Friday, June 29

Gary seemed excited this morning and was off to walk across some more rocks.  This evening when he called he had fallen and thinks he broke his nose.  There were a couple more hikers that stopped and helped him clean up.  He is leaving the trail tomorrow -a friend is picking him up to take him shopping, etc.-and won't be back on the trail until Sunday.  Hopefully his nose will feel better by then.

More PA pictures:

Nice little bridge.

I would like this path, however he said sometimes it was several feet off the ground.  That may be tricky to stay on.

Thursday, June 28

When I talked to Gary yesterday he thought he would be in Wind Gap tomorrow but the hills are covered with rocks and snakes so travel was slow today.  He won't make it to Wind Gap until Saturday he doesn't think.

Pictures from his last card....

Glad I'm not walking this...don't think I could fit through this pass:)

Gary was really taken with this place.  It was a theater and served great food, especially "sticky buns".  This is one place we are going back to in October to see a play, spend the night and eat the sticky bun breakfast.

Tuesday, June 26

I just talked to Gary and he is going back up on the trail.  It is slowing down because of possibly slate on the trail and it is harder to walk on.  He mentioned snakes, also.  He plans on being out of PA the end of this week.

I found this on the internet about "Trail Magic". Stories of Trail Magic Sometimes strange things happen on the trail. Whenever something good happens unexpectedly, the incident is usually referred to as "Trail Magic" Sometimes it is stumbling upon a refreshing bottled drink chilling in a stream, other times it is a ride that comes along just when you were about to give up on a lift, and just when you need it the most. Whatever it is, most long distance hikers experiences this at least once during their trip. He ran across an Appalachian museum. First thru-hiker, Earl Shaffer. "An encounter with Earl" by John Stempa, Smith Gap, PA I was fortunate enough to track down the 1st ever thru-hiker, Earl Shaffer, as he passed thru the AMC Delaware Valley Chapter's section August 1, 1998. We discussed many trail issues and problems, and how things have changed over the years. I walked 4 miles with Earl until We reached Smith Gap Road, We then drove to our Blue Mtn. Dome home to fill his water bottles. He accepted our offer, and had dinner with Linda and I, and John III. After He had his fill of stuffed flounder, Baked potato, and fresh green beans, He decided it was time to stop talkin, and start walkin! After signing our copy of his book "Walking With Spring", and a few snapshots, I drove him back to the trail. Earl was a perfect gentleman, and seemed to be in good spirits, hopefully a sign, that He enjoyed his visit with Us. I shook his hand, and wished him the best of luck with the rest of his Hike, and after taking one last photo with the digital camera, He turned and started hiking north, trying to reach Leroy Smith shelter before dark. We feel honored to have met Earl, and are happy we could help him out, on his historic hike! WOW

Monday, June 25

Gary is staying in a hotel in Hamburg, PA this evening.  He said his ankle looks exactly the same as the good one.  That is a relief.

He said he ran into a little "trail magic" yesterday and had a couple hamburgers, hotdogs, fruit, and drinks.  It is nice to have volunteers like that along the way.

Below is a food box at the shelter...keep the animals out of it.   

Gary said the people had to sleep in their tent because it stormed and it wanted to blow away. 

Another snake.

Sunday, June 24

Gary called this morning and was up and at it.  He had oatmeal, spam, and two peanut butter sandwiches (flour tortillias and peanutbutter) and coffee.  He was on his way for only about 10 miles today.  The trail has lots of rocks and makes it slower to get along. 

The swelling has gone out of his ankle now and he hasn't complained of pain.  Anyone who knows Gary knows he never complains of pain at all so the ankle must have been in pretty bad shape or he wouldn't have mentioned it.  I don't think he has ever had an advil or anything since I have known him and he was taking two aleve a day for pain.  Glad that is over and hopefully things are looking up.

He passed a shelter that said a restaurant close by  would deliver so he had spagetti, bread and salad for lunch on Saturday.

Half way there!!!!

He said they call it "ROCKSYLVANIA".  Now I know why.

Looks like a decent shelter.

Saturday, June 23

Talked to Gary last night and he was at the 1190.7 campsite.  At 1200 he will only have 1000 miles to go. 

More PA pictures:

Georgia this way

                                                                          Maine that way

Another foot bridge.

and another

For the first time, they had snorer and non-snorer shelters.

 

Friday, June 22

Crossing I-81 in PA.

More stone walls in the woods.

 

Shelters.

Thursday, June 21

This is crossing the Potomic on the rail road bridge that I worried about being unsafe....never realized it had a walk way.

And another snake.

Wednesday, June 20

I was on the road by 10 o'clock this morning leaving Gary in Duncannon, PA.  I had driven to Duncannon expecting to bring Gary home to rest his ankle. I was shocked when the doctor said he was fine and could go on. Gary was looking forward to getting back on the trail and going to the next state.

Duncannon, PA really has all kinds of hikers....as a matter of fact the trail seems to go through town. I did see a couple hotels they advertised but am glad we chose another a few miles away. I saw beautiful girl hikers, guys with dogs, etc....they all appeared to be alone as well.

A hiker and his dog.

See what I mean about the hotel?

More PA photos to continue---