My good friend Wally gave me a little booklet detailing trip notes from Wally. In it, he quotes Arnold Bennett, “ The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance. The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying, ready for you, as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misapplied a single moment in all your life. You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose. “ Thanks, Wally. I needed that.
Today marks the end of the first section of my hike. I have finished the Maryland section and begin the Pennsylvania section today. So, it really is the end of one phase in the beginning of the next. Your prayers and thoughts that you wrote me before I left, all of you, have greatly moved me. I appreciate what you’ve done. You give me the strength to continue.
Today was a perfect hiking day. For starters, it was the first day that I haven’t felt like I’ve been dragging my backside. I decided to take a little bit longer step for ups and downs, this is made all the difference. I think also, my body is getting used the exercise and routine. The trail north of PenMar is beautiful. The trees have changed to pine trees mixed with hardwoods whereas in Maryland it’s all hardwood. Although there are some rocks, certainly not what I was expecting. I think mentally I was prepared for Rock Hell, but the reality of the situation was much gentler.
Relatively short day today. I stopped at tumbling run shelters, which are beautiful. There is a crystal, clear, spring, piped, running out of the rock. This is the kind of water that you want on the AT. Two nicely built shelters, one for snorers,but I set up my hammock anyway, because it’s more comfortable than sleeping on a pad. I met a father and daughter who were hiking in for the day. They were from upstate Pennsylvania, and were delightful, they’re hiking out tomorrow
Kathryn, Seth and John Robert will meet me tomorrow during the day and we will hike up to a shelter. It’s another short day so that Kathryn can get used to carrying the baby. I’m so looking forward to seeing them.
Today’s mileage: 9.5
Total trail miles 49.9