Day 62 - Saturday, August 13

Linda

Woke up to the sound of rain this morning around 6:30, but it was so nice and cozy inside that we went back to sleep for a while. The Post Office opened at 8:30, so we showered and wrote some until then, and Ronald went down and got the mail and something for breakfast. We ate a whole box of Frosted Flakes and drank OJ while reading the mail and packing. Rand left about 8:00, expecting to go about 15 miles, so we had the place to ourselves. Peg came over about 9:00 and said that they had just come from the Post Office and there was another letter there for us. She also invited us to the cafe across the street for a cup of coffee and to chat with them while they had breakfast. The people that run the little cafe/store have a daughter that hiked the AT last year, so they were very friendly to hikers. They even had a hiker's register. We ended up spending most of the morning with Doc and Peg, roaming around town and browsing in some of the shops. There was a particularly nice pack shop and several specialty shops. Later in the morning they brought their packs over to the hostel to repackage their groceries and talk some more. We all finally left around 12:15 for our respective points north and south. We certainly enjoyed our time with the Priors. I almost wish they were hiking in the same direction, so we could hike together.

As soon as we left Delaware Water Gap, we had our work cut out for us. There was a 1,000 foot climb in the first 2 miles out of the Gap. Had a little view of the Delaware River from the top, but it was pretty overcast, so only got a couple pictures. Walked 6.5 miles to the Kirkridge Shelter and fixed dinner, even though it was only 3:15. I wasn't faring well by then, due to a losing battle with some angry hornets earlier in the afternoon. Ronald had grabbed onto a dead tree along the trail which turned out to have a hornet's nest in it. He didn't notice it as he passed, but as I came up to the spot, they were plenty angry and swarmed all over me. I got stung quite a few times on my arm and neck. Ronald had to help get them off me, then broke out the bee sting ointment. My right arm is still very stiff and swollen.

After a long break at the shelter, we walked on at a slower pace until 6:30 when we came on a piney area with a nice campsite. We had finally reached the infamous Pennsylvania rocks. Their reputation has preceded them. It will be very slow going between here and Duncannon if these rocks continue the way they have been this afternoon. We are trying to reach Duncannon by next Saturday, then Harpers Ferry, West Virginia by Thursday, August 25^th to meet Mom and Dad for a day. Hope we can make it.

Ron

While Linda worked on her logs I went down to the Post Office to pick up the package from home. We got plenty of goodies and mail. The main body of tent arrived from home. More weight for me, but Linda will be happy. Later we met Doc and Peg this morning for coffee and doughnuts. After breakfast we repackaged our supplies and messed around town for awhile. Rand left early but we expect to catch up soon. It was noon by the time we said our good-byes and headed out of town.

The rain had slacked off by the time we left the Gap. We covered the first two and a half miles in an hour. I felt good, even with the full tent back in my pack. During the next few miles we were in anticipation of meeting the terrible Pennsylvania rocks. Delaware Water Gap is the border between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. When we crossed the bridge yesterday, we had completed our seventh state on the trail. Pennsylvania is famous for it's long flat ridges and rocks. We encountered only the occasional pile of rocks today. We had a messy climb up over Wolf Rock due to the wet trail. We stopped around 6:30 to make camp.

(10 Miles - 880.5 Total)