The Wayfarers Journal, Episode One: Journey to Katahdin, by Tommy Michel
Excerpts from page 211
Day One in New Jersey
Delaware Water Gap Hostel
Arise with the birds and although indoors and not hearing their song, myself awakes knowing they are up too. My walk on the path begins by crossing the interstate bridge over the Delaware River. Then before beginning the climb to the ridge on Kittatinny Mountain, toss my remaining fourteen cents of change.
This walk starts well before seven this morning and continues all day and throughout the night until moments before the dawn. This is because of not wanting to stop and set up my tent only to be drenched by rain but instead, my walk, guided by the flashing of lightning high in the sky above, pushes thru the night, which allows myself to reach a lean-to. Long has been this day, that I am too tired to read or write, so instead take out my sleeping bag, set it out and go directly to sleep without doing anything else.
The walk this day upon this ridge has become my third longest one day of walking on the AT.
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