TRAIL DAY 126
Sat, June 25, 2016 I was in or at least near Berks County, home to brother-in-law, Andrew Rowan, a maxillofacial surgeon in Reading. I called and he could meet me at Route 183 and we could go to Cabela’s just up the road. He would bring one of his partners who was interested in my trek. The trail descended from the campsite to a manmade pond at the bottom of a short descent and later passed by a monument marking the location of a lookout in the French and Indian War in 1755 and on to Route 183 where Andy showed up about ½ hour after I did. He treated me to a fantastic lunch at Cabela’s after which he drove to a nearby drug store and bought me all kinds of devices for my feet and the prescription drug Cipro for my persistent diarrhea. He had also arrived with some bleach which I had asked him to bring from home. I never used it and forget now why I wanted it.
He also brought me two mini bottles of Gin: Tanqueray and Bombay. Now, that’s a fine brother-in-law!
When they dropped me off, Andy’s partner took a picture of us and I waved good-bye as I entered the woods. I had taken my first dose of Cipro and soon after, as I moved northward, my bowels moved southward with a vengeance. I think I scurried off the trail 3 times in the first hour. Happy to say that was the worst it ever got. It was a rough few days.
I followed the straight and narrow trail to the next shelter, passing a warning sign about a rattlesnake. I never saw any on this hike but I saw 6 on the Black Forest Trail in Pennsylvania, including one in a pine grove ready to strike.
I also passed a tree that changed its mind – twice.
In time I came to a couple having a supper en route. We greeted and then, after resisting the slight tug to join them, I felt the HYOH twinge and moved on. In 30 minutes I was at the Eagles Nest Shelter (0.3W) off the trail at 8:00 p.m. It’s incredible how a year later I can picture parts of that .3 miles. It ended with a dip down to a small stream which it crossed and then climbed a small hill at a gradual diagonal with a left turn at the top followed by a short distance to the shelter.
We had the place to ourselves although, in time, I’d notice one or two tents deep in the woods off the path to the privy.
I cooked at one of the picnic tables in front of the shelter and turned in.
Day #126 Hertline Campsite > Eagles Nest Shelter 9.5 miles