Wednesday, July 22 7:32 pm 13.1 mi Thunderhead
Restaurant
AT 1235.5 Creek and Campsites → AT 1248.6 Tentsite
Weather: Dry night (storm missed us completely), muggy morning, hot and sunny until about 4:15 when it poured for about an hour
Trail Conditions: Rocky with more to come!
My Condition: Happy, healthy, and full after a great (dry!) dinner
Woke up at 7 this morning wondering why Blue and Puddles were being so loud – sure, Puddles had mistakingly set up her tent smack dab in the middle of the trail, but it was early and the whole open area kind of served as the trail. I listened closer, only to recognize Jester’s voice! Happy coincidence – always nice running into her. We stopped at the Allentown Shelter to kill some time after finding out that 1. There was a restaurant not 100 yards up the road at PA Route 309, and 2. They didn’t open until 4pm. Not long after we were seated, it started pouring outside. Sat back and enjoyed a hearty serving of macaroni and cheese, fries, and a couple of Yuenglings from the nearbyish brewery. I’ve noticed that in air conditioned, breezy, or even slightly cool evenings that I’m enjoying having my puffy. My insulation is melting away! We decided with the rain slowing but continuing into the evening that we’d make camp early to avoid crossing the Knife’s Edge until conditions are dryer and likely safer. Blue sent her rain jacket home, so I gave her my spare compactor bag to turn into a makeshift trash bag poncho.
Post Trail Analysis
The restaurant was great and the name was fitting. The power actually went out mid-meal, but was later restored. We had a section hiker with us today, but I can’t for the life of me remember his name. I remember he worked in city zoning. One of my favorite stories from the entire trail happened today. Puddles ordered a burger and chose the option to add an egg to the burger. The waiter asked how she’d like it cooked, and she responded “over easy.” He meant the burger! She’s awesome and cracks me up. Taught her that in Pittsburgh those are called “dippy eggs.” Pennsylvania has the best food of any state on the trail, which we eagerly and often partook in. It has some of the most luxurious shelters of the whole trail, but we weren’t staying in them. It kills me to say as a native Pittsburgher that has a lot of pride for the Keystone State, but the state is rather lackluster along the Appalachian Trail. PA has so much more to offer than what it shows off! Many people experience the “Virginia Blues,” while I myself came down with a case of the “Pennsylvania Blues.” To alleviate this, I decided to inundate my trail family with a “Pennsylvania Fun Fact of the Day” each and every day we hiked through the state. They got to learn about everything from dippy eggs, yinz, and dahntahn to Yuengling Brewery, Primanti Brothers to Hershey, PA. Thrilling stuff I’m sure!
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