July 15, 2004

I have hiked 1331.1 miles to date.  The glacial ponds, water-filled depressions caused by the gouging action of glaciers, are beautiful to hike around.  As I hiked by, I heard the bullfrogs providing banjo-like melodies...very cool.  Yesterday, Bear spotted two bears, a mama and a cub, minutes before I reached that part of the trail.  He asked me if I wanted to climb up the mountain to see if we could spot them.  Even though my feet we killing me, I absolutely wanted to climb the mountain. We dropped our packs and climb up a steep mountain which was not part of the trail. When we got to the top, we sat on a rock hoping that the bears would saunter by.  They didn't.  I suggested to Bear that maybe mama bear and her cub were at the bottom of the mountain rummaging through our packs.  We laughed about the possibility of the bears outsmarting us. We were relieved to find our packs intact when we hiked back down.

Today, I hiked with a 40-something married couple, Don't Mind-Don't Matter.  They began on the same day as me and I hadn't seen them until now.  How fun it was for us to exchange trail tales!  It was also great for me to hike with another woman my age.  Don't Mind removed a tick from my leg...my first.  It didn't get the chance to attach itself...Don't Mind's hands were fast as the tick scurried up my shorts.  Our aches and pains were similar and we joked about the 20ish kids who began when we did.  They are all behind us!  Our bodies hurt but the young kids are slower.  Go figure.

New Jersey menus are different...no more biscuits and gravy.  The Joisee accent is prevalent.  The prices have skyrocketed in restaurants and in trail towns.  A flea bag hotel charges $50 to $60, which might not provide shampoo, soap or even a shower.  Well, the shower might exist but the water might not run.  Honestly, I thought I was on Candid Camera when I tried to take a shower and the water quit flowing.  Then, the water would trickle on and off for short periods of hope.  I used the sink to rinse the soap off of me.  Normally, I'd be bothered by this streak of bad luck, but these days, nothing phases me.  Having a good sense of humor is imperative in hiking 2,174 miles.  Not a day goes by where I haven't had several gut-wrenching bursts of laughter.