Date: 2003-06-20
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: PA Route 248
Miles today: 7.7

6/20/03Start: Bake Oven Knob shelterDest: Route 248 (Lehigh Gap)Miles: 7.7I got up early today (6AM), I was excited to be taking a 3 day break to rest & visit family. I packed quietly (well I tried to be) in the shelter full of sleeping hikers and was on the trail at 6:50 (and I only pissed off¢¦ I mean woke up, a few people). I don¢t like packing while people are sleeping, it¢s so hard to be quiet. It¢s going to be fun hiking over all these rocks in the drizzle that is coming down. Michele & Brian got on the trail before me (they were tenting), but I caught them pretty quickly. They were actually trying to be careful on the wet rocks. I on the other hand was just rushing over them, an accident waiting to happen (it never did, at least not with permanent damage¢¦). I just put my head down & flew (Wench would have slowed me down here, to a more reasonable ¢downhill¢ speed). I caught them in a boulder field, and walked with them for a bit talking, before I picked my pace up again. Michele was glad I caught up with them, she worried that if I fell while I was still behind them, it would have been hours before any of the other sleepy heads found me. She is a sweetheart, worrying about me. Now at least if I fall, I will have someone to pick up the pieces sooner. Before I knew it, I was at the shelter 6 miles out (where I took a quick break), and soon at the road. Wench wasn¢t here, so I had thrown caution to the wind (and drizzle), and blown away 7.7 miles in 2.5 hours over wet rocks. Hmmm¢¦ sounds kind of stupid, reading it here in my office as I type it in. At the road crossing, I noticed that the road was dangerous, with no place to safely hitch to the rental car agency, so I called them & they picked me up (they were 10 miles away). I love Enterprise rent a car, they pick up stinky hikers at trail crossings. Enterprise & thruhikers, perfect together (OK, I know this is sort of like the cheesy NJ slogan, but it seemed to fit). Kris picked me up, & took me to the office & let me change while they did the paperwork. My first stop after I started driving was a donut shop, for coffee & 3 donuts!!! The, it was NJ here I come! I called my brothers house & spoke to my niece Sarah, (she just graduated from college), & told her I was on my way. When I got to the house, I showered, changed into clothes I had mailed there, and took her out to lunch (surprise, cheeseburger, fries, onion straws & a beer). Then I shopped for clothes (black levis to wear to church, size 34/34 hmmm¢¦. I shrunk), the clothes I had sent to me were mostly too big. After shopping, I picked up my son Tom & went out to dinner (food seems top play an important part of this trip). The night ended at my brothers telling trail stories, over many beers, then crashing on the couch (luxury!). A long day, but a good one. Tomorrow, laundry & gear shopping. I hope Wench & her sister have a great, safe hike. I can¢t wait to hear about naked hiking day tomorrow, and Sam & Tristens trail magic. Good night Wench! Oh, I forgot to mention¢¦ I went to a doctor, he took an XRAY of my right foot & told me it is not broken!!! It is a Tendon sprain, painful, slow to heal, but not a hike ender. Northwards I go!!