July 17 - Wildcat Shelter (Day 120 – milepoint 1348.6)
Erin and her father, Robert, showed up this morning and offered me a ride to the trailhead. We also picked up Boji at the Days inn on the way. Very gracious folks. Not a bad way to start the day.
Big climb out of Vernon on yet another ridiculously hot, humid day. Siesta at Wawayanda State Park and about a 2-1/2 hour nap, thank you. The next nine miles were brutal with no water and little shade.
I came upon a road 3 miles before the shelter, very dehydrated and somewhat delirious. Followed the sound of barking dogs into a small neighborhood searching for outside water spigots. Nothing. Finally, a man came out of his house to quiet his dog. I seized the opportunity and asked for some water. He invited me inside and I enjoyed a nice conversation with him and his wife between sloppy gulps, water dripping from my now bushy beard. They seemed amused. I was thankful and the Mrs. handed me a peach and a plum for the road.
Made it to the shelter without further incident and have been drinking since I arrived. Joined by Merry Star, Boji, Meant2B, and Harmony.
Aquaholic
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
July 13 - Catfish Fire Tower (Day 116 – milepoint 1279.0)
Attended the church service this morning to see how Presbyterians do it. A female pastor made it a unique experience, for which I was grateful, but Mother Nature still speaks my language a little more clearly.
Breakfast at the Diner with Puff, Cosmo, Grasshopper, Woolybooger, and Churchmouse. Midday nap, then got my things packed up and headed out late afternoon. Very hot and after 4 miles of climbing I was lucky to come upon the glacially-formed Sunfish Pond, where a swim was unavoidable.
Enjoyed conversation with a bunch of guys from New Jersey (Exit 135) who were curious about the concept of a thru-hike. It almost seemed like they didn’t believe me.
Continued on into the evening. Had a run-in with an angry copperhead and then somehow, got confused in the dark and walked right past the road to the Mohican camping area where I had planned to stay. I’ve ended up at Catfish Fire Tower about 2-3 miles beyond, and found a nice little spot on the fourth tier. Nice breeze and a panoramic view. Looking forward to seeing the sunrise.
Aquaholic
