Day 2 of Our Journey with DarkStar (Continued)

Before checking in at the Pine Grove Furnace State Park headquarters we decided to check out the town. First, the General Store - this is the home of the Famous Trail tradition of "The Half Gallon Challenge." THe challenge is for hikers. They must completely finish one half gallon of ice cream in one setting. Legend has it that the fastest time is 13 minutes. This record would stay in tack today as our hikers would finish but most would take three times as long.

We proceeded to the Hikers Museum. A small, older building that had recently held grand opening only yesterday. Volunteers worked the exhibits and had done a masterful job in re-creating some of the trail history and legend. THe most interesting exhibit I saw was of the first woman to finish the trail. She was a grandmother, 67 years old, carried a 25 lb nap sack over her left shoulder and accomplished the feat more than one time.

After setting up camp Tanner and I found a place to fish. We saw plenty but failed to catch any. Our attention turned back to the hikers as they began to arrive at the General Store. First in was Turkey and Thrasher who were well into the half gallon challenge. Soon after the Traveling Circus started the challenge and included this as part of their documentary. THe other hikers jumped in on the challenge soon thereafter with the exception of DarkStar - who never has been much of a sweet eater and possibly the smarter one in this decision. We sat around as everyone finished the challenge. As everyone finished the "Half Gallon Challenge" I commended the General Store on a great marketing strategy - no one in the state of PA sells more half gallon ice cream than these guys!

Will - being the only one without a belly full of ice cream - coaxed everyone into going swimming next. We all loaded into the truck and headed to the local lake that was set up like a beach, complete with sand, lifeguards and people who shouldn't be allowed in bathing suits. The group had a great time swimming and throwing baseball on the beach.

That night at camp we enjoyed a great meal Beth had been cooking all afternoon. Chilli beans with real beef tips, fresh salad greens and red velvet cake and zucchini bread. Will commented we should bless the food to ensure we would have enough for 11 hikers and the three of us. To my surprise we did. In fact some were able to come back for seconds. Perhaps the "Half Gallon Challenge" helped a little.

The evening was spent setting around the campfire listening to the trail tales. Along with Beth, Tanner and myself our guest included;

DarkStar - Will

Bowtie - Brian (Atlanta)

THrasher - (Atlanta area)

Turkey - (Atlanta Area)

Castore - (Boston)

Spatchula - (Boston)

Prophet - (Indiana)

Ring Leader - (New Jersey - Just passed Bar Exam)

Monkey - (New Jersey Ring leader's brother just finished Dartmouth)

Lightening - (New Jersey)

Traveling Circus Editor - (New Jersey)

We sat around laughing and telling stories, jokes, and just enjoying great company by the fire until around 10:30 pm. All at once everyone retired for the evening to their tents. With the weather being much cooler and Tanner's stomach settled this night - we all had a peaceful sleep. I think the ground was even softer here.