Dates ........ MON MAY 3, 1999
Miles ........ 12.0 miles
From ........ Woods Tentsite
To ............. PORT CLINTON
Weather ... mid 40’s to upper 60’s, cloudy then light showers and RAIN

MON MAY 3, 1999

Hike the ridgeline to Port Clinton. Looking forward to a soft bed, hot meal and laundry. I have experienced loneliness, but not enough to overcome the rewards of hiking. Weather has been exceptionally good. The trail along the ridge before dropping into Port Clinton is not as rocky as most of the ridgeline trail. Cannot enjoy the views from the many overlooks because of misty rain and drizzle. Cloudy but no longer raining as I descend into Port Clinton. Put on cleaner clothes just before town.

PORT CLINTON HOTEL is a smokehole beer joint and restaurant but the only game in town. Room is much nicer than the Doyle. Pick up mail, re-pack, send back surplus items and exposed film and note home. Enjoy a hot shower, do laundry (enjoy fresh clean clothes) and share dinner with Mustang Sally - another hiker. A 68 year young lady hiking alone doing 7 or 8 miles a day who is going to finish the trail “someday”. Three huge pork chops, a huge mountain of french fries and jumbo tossed salad, glass of very mediocre red wine - all for $9. Room was $28 with a clean bed, fresh paint and shared bath. Called home and gave a progress report. Pretty much on schedule. Stopped at motorcycle repair shop and got pieces of inner tube to substitute for demolished heels on my hiking boots. Will my boots make it to pick up their replacements in Delaware Water Gap? How long will my duct tape and inner tube patchwork heels last on PA’s rocks?