I finally answered my soul’s request and went home. Sure I walked the streets of Hanover at The Gathering and stepped on the trail at Trail Days, but it wasn’t until I had to walk up some hills and step over some rocks that I truely felt at home. Mrs. Dutch and started on the Horseshoe trail around Hershey PA and hiked 16 miles to the familar trees with the white marks on them. We were beat so we set up camp. It was the first time since The 100 Mile Wilderness that I set up my hammock. I kicked off my trail runners and slid my feet into my Tevas. Hanging my bear rope is always humourous. I woke before the sun and the birds and just laid there remembering all my trailmates from last year. The morning was chilly and we hurried to get packed up and moving. At Rausch Gap shelter we enjoyed some lunch and I could tell you everyone that stayed with me last year. We decided to put in a twenty just because we can. We did take the time to sharpen some of the PA rocks in anticapation for the 2004 crowds. We camped in some waist high ferns and a deer cautiously came near. The next day was another picture perfect day and we stopped at the 501 shelter, ordered a pizza and got a very cold shower. It was awesome to be hiking with only 1/2 days worth of food and sore muscles. Today I had to come back to my material world and prepare to work tonight. How I wish I had just kept going north to Lehigh Gap, then DWG, then that bakery on Rt 206 in NJ. I wish I could have kept going through New England, the Whites, and seen Keith Shaw putting down the Pie Lady. I will never get the same feeling as the time I crested that hill and saw Katahdin for the first time, but I bet it will be almost as awesome so see it again. I will go home again someday.
Peace Dutch GA>ME 2003
Dutch