Date: 2008-06-30
From: 501 Shelter

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: few clouds

I was slow getting started this morning. I woke up early enough, but was glad I didn't have to get going with the day. I laid in my bunk until about 7am, then decided I really needed to get moving.I got packed up after having a couple Poptarts for breakfast. I guess all that humidity yesterday just made me want an easy day, but I knew I had lots of rocks to walk over before I got to Port Clinton.I started walking north on the "wrong" trail at 8:40am. I turned too soon after I left 501 Shelter and realized I wasn't seeing any white blazes, so after a quarter mile, I turned around and got to the right trail and started walking north on the Appalachian Trail. :-)It was still humid out and there wasn't any breeze. I decided to just walk easy and try not to work up too much of a sweat...that didn't work because I was sweating pretty good anytime I had a little climb.I passed by Shower Steps, then passed Hiker Dave at Shikellamy Overlook.I had to stop and take a picture of him because he was talking to his wife on a cell phone when I walked up. :-)I really do love the technology today! A hiker can be in the middle of the forest and still call his wife when he gets lonely. :-)I walked on and stopped about an hour later to eat my lunch. I hadn't made many miles, but I felt like I wanted to sit down already...and eating my lunch worked right into my plan. :-)I had tuna salad and Fritos, diced peaches, raisins, nuts and a Tootsie Roll Pop.I was drinking plenty of water and was just about out when I got to a nice spring just before Pa 183. I drank another liter and walked away with 2 full liters of water. I knew I would drink a lot again today because of the humidity.I crossed PA 183 and saw what I think was a turkey in the distance. I only got a glimpse of it before it went back into the woods.I passed by the side trail to Eagles Nest Shelter without stopping, then I did see four turkeys not too long after that. They took off running when they spotted me.I stopped and took my pack off for another break. The humidity wasn't as bad as yesterday, but it was still way more than I like.I stayed there for about 15 minutes and ate some dried fruit and drank lots of water.I had only been walking for about 20 minutes when I spotted a doe and fawn up ahead. I kept walking and I had the doe's undivided attention. :-) When I got to within 40 yards of them, the doe took off running away from me, but the fawn got scared and ran right towards me. It went off into the woods about 25 yards before it got to me.I passed by Marshall's Path, then Auburn Lookout. When I started down the hill to Port Clinton, I was thinking it was going to be an easy down.I hadn't walked north into Port Clinton on the Trail since 2002. I have always climbed that mountain and even though it was steep, I never thought much of it. Boy oh boy, it's a steep down! Especially when you're tired.I was working my poles and upper body so much that I worked up a sweat on the downhill!I got into Port Clinton and since I knew Port Clinton Hotel was closed and I couldn't eat there, I walked to the new outfitters.I had been thinking about several ice cold Cokes and just how great they were going to taste. The first thing I saw when I opened the outfitter's door was two empty soda coolers. :-(Sometimes it's REALLY hard thru hiking....and this was one of those times. I picked up my food drop and walked down to the hiker pavilion.I saw a girl sitting there and I saw a cooler!I was hoping there would be some sodas in there.The girl was Mary Poppins and Professor Longjohns was lying down.Mary Poppins said a friend of mine left the cooler. It was Tricks! Thank you, thank you!I had two sodas while I talked to Mary Poppins. They are still here because Professor Longjohns has come down with Lyme disease.I sat there and went through all the food I have. (Which is way too much now that I'm meeting up with Mother Nature and Smokestack at Eckville Shelter instead of Palmerton)I walked across the street and set up my tent by the river. I brought one of the Yeunglings that Tricks left and I drank that.It tasted so good that I walked back across the street and got two more. Now I feel like singing! :-)Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)