ROCKY VI – GOODBYE PENNSYLVANIA

AT Day 076: Thursday June 22,  2023

Mile 1283 + 14 miles/22.5 km

Total Distance Hiked: 1297 miles/ 2087 km

Campsite  – Wolf Rocks – Route 191 – Kirkridge Shelter – Totts Gap – Mt Minsi Overlook – Mountain Road – Rodeway Inn

A:1014 ft /309 m  D: 2231 ft /680 m 

Rain was expected about 1am and for the rest of the day. It was a pleasant surprise, and a great start to the day, to find that the prediction was wrong. No rain till late afternoon. 

As we left our campsite the birds were singing, the wind whistled through the treetops and the humm of passing airplanes high up in the sky was our company as we hit the trail just on 6:00 a.m. 

A cool breezy morning for our last day in Pennsylvania. And the rocks continued to challenge. My knee took a little while to settle and I could walk without discomfort. It was all OK eventually after many stops, everything started to feel easy as we were heading into town.

About two hours in we were passed by three hikers whom we’ve met over the past few days. They hike fast and were out of sight in no time. They started on trail two days after us on Easter Monday. We met them again when we crossed Route 191 and found trail magic. It was Sherpa again,  waiting for his brother. We talked to Sherpa while having some snacks. He works remotely while travelling along on trail. He designs circuit boards for various devices mainly medical equipment. One of the benefits of modern life. In some jobs you can work remotely. Sherpas brother Galileo, who is hiking the trail, designs telescopes for NASA. The three hikers – Sun God, Sutoshi and Fun Cut, were busy consulting their phones. They were looking for a road walk alternate to town. They were done with Pennsylvania rocks, their feet were smashed. 

We got back on trail for the remaining 7 miles to Delaware Waters Gap and the end of Pennsylvania. Even though we know it’s not the end of rocks on trail it is enormously satisfying to tick off one more state. We hiked into town with Walrus and the miles rolled by quickly in conversation. Walrus works in the music industry and is moving from Florida to Nashville to write and produce music. 

The trail passes through town. I liked the town almost immediately. A Tesla pulled into a yard and Walrus remarked remarked – ‘this is not likely to be a down and out town’.  We walked past the Dear Head Inn, a hotel with the oldest continually running  jazz club in the US. It was a beautiful building that looked so well cared for, as was the rest of the street frontage. 

Passing a church we were waved in for some more trail magic. ‘Bookie’ who hiked the trail in 2017 was passing through town and stopped to share some drinks and snacks. We met her and her mother again a little later when we stopped at the town bakery for a late lunch. They were travelling from Georgia back to New Hampshire. And interestingly her mom lived in Australia in the 1950s as a 6yr old,  while her father was on a Fullbright  scholarship there. It was so interesting chatting to Bookies mum about her memories of that experience. We said goodbye and hopefully we’ll see them again in New Hampshire in a months time. 

Late afternoon we checked into our motel and did the usual town chores.  Food resupply is limited to what is available at a gas station store and a few  freeze dried meal options at the Outfitters. 

Our feet are feeling sore and bruised by the rocky terrain. We are contemplating a full rest day tomorrow, especially as it’s predicted to rain for all of next week with the worst rainfall expected for tomorrow. We are four days ahead of our schedule so there is no rush except a desire to be done with this trail.