Start: Scottish Inn Motel
Finish: Tom's Run Shelter
Today: 16.2 mi
Total: 74.6 mi
Avg: 12.4 mi / day
"To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug."
-Helen Keller
We started in Caledonia State Park, PA. The campground was so quiet. Only hikers could be seen moving around. Mornings are my favorite. I think it's the fresh promise of a new day. Wondering, as I walk through the stillness of a cool morning, what the trail will give me today. Or maybe the mornings are so nice because I don't hurt as bad. This morning I actually feel really good, very strong - but it's early yet.
As the day wore on we came upon a beautiful grove of pine trees. The scent of the pine needles lifted my spirits (the flat terrain to lunch helped even more). The pine needles turned the trail to a carpet of crimson needles!
We stopped at Birch Run Shelter for lunch after the first 7 miles. It's amazing how much of an appetite you work up climbing up and over these mountains. An ant just tried to eat some of Heather's sandwich. Let's just say the ant isn't with us anymore.
Heather's right knee is starting to hurt her really bad. I hope she feels better because I know how bad it hurts and we have enough hurts that hurt already. We were just starting to feel a bit better so she's upset about it. It's amazing, this trail is a roller coaster of emotions (often rising and falling in direct proportion to the terrain.
After lunch we jumped back on the green corridor, heading 6.2 miles to Tom's Run Shelter for the night. We grounded through the next miles slowly, Heather in terrible pain. We passed through a lower, wetter place and the bugs tormented us. Big fat flies, nasty Mosquitos, and swarms of tiny black flies that hung around your head. Finally we got to our shelter and set up camp!!! Sweet dreams! Don't let the bears bite!
~Brian (Daddy Long Legs)
At some point during the darkness of night flashes of light stirred us. Groggy, I thought it might be the Outward Bound group of 15 year olds that came to camp late. Then we heard the crack of thunder and realized rain was coming!! We grabbed our tent (which didn't have the fly on) and carried it (sleeping bags, pads, and all) inside an empty shelter. A second later the skies openness up and the soft tapping of rain eased us back to sleep. Zzzzzzz...
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