Date: 2005-05-16
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: overcast clouds

8:42 pm - Fight for your Right to PartyAt long last, here's the trail days recap. I rolled into town Friday evening at 5:30 and went straight to the Rock School, where I knew I'd find Professor. Lion King was screening his movie "Walking with Freedom" at six and I knew Professor wanted to see it - he had hiked with Lion King in 2000. I found the Prof and stayed for the movie and free pizza. The hikers really dug the movie. It got a standing ovation from a packed house.Afterwards, I went to Tent City, which was way north of the ballfield. I gave Professor (and my pack) a ride, but there weren't any more parking spots available so I doubled back to the main festival parking lot and started walking. It didn't last long. Phoenix drove by and gave me a lift. She also gave me a sympathy card signed by pretty much everyone I know on the trail and some I don't. Thanks, all. It means a lot.In Tent City, the others had saved me a spot. I reclaimed my tarp (it was a rain awning for the previous two nights) and pitched it. Next I headed to Billville. To understand what happened next, you first need some history. When Professor hiked in 2000, he and seven other people wore Tractor Supply Company skirts that all read "Bill." They called themselves the Walking Pack of Traveling Bills, or something to that effect. They entered the talent show and performed a variation of "The Scotsman's Kilt" entitled "The Hiker's Skirt" while wearing man skirts and won first prize, claiming all of the prizes for themselves (normally the top 8 places get prizes). Since then, the Bills have used Trail Days as a big reunion party, enlarging the fold to include those worthy of Billdom.Anyways, Billville was having a useless homemade gear contest. The Professor entered his Ramen on a Rope, which is exactly what it sounds like. Other entries: the pee-assister, The Baltimore Jack voice activated talking guidebook (Baltimore Jack was strapped to Blister Sister's back; they claim to be working on a lighter weight model), and the mini fridge pack. The Professor was a prop in demonstrating the shelter clearing suit, which was a full length set of sleeper pajamas with whoopee cushions attached. Roll around in a shelter on a rainy night and you'll have all the space you need. The winner was the Baltimore Jack Leky Walker - a walker made from trekking poles, complete with mini beer cooler and attached pennant/umbrella.Afterwards we hung out at the drum circle bonfire for a while, but it started raining before too long. We huddled under a tarp for a few more hours before finally going to bed.The next morning I awoke and circled Tent City, sampling the free coffee given out at various places. I also discovered Trail Angel Mary from Duncannon and her french toast. Around 11 I made it into town and was wandering toward the gazebo to meet my family when I heard a tenative voice from behind "David?" It was Karen Johnson - it's a small world, I guess. We talked for a few minutes before I successfullly rendezvoused with my folks. We watched the hiker talent show together. Dr. Chamberlain then walked by just in time for The Professor's show stopping rendition of "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota." He only took seventh this year. Crazy Horse won with an original reggae song and a Bob Marley cover.My parents split off for lunch (curiously, they sat next to Slim!) while I went to prepare for the Hiker Parade by purchasing the biggest water gun I could find. The highlight of the parade, you see, is the water battle between the townsfolk and the hikers. This year it was the entire parade, but I'm getting ahead of things. Suffice to say, it's a chance for the townies to exact some revenge.As we're lining up, it starts pouring buckets of rain. We're drenched already and the parade start time comes and goes. The word is passed that the parade has been cancelled. Never fear - we marched anyways, launching water balloons and mayhem. More than one car driving past with a cracked window received a wet surprise at the hands of our expert marksmen. I for one nailed a kid in the back of a minivan and his dad in the front seat with a single shot. (Lest you think me cruel, the kid opened fire first). At the end of the route, when we were out of ammo, three town kids had trash cans of water balloons lying in wait. We did the only thing we could. We swarmed, stole their balloons, and got them instead.But the most memorable parade incident was running into Lydia Pellow, aka Chicken Feet! (see her 2003 for an account of her hike - [Editor's Note: here ya go - sorry I couldn't figure out how to make it an actual link !http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=1251 ). Neither of us knew the other would be there so it was great getting to catch up. We've run into each other a few times since college, but its been quite some time since the last meeting.Afterwards I showed my family Tent City and discovered Papa's Pond, also known as the River Razzi. Too bad it was in my tent. I moved everything a few feet over to higher ground. We headed back into town where I entered my sleeping bag in the homemade gear contest (an official one, not Billville's). As expected, I didn't place. McGyver and his homemade, lightweight ham radio won. Thrifty took second with a pack full of homemade gear. The Baltimore Jack walker took third.After that I hit up the end of a free dinner put on by a local boy scout troop - thanks, fellas! The family left and I returned to tent city. Another spot opened up, so I decided to abandon my lakefront property. Unfortunately, it started pouring during the middle of the process. Miraculously, nothing got wet except for me, and I was drenched.We hung out with Good Ole Boy and Jukebox for a few hours after that. Jukebox brought in his RV for the weekend and loaded it with food. We did our part to help polish off some ham sandwiches. Next up was a return trip to the bonfire and finally bed. It had been a long day.Today has also been a long day, but since this has been a long entry, you'll just have to wait a while longer to hear about it.