DAY 100: UNEXPECTED LATE START

Ben - still workin' on somethin'

 miles: 3.75

The intention was to get out of Chester first thing today, but we happened to relax a little too long and I don't regret it one bit.

We ate at the Pine Shack Frosty twice today. This is a delicious fry/shake/ice cream joint that has a walk-up window and unique ice cream type desserts. There are 30 flavors of milkshake, root beer floats, malts, banana splits, etc. and it was across the street from where we were staying, so I couldn't help myself. I also spent quite a bit of time in front of a computer...

Ben and I were hoping to catch Chik Chak and Starfox in town before we left and this was the main reason for staying in town so long. We hadn't seen them in ages and we (at the very least) were hoping to high five/hug, share a few stories, and catch up a bit before heading out. AND LUCKILY THE SHOWED UP! They rolled in in the early evening and we sat around chatting.

It's hot and we are relaxing on our front porch this afternoon.

Ben had a lot of burgers in Chester. Here is the consuming of one of them.

The construction workers at the Chester Manor came and donated a bucket full of beers and ice. 

Left to right around the circle: Solstice, Golden Boy, Rocky, Chik Chak, Smiles, Dr. Slosh, Manchurian, Starfox.

A beard style.

Hiker hands, fresh off the trail.

Hikers taking advantage of sitting in chairs and talking with one another.

Nail painting.

 I was starting to feel a little stressed out about how late it was getting so we got a ride with Piper's Mom (THANK YOU AGAIN!) back to the trailhead at around 7:00pm. It was dusk by the time we hit the trail and it felt a little weird... lonely even. It's always strange to get back on the trail after being in town. In fact, it's something that I dread, simply because I tend to feel totally weird. That is the only way to describe it: weird.

We made it to a nice camp spot at the first water source by dark and were both shocked and slightly relieved to find another thru-hiker at camp. The woods we were walking through were a bit still, dark, and eerie and there was an abandoned camper next to our camp site so we were happy to find company in a new thru-hiker we had not met named Cartwheel.

Thanks for being clear.