Date: 2016-05-11
From: 443 and 72

To: William Penn Shelter PA
Miles today: 8.6

1188.91416'I forgot to mention the great trail magic yesterday at the motel.   We ask the desk if they had a shuttle to the diner, about a mile and a half away. They did not but said they would mention our need to another guest who they thought was planning on going that way.   An elderly Southern Baptist couple not only gave us a ride down there but dined with us (Dutch), then sat and talked with us there while Bob went back and forth to the travel center next door to do the laundry.   They love to camp and hike. He hiked the Grand Canyon with a son in law when he was 70 and again at 72. He went back to school in his late 50s, as I did, and received his masters in Social work. He then became a marriage counselor.   The difference being that he already had a great retirement from Dupont. We learned about their courtship and life and testimony. It was absolutely delightful. We resupplied at dollar general next to The Red Carpet Inn where we stayed. Have I mentioned that I am sick of rice? The jambalaya is still good though with pepperoni and salami. There were not many choices at this dollar general and they didn't have indicated individual wrapped Spam that is so good on the trail but the desk clerks were very helpful and one went out to his car and brought in some stamps so I could mail a card to my granddaughter and wouldn't let me pay him. More trail magic.We got a shuttle back to where we left off yesterday and shared the ride with the couple from Alabama, Pete and Be Happy.   They were picked up at a different motel and we returned to a different spot on the trail but it was nice to see then again.Today, without rain, the trail was much easier. The boulder fields were even kind of fun. We could go from flat rock to flat rock lots of times instead of slippery slanted rock to slippery slanted rock. It was more like a game than going through a mine field. Because it was a nice day and we are getting a little stronger and the trail was a little easier we were able to do little more. Still, I was exhausted when we arrived at the William Penn shelter and with a chance of rain, I was willing to suffer sleeping on the floor with nothing but a window sunscreen under me rather than find a place to hang the hammock and tarp.   Bob found a way to hang his inside the shelter, between ladders to the loft. I wish we had taken a picture. He let me have his pad but it fails to keep air. It was something though. We forgot to take a picture of the set up again. Want to post the hammock set ups on Hammock forum eventually.30 minutes after we arrived we heard a child's cry. Sure enough a mother with her four boys, ages 4-13, arrived. They were all cute but loud and full of energy. They were going to sleep in the loft and it was up and down and out and in and up and down again for a good while. They may have been playing tag. They did try to get quiet once we bedded down. They had hiked to the shelter for an over night.   Another couple slightly younger than ourselves came in and slept against the wall behind the hammock.   After we were asleep another hiker arrived and set up on the floor down below the head of Bob's hammock, No Regrets, Fifty -six and Shaunshine.