July 16 - Vernon, NJ; Fire Station (Day 119 – milepoint 1331.2)

Had a great night’s sleep and felt revived this morning. Stopped at the Post Office to pick up a letter from a fellow thru-hiker and, much to my surprise, a letter from Patty Wilkins, the wonderfully “crazy” woman from Atlanta who transcribes my website entries. How she knew I was stopping in Unionville I will never know, but I’m glad she did.

Stopped in at a local Deli for a couple of sandwiches and some fruit. Is there any better snack than blueberries? I think not.

The road out of town passes by the Minisinks Rubber Company. Curious, I dropped my pack and, after asking around, found Jim the manager, who gave me a tour and showed me how rubber is made. I’m glad I stopped.

Another very hot, humid day but with an unfortunate twist – little to no shade through open fields and along roads. The short 12.5 mile day made it more tolerable. I eventually made it to NJ-94 and caught a ride into Vernon with a couple of cool girls in a topless Jeep (just the Jeep, unfortunately), and I thoroughly enjoyed the wind beating on my face.

In town ran into Big Bird, Geo, Aunt Marty, Pixie, Just Dave, Otter, and Wrangler at the P.O. They were all waiting for Big Bird’s Mom and brother to pick them up for a day off at Big Bird’s childhood home not far away. They also raved about some Trail Magic they encountered yesterday. A family took all seven of them from High Point State Park, put them up for the night and fed them a big dinner and breakfast. I’m feeling a little trail-magic-envy, but I can’t complain.

I was given a ride to the Fire Dept Pavilion by Erin Kurshmer, whose family is involved in maintaining the Trail in the area. Very friendly. Says her father might thru-hike someday and hopes he encounters a lot of kindness along his journey. “One hand feeds the other,” she said. If that is so, he’s in for a good experience.

Aquaholic