Watertower S of Leather Hill Rd
J: 8/3 - Still in New York! Camped beneath a cemetery gate sign last night as the light of day waned. Thought I was .4 from the shelter, but the 'road' I was on wasn't the right one... Gate to Heaven. Soft, flat grass.
Slacker and I got out of camp (the afternoon nap) about 4:30 = went down to the Dover Oak (largest on the A.T.) and swamp/hill-hopped to US 20. Talked about changes on the AT - what would Sourball's face look like when the 15 yr old girl scouts ask him if he has any groceries? We discussed the change in the geology in central NJ; Katahdin an ancient volcano? All Sourball stuff -- all kinds of stuff. At US 20, we crossed the AT amtrak station. Wild swamp walk by myself to camp last night. Horseflies from Hell. Haven't had a successful mail drop since Front Royal. What's going on with Allen? I know he's distracted with Tracy, but it wasn't that big of a deal to mail a package every week, was it?
Have begun to noticeably lose weight. Scary thought - like I have any to lose. Arms are twigs - entomological extensions from my protrubing shoulders. Have to push the caloric intake above 5000 - maybe 6000.
Food - obsessed with food. Hike, eat, hike, eat. Eat some more.
My cloths smell of ammonia - or urea - I'm sweating nitrogen, dehydration? Urine is a little on the yellow side, but not excessive so the blood porphyrins/muscles ok. I've had it clear several times in July. So what stinks? Dehydrated. Physiologically, I feel pretty beat up. The feeling in parts of my feet returns every night (good) and the swelling doesn't start until the second day off. The toe nail on two (left 2) came off in the swamp walk from Catfish with the heavy rains. All does seem healthy on inspection - considering. My ankles are fine - the calves are sore but not painful. Both knees ache and hurt on the downhills. Thighs are OK and everything else above them. Save for the sweat rash.
Need to do laundry badly - may be that clean cloths will make all the difference. Pack is faring well. Lost one snap on the hood pocket - pulled out. Aside from that, it's holding up. Of course, it reeks.
'To be a Virginian, by birth, by marriage, or even by adoption, is in itself an introduction into polite society and a benediction from the Almighty' - Papillon Duo at Wiley.
Met Teaberry Tracker southbound this a.m., from Abington.