Date: 2004-07-18
From: Palmerton, Pa.

To: Palmerton, Pa.
Miles today: 0.0

Palmerton, Pa. When I woke up early this morning I could hear the swish of car tires on wet pavement. I got up and found the closest restroom, which was up a flight of stairs, then got back in my bunk and went back to sleep. When I woke up again, it was after 8:00. I could hear beautiful piano music coming from somewhere outside. I discovered it was coming from a church right next door. It did not take me long to decide where I would go to church this morning. There was not another hiker in sight, so I wandered across the street to Bert's Diner where I found Trail Dog and Spin Cycle eating breakfast. Well, they were already on their second breakfast by the time I got there. They teased me about sleeping all day, but it didn't bother me in the least. The rainy weather and rocky terrain ahead of us pretty much helped us all decide to take a zero here today. The room rate is good (free) and everything is within a few blocks of here. Grocery Store, Subway, conveince store, Bert' Diner. I ate breakfast, and then went to the United Church of Christ for the morning service. This was a new experience for me, but I just did what everyone else did and hoped I didn't look too out of place. Although back home had I went to church in flip flops and hiking clothes I would have really stood out. It was an interesting service, very regimented and I was only familiar with one of the songs we sang. I understand God's wisdom in calling my pastor into the ministry as a Southern Baptist preacher and not Church of Christ. My pastor cannot carry a tune in a bucket, and the pastor today sang several portions of the service. He had a very nice baritone voice and sang well. I was grateful just to be in church today somewhere. One of the things I miss the most out here on the trail is attending church. After church T came in announcing he had just ate fresh Krispy Kreme Donuts. That sent SpinCycle and I out into the rain in search of those wonderful donuts. A quart of milk and four donuts was all I needed for lunch. Somehow SpinCycle had yogied a ride a ride for anyone interested into a nearby town to a movie theater. For those of you unfamiliar with trail jargon, yogi is what a hiker does to get what he wants without directly asking. Remember Yogi the Bear and how he was always getting picnic baskets of food without really asking outright? So early afternoon found five of us getting in line to buy tickets. I went to see The Notebook, a movie based on a book by Nicholas Sparks, one of my favorite authors.   I had already seen the movie once and cried through it. It was no different the second time, I cried again. Our trail angel Caroline filled us in on the history of Palmerton and after the movie took us over to Wal-Mart to re-supply our food and other supplies. Tomorrow she is going to shuttle my pack to Wind Gap for me so I can slack pack 20 miles. If it is still raining at least I will be able to dry my boots and body tomorrow night. This will also be safer than me trying to rock climb with a pack over slippery rocks. Every Sunday there is a concert in the park here. Tonight because of the rain the concert was moved inside this building on an upper floor in the gym. The group was the Leighigh Band. For over an hour I listened to them play an assortment of tunes. It was really a nice way to cap off a really nice day. Palmerton has proven itself to be hiker friendly, warm and inviting. Maybe one day there can be a route figured out that would bring the trail closer to this town. Right now it is awkward to get to from the trail and somewhat dangerous. There is really no safe place to stand and even hitch hike a ride into town. People wonder why hikers fuss over having to walk two miles into town when we walk for miles on the trail, but walking on pavement is very hard on your feet, and after a long day of hiking, there is very little energy left to hike more miles into a town. Although I had not planned to take a zero day today, it has been restful and interesting. Again I am grateful for the kindnesses of strangers to meet not only my needs but my wants.