| June 7 Tips Hello. I finally caught up with Paul's travels when I spoke with him on Tuesday. He is doing very well, and has crossed over the mason-dixon line since our last conversation. He made it to the north. It makes me think about the history of the appalachians and the times during the civil war when I imagine what one must think about when hiking the AT. Paul has been hiking with Sky, Skeletor and Sleeper as of late. The canoe trip flowed until May 28th, when Paul and Sky got a ride back to Front Royal as planned. They arrived on the AT at about 5pm that Tuesday, and hiked to Jim & Molly Denton Shelter where the two of them prepared dinner. After they ate, they decided to keep hiking after the sun set, and reached Dicks Dome at 1am. The two night riding thru hikers theory was that they wanted to get back to the group from the canoe trip, who all skipped these miles of the trail. After some moon-lit miles and early 4am risings, the two did indeed catch the group in just a few days. During the canoe trip, which was full of leisure and fun, Paul was tagged a new trailname. When Paul and I were young, we were lucky enough that our Dad used to take us on some canoe camping trips in NH and Maine. Apparently that was a long long time ago now, as Paul seemed to have forgotten anything he learned from those days j-stroking through the wilderness, as he rocked the boat that he and Sleeper were in, causing both of them to splash into the river. There it is, Pauls new name..."Tips". Once Paul and Sky caught up to the rest of the group, he found himself keeping pace with Sleeper and Skeletor. They have passed the others, and have been hanging together since. He says the hiking in Pennsylvania has been easy so far, but is expecting the rocky terrain to start up soon. Paul really seemed happy when I spoke with him, and is starting to feel a bit like a wild animal himself. He has found himself "yogiing" from day hikers, who all seem more than willing to share food with thru-hikers. I told him that he better be careful, pretty soon the rangers may post a sign...don't feed the hikers. "Tips" is planning another short trip back home for another wedding in two weeks, but has every intention of reaching Katahdin. He is ahead of his own schedule, even after his stints off the trail. I look forward to seeing him again soon, and really look forward to shareing some of his experience with him on the AT when he gets closer to New England. Manny Home Runs Todd |
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