Date: 2006-06-15
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: 0

Cell good.Today started with a hike into the town of Port Clinton. We, NEFFA and I, made a wrong turn and walked right out of town and away from our maildrop. That meant we had to hike back into town, southbound 1/4 mile. Once in town we picked up our mail and sorted the meals into our packs. We were going to stop at the outfitters, but discovered it closed, and we hear for good. I think it is a victim of the WalMart effect. A Cabelas opened a few miles down the road, and I wouldn't be surprised if that is where their business went. This would have been bad for us if we hadn't gotten enough food in our maildrops and were planning to buy some there.We then went to The Port Clinton Hotel for lunch. I had a nice veal parm sandwich and a salad. I love eating salad, and usually get one wherever I can.After lunch we went to the Port Clinton Peanut Shop. They roast their peanuts and sell the lighly roasted, medium roasted, and dark roasted. The smell that comes from the shop is pretty nice, especially to a smelly old hiker. That wasn't the best feature about this place - the best feature is that it is a real old time candy store. I saw candies I though were no longer made. This place is a must see to anyone with a sweet tooth who's passing through this area.We then left town on the trail we had hiked on earlier. We soon started a steep climb towards the ridgeline above the town. When you look at the profile map of this area you see the hike fairly level, but high up. Then there is a big dip into town and a big climb out of town. I knew about the climb, as my friend Dean had climbed it last year. You see, he visited the Cabelas and wanted to find a Geocache on the AT while down here. He soon discovered it to be a steep climb and the Geocache farther than he wanted to hike. The funny thing is that he called me from the top of the hill when he was up there. I knew I was in the same place because he described seeing the Cabelas from there. I wanted to return the call, but couldn't because he was still in work. I did call him tonight and returned the call, we had a good laugh over it.Tonight was our Boy Scout Troops Court of Honor. I didn't get the details of who received what, but I'm sure the boys worked hard and were well rewarded. Good job guys, you're a great bunch of boys. Keep up the good work and enjoy Sabattis, as it's a great place. Old Goat Sue's Note: Old Goat is meeting his sister and father for lunch tomorrow. When his sister asked if there is anything she could bring him, Old Goat asked for a pen. Just a pen? He has had a pen with him all along, but misplaced it recently (he thinks he left it at one of the shelter journals), so he needs a pen. Such simple needs thru-hikers have. Doesn't take much to make them happy - some food, soda, and a pen when they misplace theirs. :-)Old Goat said he felt like "a kid in a candy store" in that candy store today. He raved about their Root Beer Barrels and wished he had bought more of them. (I remember them from decades ago...didn't know they still exist!). A day or so ago he mentioned being close to family now. Chris, our son, is a tremendous help with the logistics of getting Old Goat together with the family members who want to meet him. An interesting observation for me is that Chris showed me how he finds things with the Google satellite maps. He zips down to any area he wants to take a closer look at. When he was showing me how he does it, I was amazed how fast he could find things! He reminded me that that's the view he sees every day he works, being an airline pilot. How handy...he knows exactly what to look for to find places where people can meet Old Goat (roads, etc.). It was fun to watch him in action with Google.Old Goat and I have worked out a pretty good communications system. There are some evenings I have to do things during which it would not work to talk by cell phone (e.g., when I'm mowing the lawn). I try to tell him the day before when I'll be out of touch, and about what time I'll be available again. If I forget to let him know the day before, I'll leave him a voice message telling him I'll be out of touch - when and for how long. I had an appointment to get my youth restored (hair coloring) this evening, but I forgot to remind Old Goat yesterday and I knew we had to talk to discuss final coordination for his meeting his sister and father tomorrow. He got my message and called his sister while I was busy, and called me after the time I told him I'd be available again.