Date: 2015-07-19
From: Caesar Brook Campsite

To: Cobble Road Mile 1499.2
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: scattered clouds

You know how I said yesterday was a fun day? Today was the opposite of a fun day. Really all you need to know is that the first thing I did when I got out of my tent, is douse myself with DEET.But fine, I'll squeeze out a full entry. It rained only a little bit last night, and the Boy Scouts were quiet. So until I got out of my tent, things were just fine! Well, except for the part where my clothes were still damp with sweat when I put them on. But that's a minor detail.I took my time getting ready and left at 6:31. It wasn't hot yet, but it definitely was humid. I decided I'd take my first break at the first shelter. With a name like Pine Swamp Brook shelter I really should have known better. According to the (section?) hikers there, it was the buggiest place on the trail. I cut my break short and decided to eat a snickers while hiking. I did call Bearded Woods Hostel but they were booked. No awesome hostel for me!By now I was, once again, a sweaty mess. And even though I had done laundry only two days ago, I thought it would be nice to maybe put on dry, non-sweaty clothes tomorrow. So, at my next water filter break I checked to see what my options where around the 18 or 19 mile mark and I saw that Maria McCabe was right at that point as well. I had read about Yoda's stay with Maria and thought it sounded like fun, so I gave her a call and she did have a bed for me. Yes! So now I had to hike another 12 miles. And it was getting warm.I'd tell you about the hike, but frankly, the hiking today was boring. Or at least the parts I saw in between swatting at bugs were. There was a long road walk detour. (Thank you Red Panda for the trail magic at the southern end of the detour! I needed it!). And then there was a long climb. And more bugs. And another road walk. Really, today just was not much to write home about! I saw only three hikers all day and no weekend people, because they were all too smart to be out in this soupy weather. I did run into what turned out to be the support crew for Iron Lady (during that last part of the road walk) and had fun chatting with them.When I got to Maria's house, I wasn't sure I had the right place, but a voice told me 'right back here, young lady'. I usually don't like being called 'young lady' but from an 86 year old trail angel? Sure! Her first question was whether I wanted a Mountain Dew or Pepsi, so she's clearly done this a time or two. We verified that it was 90 degrees in the shade and 100 in the sun (good thing about that Green Tunnel) and then I had a glorious cold shower. Maria drove me to laundromat which is conveniently located next to the pizza place. I asked for a seat with an outlet and got caught up while my clothes were being de-sweatified and I ate salad, bread and ravioli. And more bread. I am writing this entry from the super comfortable rocking chair in Maria's air conditioned living room while the television is flashing Severe Thunderstorm warnings across the screen. It will be a good night to be inside.Here's to hoping tomorrow will be better. I think I go through Sage Ravine so the hiking at least should definitely not be boring!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?