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6/3/01, day 81. Devil's Racecourse Shelter. 12.4m Today was lax all around. I was going to camp on the Mason-Dixon line, but the man wouldn't let me do that, so it's a short day to the shelter, trading hot coco for fresh bread with Black Sheep and Kimble. 6/4/01, day 82. Rocky Mountain Shelter. 19.6m Well, I crossed the Mason-Dixon line this morning, and I'm back in the North. This would of course have been somewhat more satisfactory has I not yellow-blazed that 90m section, but what the hey. The morning after tomorrow I'll be at what is the most accurate (not saying much) stab at what is the midpoint of the Trail. My midpoint, of course, will be 90m after that. It isn't bothering me that much, which is good. I miss T and W like all hell, but the relative solitude is at least allowing my mind to focus on the Trail. It's been very spiritual the past two days. 6/5/01, day 83. Birch Run Shelters. 13m This morning I hitched into Gettysburg, PA, only to find the shoe repair place closed. My boots had been good to me, but after thousands of miles I decided they had to go. So after a quick trip to a used bookstore (quite a treat), and the grocery I headed back to the outfitter and got a swell discount on some Trail runners. The 10 level miles up to this crowded shelter kicked my ass for some reason. I dunno anybody here; I hope Patti shows up, she's good people. Time to spend the rest of the evening reading T.S. Elliot and swatting gnats. 6/6/01, day 84. Ironmaster's Mansion Hostel. 10m Today was another in a series of sissy days. I walked in the rain for a spell, arriving here about 11:30, where I expected to eat 1/2 gallon of ice cream, do laundry, and move on. The ice cream, however, was overpriced, and the hostel was closed until 5. So I sat and chilled, waiting for it to open. After hanging with Stranger, Nonexistent, etc., I decided to pay the overpriced fee and stay here. It's been a good night with nonex, Ed and Sheryl, Patti, HotSauce, and two guys. I'm hoping to catch Robyn tomorrow! 6/7/01, day 85. Alec Kennedy Shelter. 15.5m A wonderful, relaxing day. I crisscrossed with Patty, Ed, and Sheryl for the day, which added positive energy to the relaxing terrain and good weather. 6/8/01, day 86. Camping out at the B&B in Boiling Springs, PA. 3.9m Today, I planned on blowing past this town and doing an 18, but I got here, sat on a bench, and watched some trout in some lake for a spell, then decided to stay. It's a real relaxing town, the kind of place that lulls you into a tranquil stupor. I spent most of the day sitting around on the porch of the ATC office, just chatting with people. The highlight of the day was when Robyn showed up. Lord, it was good to see her! I spent the evening lollygagging with Sky, Cammeron, and Brett, and now we're camped out behind this guy's B&B. Altogether a great day. 6/9/01, day 87. Cove Mountain Shelter. 21.6m So this morning Sky, Cammeron, and I woke up pretty damn late at the B&B and I fuggered it would have to be a short day. After mailing a birthday card to Robyn at Delaware Water Gap, PA, I headed out through Cumberland Valley. I got about 10m of walking through farmland, exposing myself to direct, dehydrating sunlight. It was gorgeous, though, and it's always nice to have something besides trees and rock, trees and rock, trees and rock. Then it was back to the trees and rock and I decided to pull a longer day. Mermaid, Thor, and I have just decided to wake up at 3 and do a sunrise hike tomorrow. :-) 6/10/01, day 88. Clark's Ferry Shelter. 8.6m Well, Thor tried to wake the rest of us up at 3am, but we responded as most do when some dude pokes them at 3am, so the hike didn't happen. I rolled into the town of Duncannon with the idea that I would grab food and denatured alcohol for my stove and get the hell out of dodge. But, it was Sunday, and since I treat every day like a weekend, I don't appreciate Sundays, when everybody up and closes things. So I couldn't find any alcohol, so I walked way the fuck to the other side of town to this campground where they didn't have any alcohol either, so I paid $3.50 to stay the night so I could buy alcohol tomorrow, then I walked way the fuck back to town to hang with Opie for awhile, who informed me that there was some flammable stuff at the convenience store, so I pranced over to the store and got some antifreeze, which announced that it was 98% methanol. But then I was tired from prancing about, and I had already paid for the campsite, so i decided to sit down until the next day. But, the town is quite dead, and Sky and Cammeron said they would be at this shelter (which they're not, 1/2 hour before dark), so I took a nap at the campground just to justify my $3.50 and headed out. The horror stories that people told about the rocks north of Duncannon, unfortunately, seem to be quite true, and I got my ass thoroughly kicked. I'm planning a 24 tomorrow, but there's no way in hell I'll pull it off with this terrain. For some reason, Hummingbird is wearing a swimsuit, and I'm having a good time with her and Flippy the Flounder and Opie. 6/11/01, day 89. Camping out at some spring. 12.9m In a wussy mood, as usual. The mosquitoes are out for pretty much the first time, and the little fuckers are driving Insane and I into our tents. Didn't enjoy the hike today, although the terrain was easy. I'm constantly fiddling with this new internal frame. It's got too many damn straps for my simple mind. T fixed it up right when I first got it, but I messed with it and she 'aint around. 6/12/01, day 90. Raush Gap Shelter. 11.4m Today I pulled another short, so that I could be within shooting distance of this supposedly boss shelter tomorrow. It was altogether a boring hike, although I had a nice talk with Cammeron. Everybody and their dog, though, showed up at this shelter. It was great. Ed and Sheryl, Patti, Thor, Cy, Ken, Mermaid, Burn Easy, Cookie Monster, Wink, Stranger, and Eric are here. There's also this weird guy with a hugeass Rotweiler. The weird guy with the Rotweiler gets the shelter; the rest of us are tenting. I had a great time this evening chatting with these swell people.
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