Samwise Hikes the Appalachian Trail! - Trail Journal -
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July 10, 501 Shelter - mile 1173.8

I can hardly believe how many people are in this "shelter" tonight, which really is more like a hostel. There are twelve bunks, but I think there are at least twenty people here. Not only is this an enclosed building. it also has a huge skylight, a table with lots of real chairs, a solar shower next door, plus caretakers who live next door & sell sodas & ice cream. They weren't home when the first group of us arrived, so we used Monya's cell phone to call the pizza place to order a big load of food, strombolis, sandwiches, breadsticks, all kinds of stuff. A few people also hitched into town & came back with even more goodies to share.

I personally can hardly wait for Port Clinton, not just because I hope to see Tony, but also because I hope a lot of people get ahead of me, when I take a zero day. I don't have anything against most of these folks but I'm already tired of traveling with such a huge group. I haven't had to fight off this many people since early Georgia.

We all got caught in a small thunderstorm today, but I was glad that I didn't have a lot of rock-hopping to do during it. It gets really tricky on those rocks when they're wet & I'm paranoid of doing in one of my ankles on them. As it was, it rained just long enough to get my shoes good & wet & then it stopped.

Later - I feel guilty now about wishing everyone will get ahead! We just had the most amazing time with Dangerfiled Newbie showing us his collection of daily drawings that he does of life on the trail. What a gift he has! We have been laughing & reminiscing for the past half hour & it's been a lot of fun. It's almost like being at the movies.