 0.3 mile to go to reach PA248, which leads into Palmerton, my destination for the day. Though Turtle and Streetfighter were hiking on another 15.8 miles, they helped me get a hitch into town. I was picked up by a gentleman named Steve, who kindly dropped me off near the City Hall at 1:55 p.m.I walked from the City Hall to the Borough Hall, which makes available a free hostel in the basement. The Borough Hall used to be the police station, hence the name, "jailhouse hostel." While checking in, they asked for my social security number and a piece of photo identification. I asked why they needed it and jokingly commented that there was speculation on the trail that the Borough Hall was running background checks on hikers. The clerk assured me that they requested the information only in case something happened to me during my stay. After checking in, I was given a "goody bag" and a tour of the facilities. The "goody bag" was provided by Girl Scout Troops #112 and #1038, as wel as several local businesses and contained toothpaste, a toothbrush, advil, a band-aid style bandage, a granola bar, a pre-stamped postcard, and a pre-paid 15 minute phone card. Thank you all very much!I left my gear in the hostel and walked down the main street in search of the library. The temperature was 89 degrees and the heat of the sun felt good, especially without the weight of my pack. I hadn't found the library by the time I reached the end of town, though I did find a convenience store that sold live bait from a soda can style vending machine. Weird!Walking back toward the hostel, I ran into Shades of Blue eating lunch on the sidewalk. We made tentative plans for dinner at 7 p.m. and I continued on to the library. I found the library courtesy of directions provided by a passerby and used the internet connection to check e-mail and update my trailjournal.After the library, I returned to the hostel and made some telephone calls before heading to the laundromat. I journaled while my laundry was washing, then took my clean laundry back to the hostel on my way to dinner.After dinner, I took a trip to the grocery store for breakfast items and ice cream. Earlier this afternoon, I'd forwarded my Palmerton maildrop to Unionville, NY, as I'm still carrying dinner items that I bought 110.3 miles ago in Duncannon and didn't want an extra 5 days of food in my pack over the next 87.5 miles. Too much food is something I've been struggling with for the last week because kind people keep giving me more food and I keep taking it. Hopefully by Unionville, I'll be ready for my maildrop.After the grocery store, I returned to the hostel to shower and read before falling asleep. Shades of Blue is staying in a hotel, and so I thought that I'd be the only one staying here tonight, though 3 hikers I've only briefly met, Snail, Opa, and Tumbleweed Baggins, showed up around 7:00 p.m.Tomorrow morning, I've got a telephone conference at 11:00 a.m. regarding my previous job, so I'll be getting a late start out of town. Hopefully the weather will be good and I'll be able to cover the 15.8 miles to Leroy A. Smith Shelter before dark.Bedtime at 9:30 p.m.