July 10th

So content right now. We stopped at Pen Mar County Park, it has great bathrooms where I cleaned up a little, did some laundry, and just got things together. Gravy, Dimples, and Animal bought some pizza but couldn't finish it, so Stanimal and I each had 2.5 pieces. Very amazing taco pizza. I also bought a Pepsi, which was awesome til I dropped it and spilled half. After that it was very fizzy, but still good.

Amazing views over Pennsylvania and Maryland, and I feel great. My feet are a little sore and I'm hoping I don't get bad blisters. I only have one small one as of now. We plan to push on to Deer Lick Shelter about 5 miles away soon. I woke up with this cute cat sleeping beside me in a fold of my hammock. She was with me throughout the night, and at times helped to keep me warm. It was beautiful to see the kitten silhouetted against the rising sun through my bug net, and the leaves fluttering, and the dew shimmering on the grass in the field. It was a very nice way to wake up.

We just ate dinner at Deer Lick Shelter, in PA! But we might go another 2 miles to Anteitam Shelter. It feels good to be in PA and have walked across a whole state but I'm not getting excited, things are going too well, and I'm afraid I might be in for it. We'll see. Supper is funny because Stanimal gives me his food sometimes, it's pretty good. For dessert he gave me a glob of some chocolatey graham cracker, pistachio conglomerate right from the bowl Lola just licked clean for him, which she was happy to do. I'm not too picky out here. I've yet to filter my water, the springs where we get water from are refreshingly clear and cool. Unless Lola gets there first. When your water is coming right out of the ground it doesn't give you a feeling you'll get sick. And it satisfies some innate, pioneer desire to feel like you're surviving by the land. It's a cool evening, and I'm ready to 2.4 more miles, albeit with slightly sore feet and knees.

Evening now at Anteitam Shelter. By far the most beautiful yet. Right in front of the shelter is a peaceful, cool stream that felt amazing on sore bare feet. Doctored a blister after setting my hammock up among towering poplar oak and hemlock, quite an idyllic spot. I chose to filter the stream water, and it has a sweet, musty taste that was very good. (My friend Michael, who tests the water quality for streams and fisheries in PA expertly guessed there was a dead muskrat 250 yards upstream. Haha.)I'm loving the simple lifestyle. Just little things like dipping feet in cool water or having a lightning bug visit you under your rain fly as you jot down your final thoughts for the day are very satisfying and beautiful. Not beautiful are the obnoxious teenagers camping downstream. Hopefully they shut up soon, but sounds like they're having fun, which is good. We flipflopped with them all day, so they should be tired after 15 miles. I am.
Goodnight