Pennsylvania / New Jersey
Delaware Water Gap

"I just don't trust anything that bleeds for 5 days and doesn't die."

Journal Entry 6.7.00
"8:30pm at High Oven Knob Shelter. 17 miles today. Lots of rocks. Feet were ok except the open crack I have on my big toe. Lots and lots of rocks. 44 miles left in PA."

Journal Entry 6.8.00
"4:30pm on the trail, cooking dinner and resting up so that I may continue hiking. 18 miles so far but a difficult day for me with lots of ROCKS! My feet are sore. Ideally I'd do another 6 miles but I think I'll be happy with 3. The climb out of Lehigh Gap was really cool - 1,000 feet in less than a mile. Great views! No Fuel saw another bear today - I can't believe I missed it!"

Journal Entry 6.9.00
"6pm at the Skillet Restaurant in the Delaware Water Gap. 20.5 miles today. A hot and humid day - 90ºF. But the last of PA and the evil rocks! And my feet made it. They say that PA is where boots come to die...I was worried that my sandals wouldn't hold up but they did GREAT! I'm staying at the Church of the Mountain Hostel (for free!). Mom and Dad and are scheduled to come for a visit tomorrow at 10am. Last night when I got to the shelter (which by the way I did do the 24 miles), I was surprised to see Salty from Texas. Apparently he's going southbound now and will be flip-flopping later. It was good catching up and finding out who's ahead and who's behind."

Journal Entry 6.11.00
"Sunday evening, 8pm. In my tent just some 3.5 miles north of the Mohican Outdoor Center (MOC). I've just sat through a terrifying lightning storm - heavy rain, lightning cracking down and thunder rolling loudly all around. VERY scary. It has calmed down for the last few minutes but now I fear Round 2 is making its way through. Oh how I wish I had stayed another night at MOC. What was I thinking? Yesterday was a packed day - mom and dad drove up to see him - it was so good to see them! They brought me lots of goodies and took me out to lunch before seeing me off. I hiked 10 miles in the hot, hot heat before reaching MOC at 5pm. I found my friends - John, Janko, Erik, and Stacy who all drove up from Philly to spend a night with me on the trail. I had a blast hanging out with them for the night!! Red Forest and Forest Otter joined in for the festivities too. This morning we went to a diner for breakfast and then we all went swimming and kayaked all day. It was so hot today so it felt great to be in the water. Monica showed up today and hung out too. It was sad to see everyone leave. I don't know why I didn't stay at MOC but I was thinking it wouldn't rain until later and I though it would be pleasant hiking in the evening. But here I am in the eye of the storm. A nice gentle rain all night would be no problem. Just not the loud cracking and rumbling PLEASE!"

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