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July
27, 1983 Wednesday (827.6 mtg) From
Gonzo!s Appalachian Trail journal
A three-mile
road walk greeted us this morning before a super uphill followed
by a trek through a swampy area and up and down slight rises. I
found a fruit stand a quarter mile down a road that I had learned
about through the grapevine recently. They had a formidable selection
of fruits and vegetables as well as other supplies. Saw another
rattlesnake today. Generally clear trail today until nearing
Greenwood Lake, where a little rock climbing became necessary here
and there. I arrived at the side trail to Roger's Cottage around
three o'clock, turned right, and followed the steep descent down
to the cottage. Roger
Brickner was there ready to greet us as we arrived and identified
ourselves. He and other hikers had painted a "to scale"
profile of the entire length of the Appalachian Trail that had little
hiker silhouettes marking the last known location of any hiker that
had sent a post card to him as they progressed toward New York.
Now that I had arrived, my little man was moved to the spot marking
Roger's cottage. A feeling of accomplishment came over me as I could
literally see how far I had traveled over the past seventy-four
days. The whole mural took up several 4' x 8' plywood panels in
his back yard. Liquid refreshments filled the thirst void created
from the afternoon hike, and the hunger was taken care of at dinnertime
with a meal consisting of spaghetti and steak. More than the maximum
number of people allowed to sign up back in Delaware Water Gap showed
up this evening, and Roger did not turn them away. Eight instead
of six people showed up. As a result, the steak dinner was split
into more portions than expected and I felt like Charlie Brown as
the platter finally arrived at my place and all that was left was
a bone with a few scraps of meat on it. Luckily there was spaghetti,
and coffee cake for dessert. We talked about our hiking experiences
and watched slides from Roger's trips on the AT. He was hiking the
Trail in sections and would continue this year somewhere in Maine.
Note 2012: From Marcel's Journal - hikers in attendance at Roger's
Cottage included me, Paul
Nichols, Tim Platts, Jim Berlstein, Eric Olson, Bruce Berlin, John
Beckstrand, and of course Marcel himself who showed up late and
had to make his own supper.
Gonzo!
Appalachian Trail Journals ©1983
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