Date: 2003-07-02
From: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-To

To: Lower Cobble Rd. Salisbury CT (White hart Inn)
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: light rain

Day 111 Avg Mls/Day 13.4Weather: Ditto yesterday, nice cool morning, low humidity low 80's. Today's Nature: Large pine trees spread out along the Trail today.Falls Today 0 Total 4It was another great sleeping night in the tent.   Cool enough to get inside my down bag. I never did switch to a summer bag. When it gets too hot I just use the silk liner or sleep on top the bag.Many hikers talk about how bad their bags smell at this stage. Mine has no foul odor at all and I think it should be fine the whole trip. I use a silk liner which I wash now and then. I also change into night clothes after wiping down with a Wet Ones.Charlie was up before daybreak and me shortly thereafter. He took off about 5:30 while I left about 20 minutes later. It was a wonderful crisp cool morning for hiking. For some reason I was dragging a little the first hour or so. The climb up Mt Easter was only 300' and really wasn't that difficult. I'm not sure what it was.Staying in the shelter last night and hiking with us today was the infamous thru-hiker, Ranger Rick. I say "infamous" because he had the heaviest pack of anyone going into Neels Gap this year...87 pounds. That is the second heaviest in the history of the Trail. I had heard about him long before today...hikers often are asked how much weight they are carrying. Ranger Rick said he just had too many clothes and way too much food. He's 60 years old so he wasn't like Tunnelvision who is young and strong. Both admit to being a bit naive about the effects of carrying too much so far. That's where Trailjournals and the '02 hikers I followed really helped me. I caught up with Charlie about 5 miles along at Rt 7. Ranger Rick also joined us there at a service station that sells soda, ice cream and candy. The guy was a little different but we were happy to pay $1.20 for a cold Coke and $1.35 for a Klondike bar. You take what you can get along the Trail. There was nothing else for miles.There was an error in Wingfoot's guide book that caused us a little problem today. It said we could turn right to Falls Village a go .5 miles where we would find a restaurant. Well, we actually should have made that turn over a mile back. We thought it might be nice to catch a late breakfast or early lunch. The way we determined the book was in error was a sign just past the bridge indicating Falls Village was back where we came from. We flagged down a couple of cars that confirmed the book was wrong. So, we just hiked on as neither wanted to backtrack.Speaking of the locals, I have a personal observation that I may or may not have mentioned before. The further north we get, the less "hiker friendly" the general population. The 2 individuals, although not rude, almost acted a little bothered.   In the south, they would have offered to drive us there. It is also defintiely harder to hitch in the north. Now, there are exceptions like Duncannon and Vernon. In Erwin TN, I was just walking down the street when a guy rolled down his window and asked if I wanted a ride. I think mos would agree there is a difference.Charlie and I got into town at 1. Had a lemonade and checked into the White Hart Inn...we are sharing a room which costs $80 and that is a special hiker rate (normal $120). We ate lunch in the Inn...cheeseburger & fries was $9.50...but it was good.   Since the other place to eat in town closed at 5:30, we ate at the Inn...chicken sandwich with salad $10.   We are planning on having $6 pancakes for breakfast.   Remember the AYCE buffet in GA for $5.50?We then went to the local IGA and drug store to pick up a few things. Had milk shakes at the ice cream shop and came back to the room and got cleaned up.Charlie's knee is no worse and he thinks he can continue if he takes it easy.Got an email from Mule. He is about 5 days back at the Friary with Liteshoe. Sounds like he is enjoying himself, which is the idea. Don't think I'll see those two for awhile.Thought for the Day. A $10 hamburger had better taste good.