[at-l] PA Ruck......Holy Cow

[sloetoe@yahoo.com (Sloetoe)]

I can't even begin to describe the Ruck, the people met, the food
consumed.

Well, vera and deTommyToe pulled into Che Toe at 03:00 this morning,
hungry as all get out after that paltry little meal we had in Carlisle
Chinese Food Emporium with Yakpack, FrogRoyaltyGirl, Moonbow and Stitches.
The ride back to Indianer showed much fewer incidents of wrinkled
tractor-trailors, creatively parked motor vehicles, and those busy, busy
people scurrying around those cars with the funny blinking lights that we
saw so much of on the way out.

I'm moving ok, after two runs on the PA AT worth 50k total. A pleasure to
meet and run with two ultra-listers, and introduce them to some fellow
ruckers, so they might get infected with more than 'just running' the AT.
Returned to the hostel about 12:30pm on Sunday FULL of endorphins.

I've totalled up my sleep since Thursday evening, and I hit 4+0+4+2=10
hours since Thursday morning. If there's any tradition here (or at *any*
of our hiking get-togethers), this is it. Somebody quoted Weathercarrot at
one point: "Why would you want to sleep? You can do that *anytime*." I'm
going to go soak in a hot tub for lunchhour.

I once again managed to miss slideshows, but it was my own fault. But I
*did* manage to eat well, much to Kahley/Chainsaw/GBuff/Millie's credit,
as well as the host of attendees who brought the tremendously yummy foods
of all sorts. And I noticed that we did *not* leave the hostel with
foodstuffs piled in every corner. Kicked myself for not fitting in a "sit
down with Jim/Ginny for a CDT chattie", but DID manage to watch a Photon
stove construction demo -- that was worth the trip right there. 

It was cool to be recognized by Earl Shaffer's brother and sister in law
as friends, even if I didn't get a chance to really *talk* with them this
year. But then, that would go for so many greetings/meetings at the Ruck.

Caretaker Shaun seemed to be really relaxed this year, and that was a
relief.

To the Class of 2001-- hope you got what you came for, in terms of trading
Trail intelligence. That *is* the firstmost reason for rucking. I just
wish I might have helped out more in that way, but there *were* lots of
sources of info and technique and experience.

AND FOR ALL THE FRIENDSHIP THERE.... Thanks, all. It was a struggle to
Ruck this year, but worth every effort by 5 or 6 times. WHAT a great time.

Very Sloe,
Toe



=====
There is little use for the being whose tepid soul knows nothing of the great and generous emotions of the high pride, the stern belief, the lofty enthusiasm, of the men who quell the storm and ride the thunder.

T.Roosevelt 4/23/10

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