Day 31 (Sept 13)

Up early to break camp before the rain. Light rain, not so bad. Trail is pretty good, looks like a lot of road walking on the map but it hasn't seen vehicular traffic in quite some time. Sometimes the blazing is a little confusing though.

Late morning brings a chilly wind and harder rainfall. Our light rain gear doesn't hold up for more than an hour in these conditions, and soon we're soaked to the bone. We hit a shelter around lunchtime, hang our clothes, and cower in our sleeping bags, hoping for warmth. After about an hour we can safely declare it a limited success, so I suggest we re-don our wet duds and return to hiking. Deb believes this will lead to hypothermia and possibly quick death. Putting wet clothes back on once you've warmed up really is the pits, but she acquiesces.

We've got a good reason to keep moving instead of waiting out the weather -- we've arranged to meet up with our friend Amy at a trailside campsite in Goundry Hill State Forest, about 4.6 miles away. The day is so wet and chilly that we have half a mind to tell her not to come, but we also fantasize about spending some quality time in her car with the heat blowing.

Luckily it doesn't come to that. As we arrive at the campsite, the clouds melt away and the sun bursts in. Amy and her dog Cola have braved the fierce weather and are already here, scouting the area. They've brought the works - dry firewood, a metal grill for the firepit, a stove and pots, many foods and drinks, first aid supplies, extra clothes, batteries. It's great to see a friendly face or two and have a campfire, which we haven't had since our very first night camping in Kelso Park, Ontario. Before long everything is joyous, warm, and dry.

Wow, what a noise! It's young mountain lass, a jug of shine in one hand and a short-barreled shotgun in the other, whooping for joy as she spots our campfire from the hillside, racing nimbly over the rocks towards us on her large, calloused, bare feet. Well, that's how I pictured her anyway. Amy says it's just a screech owl.

Being sensible about food consumption isn't even an option. We eagerly wolf down crackers, cheese, pepperoni, cucumbers, cookies, turkey dogs, tea, and whiskey. Good thing the tent is close by. This is quite a treat -- Thanks Amy and Cola!