Delaware Water Gap - 1281.6 miles

We are still meeting new and old friends - so in the evening we sit around the fire and visit until dark - really nice!

The last few days has been interesting hiking - rocks & boulders - poison ivy - mosquitoes - ticks. We have been taking it easy a few days to give Patches time to get better - he is doing good - thanks to our Doctor and the follow up call and the antibiotics. He is doing better than his gear - his back pack spine snapped again - they sent a new one and back pack is fixed again - we hope it will hold until the end. His new boots are tearing loose - the rocks are brutal - REI is sending a new pair to Bear Mt, NY. His left hiking pole lost its tip in the rocks - we found it but lost it again. He has a small blister on his right heel. What is next???

Our spirits are high and we feel good and still hiking North.

July 12- We spent the night in old jail - Jail House Hostel. Go to jail and sign yourself in - they gave each hiker (about 20) a goody bag - 1/2 of hikers slept on floor and 1/2 slept on bunks - 1 lady slept on the table (Crazy Lady??) Hostel had Gym showers - did not cost anything. Very nice and friendly community for hikers.

July 13- we left Palmerton, PA with 3 Liters of water each - no water for next 16 miles (trail head is 2 miles out of town) - first 4 miles of trail is in the sun - rocks & boulders - climb 1200 ft in 1 mile - highest point in PA. Climbed hand and feet - actually not bad - no vegetation for 4 miles due to acid rain from zinc smelting in the area from 1898 to 1980 - Efforts to restore vegetation began in 1983. We made it to camp - hiked last 3 miles without water - camping tonight with 5 other hikers.

July 14 - still climbing boulders and battling rocks - (almost to break the 900 miles left) at Kirk ridge Shelter we have 901.1 miles left - outside tap for water - this morning after we filled up the tap was dry. Last night a lady brought ice cream and soda to the shelter - again nice trail magic.

July 15 - we hiked into Delaware Water Gap and said good bye to PA - nice bakery and pizza place - tonight we are sleeping in NEW JERSEY (new state/new challenges. I made a big mistake and missed that there was not water at campsite - no coffee tomorrow - we will need to hike 1 to 4 miles to get water and eat breakfast and have coffee. We camped with a lot of noisy girls (girl scouts??) - they are fascinated by the privy - hopefully they will go to sleep soon.

Have fun - we do!!