Make it count: Day #95

Monday, June 15 - Day #95 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 15.5
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 1296/2,193 (59.10%)

Wind Gap (1280.5) to Delaware Water Gap (1296) - Clarion Inn Hotel

Total ascent - 1,731’
Total descent - 2,327’

Total States Completed - 7/14

**No rain - perfect weather day. 72 high. 54 low

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I can’t believe it! Finished with Pennsylvania! What a huge weight off my shoulders. 7 out of 14 states completed. 900 miles to go! NJ, NY, Conn, Mass are 300 miles total. Vermont, NH, Maine are 600 miles total. I should be in Vermont by July 4th.

Tomorrow - on to New Jersey!

To welcome us properly - New Jersey’s own - Mr Jon Bon Jovi:

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“Once upon a time not so long ago

Tommy used to work on the docks, union’s been on strike
He’s down on his luck, it’s tough, so tough
Gina works the diner all day, working for her man
She brings home her pay for love, for love

She says, we got to hold on to what we got
It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not
We’ve got each other and that’s a lot for love
We’ll give it a shot

Woah, we’re half way there
Woah - livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear
Woah - livin’ on a prayer

Tommy’s got his six string in hock
Now he’s holding in what he used to make it talk
So tough, it’s tough
Gina dreams of running away
When she cry’s in the night, Tommy whispers
Baby, it’s okay, someday

We’ve got to hold on to what we got
It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not
We’ve got each other and that’s a lot for love
We’ll give it a shot

Woah, we’re halfway there
Woah - livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear
Woah - livin’ on a prayer
Livin’ on a prayer”

“Livin’ on a Prayer” — Bon Jovi

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This song has a lot of meaning to me. 8th grade year it came out (1986). I remember (just like it was yesterday) singing this song on a school bus during our 8th grade trip to St Louis.

Another little side story (I don’t think I’ve mentioned this before): In 2010 - I did some traveling throughout Europe. One day I was sitting at a bus stop. I believe I was in some smaller town in France (not a place where you would find a lot of English speakers). This 50-something year old lady comes over and sits down by me. She looks at me and says: “Do you know the Jon Bon Jovi?” I remember busting out laughing as a first reaction. I couldn’t believe she just said this. She said it exactly like I wrote it (with the “the”): “Do you know THE Jon Bon Jovi?” Kind of like: “You wanna have a catch?” in Field of Dreams. I talked with her quite a while - it was pretty cool. This story stuck with me all these years.

So - back to the AT - the 15.5 miles today went fast. We got started at 6am and finished by 12:15pm. Sherpa Mike’s ankle was still bothering him - so he dropped us off in the car and then went to the doctor. No stress fracture - so he may try to give it a go tomorrow. Caruso and I made quick work of the rocks. I came to realize the faster I walked over the rocks - the less steps I had to take - meaning the less ankle turns. I’ve been really focusing on taking less breaks on trail and going faster. I’m eating/drinking while walking - rather than stopping so much. Of course - during hotter weather and tougher sections - breaks will definitely happen.

Tomorrow we’ll start a 9-10 day stretch to get through New Jersey and New York. The weather is still projected to be really nice - we need to take advantage of this.

Here’s to 900 miles to go on the AT. 9 weeks at a 100 miles/wk pace will get me really close to my Aug 15th completion projection. Let’s stay healthy and have a good time! Goodnight from the Delaware Water Gap!