I had a great time at Grey Fox this weekend! Some new bands to check out are 23 String Band, I Draw Slow, and The Devil Makes Three. Plus I enjoyed many musicians I already knew like The Del McCoury Band, Della Mae, Cedric Watson, members of The Wilders, Nora Jane Struthers, Chris Thile and Michael Daves, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and Tim O’Brien. I am exhausted though; not much sleeping gets done at a festival.

I got back on the trail this morning, excited for the relatively low humidity and the apparent end of the heat wave. Now I just have to deal with the regular variety of July hot, not the extra burny kind. I somehow forgot about the bugs, or told myself they’d be gone when I got back. But two feet into the trail, I was swarmed, and had to stop and get out my head net. I started out with pretty bad rocks too and so started pretty slowly.

I had planned to meet some friends in Port Clinton for dinner but knew I wouldn’t be able to make it in time with the level of rocks I was hitting so I checked out my guide and saw the next easiest road to meet them at was less than half the distance away. It has seemed like I’m crossing paved roads half a dozen times a day or more in Pennsylvania so far but of course today, they were mostly gravel or dirt roads.

I got to the road early to wait but it started pouring rain so I hitched into Summit Station to wait at a gas station under cover. I got partially caught up on some calls and emails, then the Tolbard family pulled in to get me (minus Erin; missed you!). We went to get pizza, then to a mini golf place for ice cream and arcade games: Gallaga and Ms. Pac-Man. I enjoyed seeing the family but sadly had to part. I was a little afraid they were kidnapping me since my pack was locked in the back of the truck but they delivered me back to the trail.

It was lightly raining again so I only hiked a little while before finding a good tent site and setting up. It has since started storming harder so I’m glad I stopped. Only 10.6 miles today but I can go to sleep early and get started early tomorrow.

image