...On My Journey to Palmerton.
     So soon after the delicious dumpling. I started walking,. Took the wrong turn, got lost, then found my way again. It was a nice afternoon around 3 and I was just getting this nice feeling that it was so pleasant just to be hiking. I began to kick around trying to make it to the hostel by 10 o'clock, the time you have to be there to get in. I did the math and realized if I hustled I could make it. I decided to try. And that decision alone got me going, I was thinking I was crazy. It would be a 27 mile day or around there. I started walking faster, almost jogged for awhile, then speed walked, then jogged some more. My feet didn't hurt when I was doing this. Then came some big rocks where lots of people were hanging out, It was afterall a Saturday evening and people were out day hiking. I was just buzzing by them skipping over rocks quite fluidly. I blew past this teenage couple looking like they were up to no good on a Lovers Leap type spot, they turned as they heard me zip by behind them but I doubt they saw but a blur, I was gone in a flash. I wanted to yell in a parental tone "You kids behave yourselves!" but decided not to. So I kept this pace up for awhile, got this little saying in my head, "Hiking today? I am not done, I'm pushing on down into Palmerton." I don't know why but I kept thinking it and it was fun. So I finally started the descent into the valley soon after I caught some breathtaking sunset views. Darkness then fell and I had to use my headlamp to negotiate the rocks. I got to the bottom with now very sore feet and legs. Whatever was making the evening hike thus far painless was wearing off quickly. I had a dull pain rising up the middle of my legs from my arches. There was supposedly a blue blaze trail into town but I couldn't find it, I couldn't even find the A.T, but there was a sign for cars pointing to Palmerton so I decided to go via the road. Well it was crazy busy and I had cars rushing by 4 feet from me, walking with tired legs I clung my left arm to the guard rail as I walked not wanting to collapse for some reason into traffic. Sounds weak but I wasn't taking chances, So I jumped on some paralleling railroad tracks and walked on them. Well it was about 20 til 10 when I saw a sign that said Palmerton exit 1/4 mile. I hopped back on the road and started hustling, with my headlamp strobe going so I could be seen. Then finally the town came into view, 10 mins til 10, but there was a gas station and I could really use a chocolate milk, so I made the time. Spilled it all over myself as I hurried down the street past the nice park, over the smashed squirrel on the sidewalk, ah, and finally, to the building with police cars, my building. I looked at my phone, 9:59, even more climactic than the 9:55 I was thinking I might make it by earlier that day. So I hobbled up the steps. Knocked. Nothing. Read the sign. 'Please use side entrance' I hustled over, still 9:59! Climbed the steps, knocked. Ah, I made it just in time! Great story right? Wrong. I got no answer. No one came. I went down to the darkened street, now mins after 10 and didn't know what to do. So I asked some joggers and they said I needed the  borough building down the way a bit, 2 blocks, this was the municipal building. Well I figured I was too late but I'd try. So I went down. Summited another set of steps, knocked. Nothing again, I was getting tired of this. Called the numbers posted for after hours hikers and got nobody. So I sat on the bench ready to fall asleep right there when a guy walked by. I recognized his hat and his limp. He was Backtrack, he was in the shelter I was in the previous night. How did he do 27 miles that day? Then I realized he slackpacked. He was going back to get his cell phone at a restaurant. His trail name made sense to me. So I asked about the hostel and he's like, "Oh yeah, just go around the side and down the steps, they're not really picky, there's plenty of room." So the whole 10:00 thing wasn't a big deal? I didn't care, I was glad to be there. I went into the basement and saw Red Wolf. He said, "Man, did you just get off the mountain?" and I gave a weary "Yeah" and he was like,"Man you are EPIC!" I smiled. They're all part of a group that slackpacks, which means they get their packs hauled ahead a certain amount of miles via a car, and then can walk without packs. Easy peasy. So I enjoyed my non-slackpacking epic-ness as I found a bunk, I was hoping for a mattress but only got one of those chainlink springs with a piece of plywood on it. Oh well I laid down and it was great. My legs felt like they were asleep and that dull pain was up the middle of them. That didn't seem right but I wasn't too worried, I planned on taking the next day off to rest. And I did. And it was nice. And that's my 110 miles in 5 days, I only missed my goal by a couple hours and that made me happy.