Day: 071
Date: Saturday, 12 July 1986.
Daily AT Miles: 13.7
Daily Other Miles: 1.8 (1.5 to café, 0.3 to Monastery)
Total AT Miles: 1374.4
Total All Miles: 1418.7
Weather: Mild, overcast, raining mostly.
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Muesli.
Lunch: 2 cheeseburgers, fries.
Dinner: Hamburgers, salad, fruit.
Aches: Right knee sore.
Animals Seen: Deer (including fawns), squirrels, chipmunks.
People Seen: 2 AT Thru-hikers, many others.
Journal:
Got up at 6am after some showers during the night and almost immediately it began to rain steadily. I ate breakfast and packed up in the rain keeping things as dry as I could. A few things got damp but nothing too bad. It was the first tent pack up in the rain, so I suppose I have been lucky. I set off along the muddy path (in some cases “river”) and steadily walked the six miles to Bear Mountain Inn passing over West Mountain and Bear Mountain en route. No views because of the weather. I arrived at the Inn at 10:10am to find the café, where I had planned to spend a few hours, closed. I found a covered area in front of the toilets and spent 1½ hours writing my reply to Syntec’s job offer standing up at a wall and getting colder and colder. Shivering, by the end. I then walked, in the rain, up to the Post Office which was closed, then back to the now-open café where I had some lunch. It was a big place, filled mostly with blacks whose picnics had been spoiled by the rain. They were noisy and happy. After lunch, I went to the Inn lobby and left the Syntec letter with them. I also called Clio, but she couldn’t give me a time when she could meet up, but wanted me to call back tomorrow. She said she could perhaps make it Monday night. I’ll probably ring her, though I’ve a few long days ahead of me. I left the Inn at 1:10pm and walked through the picnic area and zoo (foxes, bears, raccoons) en route to the Bear Mountain Bridge which I used to cross the big Hudson River. We had driven across it with Rod and Tracey just three months ago – seemed ages. The rain had more or less stopped as I climbed up to the ridges on the north-east side – a landmark passed. The Trail was reasonable, the weather cool, and I was in good spirits walking along, singing with my Walkman, and a short afternoon in prospect. I arrived at Graymoors Franciscan Monastery at 4:30pm and was met by the kindly Father Bosco who arranged a room for me. I had a shower and went down to dinner at 5:30pm where I met Bob and Jennifer, also AT Thru-hikers, who’d spent the day there because of rain. Jennifer was walking around the Monastery in short shorts which I’m sure would have been a little distracting to the monks. They told me about their encounter with the psycho “Fighter Pilot” on the Trail who had threatened to kill them and had harassed them for a few days in New Jersey. Glad I missed him. After an ample dinner, I went to my room and wrote a letter before going down to a small lounge to watch TV. At 9pm I found a Michael Douglas movie called “Running” which was interesting but far-fetched.
Appalachian Trail - Day 070
Day: 070
Date: Friday, 11 July 1986
Daily AT Miles: 13.9
Daily Other Miles: 0
Total AT Miles: 1361.5
Total All Miles: 1403.2
Weather: Warm, humid, mostly cloudy.
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Cereal, eggs, toast.
Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter.
Dinner: Macaroni cheese, instant pudding.
Aches: Feet a bit sore, right knee sore.
Animals Seen: Many deer, 2 fawns, squirrels, chipmunks, small snake, grouse.
People Seen: 18 overnight hikers, 1 day hiker, many others.
Journal:
Got up at 8am and, after a shower and Pam-cooked breakfast, said good-bye to Pam and Aidan and left with Gordon at 9:20am. It was sad to be leaving so soon. Another day off would have been nice and I think nthey would have liked me to stay. Anyway, it’s good to know they’ll be moving to Melbourne to live next March. Gordon drove me to the spot near Arden at the entrance to Harriman State Park where I left the AT on Wednesday night. I started walking at 10:15am on a much more pleasant (cooler) day than recently. That, plus my feet feeling improved and a day’s rest, had me in good spirits as I negotiated the gentle grades and occasional rocky bluffs of the Park. There was little undergrowth and spring-like growth on the trees as well as evidence of gypsy moth. It was pleasant forest. I only planned to do 12 miles so that tomorrow night I would arrive at GraymoorMonastery. I stopped for lunch at 1pm then pressed on to the William Brian Shelter, where I planned to spend the night, arriving at 4:30pm. Unfortunately, the water well was dry and I had little, , so ended up pressing on another few miles and stopping by a pleasant stream in a lovely spot at about 6:10pm. En route, the Trail passed over Black Mountain and I got superb views of the Hudson River which I will cross tomorrow – a landmark. I had time for a leisurely dinner though time was spent boiling suspect water for tomorrow’s breakfast. I went to bed soon after 9pm after a relaxing day.
Date: Friday, 11 July 1986
Daily AT Miles: 13.9
Daily Other Miles: 0
Total AT Miles: 1361.5
Total All Miles: 1403.2
Weather: Warm, humid, mostly cloudy.
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Cereal, eggs, toast.
Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter.
Dinner: Macaroni cheese, instant pudding.
Aches: Feet a bit sore, right knee sore.
Animals Seen: Many deer, 2 fawns, squirrels, chipmunks, small snake, grouse.
People Seen: 18 overnight hikers, 1 day hiker, many others.
Journal:
Got up at 8am and, after a shower and Pam-cooked breakfast, said good-bye to Pam and Aidan and left with Gordon at 9:20am. It was sad to be leaving so soon. Another day off would have been nice and I think nthey would have liked me to stay. Anyway, it’s good to know they’ll be moving to Melbourne to live next March. Gordon drove me to the spot near Arden at the entrance to Harriman State Park where I left the AT on Wednesday night. I started walking at 10:15am on a much more pleasant (cooler) day than recently. That, plus my feet feeling improved and a day’s rest, had me in good spirits as I negotiated the gentle grades and occasional rocky bluffs of the Park. There was little undergrowth and spring-like growth on the trees as well as evidence of gypsy moth. It was pleasant forest. I only planned to do 12 miles so that tomorrow night I would arrive at GraymoorMonastery. I stopped for lunch at 1pm then pressed on to the William Brian Shelter, where I planned to spend the night, arriving at 4:30pm. Unfortunately, the water well was dry and I had little, , so ended up pressing on another few miles and stopping by a pleasant stream in a lovely spot at about 6:10pm. En route, the Trail passed over Black Mountain and I got superb views of the Hudson River which I will cross tomorrow – a landmark. I had time for a leisurely dinner though time was spent boiling suspect water for tomorrow’s breakfast. I went to bed soon after 9pm after a relaxing day.
Appalachian Trail - Day 069
Day: 069
Date: Thursday, 10 July 1986
Daily AT Miles: 0
Daily Other Miles: 0
Total AT Miles: 1347.6
Total All Miles: 1389.3
Weather: Warm, sunny.
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Cereal, muffins.
Lunch: Salad rolls, muffins.
Dinner: Roast lamb, vegetables, ice-cream, jelly.
Aches: Feet stiff and sore.
Animals Seen: 0
People Seen: Many.
Journal:
Got up at 8am and called Clio to see if she wanted to come out to the AT. No conclusion was reached so I left it that I would call again on Saturday. After breakfast, I spent the morning doing washing and cleaning, updating my diary, trip-planning and playing with the good-natured Aidan. Gordon came home for lunch and a friend, Celia, and her two children came as well. A few hours passed chatting and the afternoon went quickly too, as I drafted my reply to Syntec, watched TV and played with Aidan. After an early dinner, Bo Cocks rang from Australia to say they would be in Maine from August 19 and would like to see me (Bo, the American wife of an Australian work colleague, was the person who had first sparked my interest in the AT). We worked out some means of contact. It would be good to see them, but I might almost be finished by August 19th. Pam then took me to the supermarket and I did my shopping. On return we all watched TV and talked. I went to bed at midnight. It was a very restful day and I feel it has done my feet some good.
Date: Thursday, 10 July 1986
Daily AT Miles: 0
Daily Other Miles: 0
Total AT Miles: 1347.6
Total All Miles: 1389.3
Weather: Warm, sunny.
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Cereal, muffins.
Lunch: Salad rolls, muffins.
Dinner: Roast lamb, vegetables, ice-cream, jelly.
Aches: Feet stiff and sore.
Animals Seen: 0
People Seen: Many.
Journal:
Got up at 8am and called Clio to see if she wanted to come out to the AT. No conclusion was reached so I left it that I would call again on Saturday. After breakfast, I spent the morning doing washing and cleaning, updating my diary, trip-planning and playing with the good-natured Aidan. Gordon came home for lunch and a friend, Celia, and her two children came as well. A few hours passed chatting and the afternoon went quickly too, as I drafted my reply to Syntec, watched TV and played with Aidan. After an early dinner, Bo Cocks rang from Australia to say they would be in Maine from August 19 and would like to see me (Bo, the American wife of an Australian work colleague, was the person who had first sparked my interest in the AT). We worked out some means of contact. It would be good to see them, but I might almost be finished by August 19th. Pam then took me to the supermarket and I did my shopping. On return we all watched TV and talked. I went to bed at midnight. It was a very restful day and I feel it has done my feet some good.
Appalachian Trail - Day 068
Day: 068
Date: Wednesday, 9 July 1986
Daily AT Miles: 24.7
Daily Other Miles: 2.3 (0.6 water, 1.7 Arden)
Total AT Miles: 1347.6
Total All Miles: 1389.3
Weather: Very warm, very humid, overcast, some showers.
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Muesli.
Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter, Mars Bar.
Dinner: Pizza, ice-cream.
Aches: Feet sore.
Animals Seen: Deer, groundhogs, small snake, squirrels, grouse.
People Seen: 1 day hiker, many others.
Journal:
Got up at 6am after a showery night. Didn’t sleep that well. Set off, still undecided whether to ring Gordon and arrange to stay tonight and tomorrow. I walked to the side-trail to Wawayanda Visitor Center, arriving there at 8:45am and rang Gordon to see if it would be OK. He seemed pleased, so we arranged that I would call him from Arden, still 22 miles along the Trail. It was a very dull humid day and I set off along the Trail hoping that my feet, particularly the right one, would be better in the cooler weather and clean socks. The Trail was easier on the feet with fewer rocks and flatter rocks and I didn’t push it. Progress was not all that quick because there seemed to be many escarpments to climb and descend using hands and muscles. It was quite tiring, but I just kept plugging away and enjoyed the change in terrain. In some places, the Trail was along the top of long stretches of exposed rock which gave good views over the nearby lakes. It was obviously a populated area with the sounds of civilization evident and several roads to cross. I had a late lunch at about 4:10pm and then pressed on non-stop for the last 6½ miles to NY17 near Arden. More escarpments and progress was slow. I arrived at the road at 8pm to find the telephone I had been counting on vandalized. Very tired and not happy, I walked another mile to the small Post Office at Arden along the railway line to where there was supposed to be another phone. If there was, it was inside and locked. I walked to NY17 and began to hitch south at 8:30pm. It was getting dark and I realised I may as well start walking to the next town, 2½ miles away since no-one in New York was going to pick me up after dark. After a mile, I got a lift from a shift worker to Sloatsburg, about 12 miles down the road, arriving at 9:15pm. I rang Gordon and then ate a pizza sitting on the footpath watching the world go by while Gordon made the long trip out to get me. It was quite pleasant sitting there with the prospect of a day off. Gordon arrived while I was buying some ice-cream and drink and we drove back to his house at Sparkill arriving at 10:30pm. It was great to see Gordon and Pam again, and Aidan soon woke up and joined in the fun. We stayed up talking till about 1am and then I went to sleep in Aidan’s room.
Date: Wednesday, 9 July 1986
Daily AT Miles: 24.7
Daily Other Miles: 2.3 (0.6 water, 1.7 Arden)
Total AT Miles: 1347.6
Total All Miles: 1389.3
Weather: Very warm, very humid, overcast, some showers.
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Muesli.
Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter, Mars Bar.
Dinner: Pizza, ice-cream.
Aches: Feet sore.
Animals Seen: Deer, groundhogs, small snake, squirrels, grouse.
People Seen: 1 day hiker, many others.
Journal:
Got up at 6am after a showery night. Didn’t sleep that well. Set off, still undecided whether to ring Gordon and arrange to stay tonight and tomorrow. I walked to the side-trail to Wawayanda Visitor Center, arriving there at 8:45am and rang Gordon to see if it would be OK. He seemed pleased, so we arranged that I would call him from Arden, still 22 miles along the Trail. It was a very dull humid day and I set off along the Trail hoping that my feet, particularly the right one, would be better in the cooler weather and clean socks. The Trail was easier on the feet with fewer rocks and flatter rocks and I didn’t push it. Progress was not all that quick because there seemed to be many escarpments to climb and descend using hands and muscles. It was quite tiring, but I just kept plugging away and enjoyed the change in terrain. In some places, the Trail was along the top of long stretches of exposed rock which gave good views over the nearby lakes. It was obviously a populated area with the sounds of civilization evident and several roads to cross. I had a late lunch at about 4:10pm and then pressed on non-stop for the last 6½ miles to NY17 near Arden. More escarpments and progress was slow. I arrived at the road at 8pm to find the telephone I had been counting on vandalized. Very tired and not happy, I walked another mile to the small Post Office at Arden along the railway line to where there was supposed to be another phone. If there was, it was inside and locked. I walked to NY17 and began to hitch south at 8:30pm. It was getting dark and I realised I may as well start walking to the next town, 2½ miles away since no-one in New York was going to pick me up after dark. After a mile, I got a lift from a shift worker to Sloatsburg, about 12 miles down the road, arriving at 9:15pm. I rang Gordon and then ate a pizza sitting on the footpath watching the world go by while Gordon made the long trip out to get me. It was quite pleasant sitting there with the prospect of a day off. Gordon arrived while I was buying some ice-cream and drink and we drove back to his house at Sparkill arriving at 10:30pm. It was great to see Gordon and Pam again, and Aidan soon woke up and joined in the fun. We stayed up talking till about 1am and then I went to sleep in Aidan’s room.
Appalachian Trail - Day 067
Day: 067
Date: Tuesday, 8 July 1986
Daily AT Miles: 20.9
Daily Other Miles: 0.8 (to store)
Total AT Miles: 1322.9
Total All Miles: 1362.3
Weather: Hot, humid, hazy, sunny.
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Muesli.
Lunch: Pizza, pint of ice-cream, quart of orange juice.
Dinner: Noodles and vegetables, instant pudding.
Aches: Feet, particularly toes, very sore.
Animals Seen: Rabbits, groundhogs.
People Seen: Many.
Journal:
Got up at 6am, hoping to do 24 miles on another hot day. Hoping feet better. Jerry said he planned to do 24 miles too! We left (the shadow and I) at 7:30am and walked steadily at first through woods then across farm and grazing land for seven miles. I then said I was going into Unionville (0.4 miles off the AT) in New York to get some supplies and have a snack. Jerry wasn’t that keen on the detour, but came anyway. After shopping, we went to the local pub and had an early lunch of pizza (shared). Very friendly barmaid. We left at 12:30pm in the heat of the day with 17 miles to go. It was going to be tough. Jerry wanted to take a short-cut, but I wouldn’t, so he didn’t either. The Trail went through woods for a while, then across fields then a hot road-walk. The feet were sore – Jerry’s too. After the road-walk, there was a solid climb over a ridge then, to our horror, a relocation which was hard going – badly prepared – and cost us a good half hour. There was then another hot road-walk with my feet killing me. I removed my inner socks but that seemed to make things worse – perhaps my wool socks needed a wash. I don’t know why the feet were so sore, particularly the toes. Could be from awkward walking because of exposed skin on old blister, could be the heat, could be dirty socks, could be the rocks. We were short on water, but got some from a house because the campsite we were aiming for was dry. We reached the end of the road-walk with six miles to go at 5:30pm. I decided to change my socks and told Jerry I was only going another three miles then camping. He said he wanted to go further, so we said friendly farewells and he was off. The last three miles involved a steep rocky climb to Mount Wawayanda then along its crest. It was slow going and took me until 7:10pm to reach my target campsite next to a suspect stream. Still, it was a nice spot and I was glad to stop. If my feet are bad tomorrow, I may try and get to Gordon’s tomorrow night and have a day off, though it will put pressure on me to reach later deadlines. We’ll see tomorrow. Went to bed at 9:10pm and spent 40 minutes catching diary up. Lots of mozzies, very warm and I’m thirsty. Had better days! That’s three toughies in a row. Record temperatures in New York.
Date: Tuesday, 8 July 1986
Daily AT Miles: 20.9
Daily Other Miles: 0.8 (to store)
Total AT Miles: 1322.9
Total All Miles: 1362.3
Weather: Hot, humid, hazy, sunny.
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Muesli.
Lunch: Pizza, pint of ice-cream, quart of orange juice.
Dinner: Noodles and vegetables, instant pudding.
Aches: Feet, particularly toes, very sore.
Animals Seen: Rabbits, groundhogs.
People Seen: Many.
Journal:
Got up at 6am, hoping to do 24 miles on another hot day. Hoping feet better. Jerry said he planned to do 24 miles too! We left (the shadow and I) at 7:30am and walked steadily at first through woods then across farm and grazing land for seven miles. I then said I was going into Unionville (0.4 miles off the AT) in New York to get some supplies and have a snack. Jerry wasn’t that keen on the detour, but came anyway. After shopping, we went to the local pub and had an early lunch of pizza (shared). Very friendly barmaid. We left at 12:30pm in the heat of the day with 17 miles to go. It was going to be tough. Jerry wanted to take a short-cut, but I wouldn’t, so he didn’t either. The Trail went through woods for a while, then across fields then a hot road-walk. The feet were sore – Jerry’s too. After the road-walk, there was a solid climb over a ridge then, to our horror, a relocation which was hard going – badly prepared – and cost us a good half hour. There was then another hot road-walk with my feet killing me. I removed my inner socks but that seemed to make things worse – perhaps my wool socks needed a wash. I don’t know why the feet were so sore, particularly the toes. Could be from awkward walking because of exposed skin on old blister, could be the heat, could be dirty socks, could be the rocks. We were short on water, but got some from a house because the campsite we were aiming for was dry. We reached the end of the road-walk with six miles to go at 5:30pm. I decided to change my socks and told Jerry I was only going another three miles then camping. He said he wanted to go further, so we said friendly farewells and he was off. The last three miles involved a steep rocky climb to Mount Wawayanda then along its crest. It was slow going and took me until 7:10pm to reach my target campsite next to a suspect stream. Still, it was a nice spot and I was glad to stop. If my feet are bad tomorrow, I may try and get to Gordon’s tomorrow night and have a day off, though it will put pressure on me to reach later deadlines. We’ll see tomorrow. Went to bed at 9:10pm and spent 40 minutes catching diary up. Lots of mozzies, very warm and I’m thirsty. Had better days! That’s three toughies in a row. Record temperatures in New York.
Appalachian Trail - Day 066
Day: 066
Date: Monday, 7 July 1986
Daily AT Miles: 19.3
Daily Other Miles: 0
Total AT Miles: 1302.0
Total All Miles: 1340.6
Weather: Very hot, humid and hazy.
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Muesli, quart of ice-cream, quart of orange juice, donut.
Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter, Mars Bar.
Dinner: Macaroni cheese, instant pudding.
Aches: Toes and ex-blister very sore.
Animals Seen: Chipmunks.
People Seen: 8 overnight hikers, many others.
Journal:
Got up at 6am and left at 7:30am on a day which again promised to be very hot. My right foot was sore and I wanted to walk slowly, so I sent a reluctant Jerry ahead of me. I think he’s worried I might try and give him the slip. After four miles I reached Worthington’s Bakery, where Jerry was waiting, and supplemented breakfast with a quart of orange juice, a quart of ice-cream, a donut and a Dr Pepper. We then headed off on a bit of road-walking before the Trail again entered the woods and climbed to a ridge. Unfortunately, it was again rocky making it slow progress, made worse by the heat and my sore foot. All in all I was feeling miserable. Jerry, a nice inoffensive guy, preferred me to lead so he could keep me in his sights, which didn’t help matters – a permanent shadow. We reached the crest of a ridge and found an old pavilion which had stone floors and was beautifully cool. We hung around for an unscheduled ½ hour. The Trail then descended for a few miles and we stopped for lunch at 1:30pm in a car park which had a water pump – lovely icy water. As we were about to leave, the leader of what turned out to be a seemingly disorganised hike for pre-teen boys arrived headed south. We met the tired and waterless boys straggled along the Trail as we headed north. Heat and sore feet and rocky Trail compelled me to have breaks at three miles in the afternoon and we also stopped at Highpoint State Park Visitors Centre for water before the last two miles to Highpoint Shelter. It was a reasonable Shelter, but the heat and mozzies decided us both to sleep in our tents. We arrived at 6:30pm so had time for a leisurely dinner before retiring at 9pm. There was a thunderstorm at about 11pm, but the tent did well.
Date: Monday, 7 July 1986
Daily AT Miles: 19.3
Daily Other Miles: 0
Total AT Miles: 1302.0
Total All Miles: 1340.6
Weather: Very hot, humid and hazy.
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Muesli, quart of ice-cream, quart of orange juice, donut.
Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter, Mars Bar.
Dinner: Macaroni cheese, instant pudding.
Aches: Toes and ex-blister very sore.
Animals Seen: Chipmunks.
People Seen: 8 overnight hikers, many others.
Journal:
Got up at 6am and left at 7:30am on a day which again promised to be very hot. My right foot was sore and I wanted to walk slowly, so I sent a reluctant Jerry ahead of me. I think he’s worried I might try and give him the slip. After four miles I reached Worthington’s Bakery, where Jerry was waiting, and supplemented breakfast with a quart of orange juice, a quart of ice-cream, a donut and a Dr Pepper. We then headed off on a bit of road-walking before the Trail again entered the woods and climbed to a ridge. Unfortunately, it was again rocky making it slow progress, made worse by the heat and my sore foot. All in all I was feeling miserable. Jerry, a nice inoffensive guy, preferred me to lead so he could keep me in his sights, which didn’t help matters – a permanent shadow. We reached the crest of a ridge and found an old pavilion which had stone floors and was beautifully cool. We hung around for an unscheduled ½ hour. The Trail then descended for a few miles and we stopped for lunch at 1:30pm in a car park which had a water pump – lovely icy water. As we were about to leave, the leader of what turned out to be a seemingly disorganised hike for pre-teen boys arrived headed south. We met the tired and waterless boys straggled along the Trail as we headed north. Heat and sore feet and rocky Trail compelled me to have breaks at three miles in the afternoon and we also stopped at Highpoint State Park Visitors Centre for water before the last two miles to Highpoint Shelter. It was a reasonable Shelter, but the heat and mozzies decided us both to sleep in our tents. We arrived at 6:30pm so had time for a leisurely dinner before retiring at 9pm. There was a thunderstorm at about 11pm, but the tent did well.
Appalachian Trail - Day 065
Day: 065
Date: Sunday, 6 July 1986
Daily AT Miles: 24.6
Daily Other Miles: 0.2 (shelter)
Total AT Miles: 1282.7
Total All Miles: 1321.3
Weather: Hot, humid, hazy.
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Eggs, toast.
Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter.
Dinner: Macaroni cheese, chocolate pudding.
Aches: Pain next to right big toe.
Animals Seen: Deer, chipmunks, squirrels.
People Seen: 1 AT Thru-hiker, 8 overnight hikers, 8 day hikers, many others.
Journal:
Got up at 6:30am and left the Hostel at 7:10am, saying good-bye to Steve (?) and Verna. I first went to a phone box and called Barb who was unexpectedly home, and we had a good chat for about 20 minutes. I then walked up the road a little way to Hilda’s cottage to return the Hostel key and she made good on her promise to cook me breakfast. She was obviously a talented lady – writing and painting – but seemed to be in poor health. We had a good chat while I ate and she showed me the baby skunk she was raising – cute. I left at 8:10am and crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey, optimistic that things were on the up despite the very hot day forecast. I stopped at the Visitor Centre in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area that Barb and I had visited in the rain last October on our way to New York and finished off a bottle of Pepsi I was carrying. I then set out up the Trail which was well-travelled and easy walking for the four miles to the attractive glacial lake, Sunfish Pond. From there, the Trail degenerated into the same old Pennsylvania rocky Trail. The going was slow and hot. After another few hours, I reached Rattlesnake Spring and met Jerry from Ohio who was an AT Thru-hiker and having trouble getting going again after a four-day lay-off with his parents and girlfriend. I was like a godsend to him and he attached himself to me. A likeable guy, but I hope he doesn’t plan to walk with me the whole way to Maine. The remainder of the day was spent trekking along a low rocky ridge in high heat and humidity with occasional views marred by the haze. Near the end of the day, the former blister between the big and second toes on my right foot began to hurt a lot. I limped in the last few miles to Brinks Road Shelter and arrived at 7:15pm. It was very hot with mozzies around so we both erected our same tents (you can sleep with no clothes on in the tent!). After a hurried dinner, I got to bed at 9:00pm and spent time on my diary and re-reading letters before lights out at 9:30pm.
Date: Sunday, 6 July 1986
Daily AT Miles: 24.6
Daily Other Miles: 0.2 (shelter)
Total AT Miles: 1282.7
Total All Miles: 1321.3
Weather: Hot, humid, hazy.
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Eggs, toast.
Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter.
Dinner: Macaroni cheese, chocolate pudding.
Aches: Pain next to right big toe.
Animals Seen: Deer, chipmunks, squirrels.
People Seen: 1 AT Thru-hiker, 8 overnight hikers, 8 day hikers, many others.
Journal:
Got up at 6:30am and left the Hostel at 7:10am, saying good-bye to Steve (?) and Verna. I first went to a phone box and called Barb who was unexpectedly home, and we had a good chat for about 20 minutes. I then walked up the road a little way to Hilda’s cottage to return the Hostel key and she made good on her promise to cook me breakfast. She was obviously a talented lady – writing and painting – but seemed to be in poor health. We had a good chat while I ate and she showed me the baby skunk she was raising – cute. I left at 8:10am and crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey, optimistic that things were on the up despite the very hot day forecast. I stopped at the Visitor Centre in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area that Barb and I had visited in the rain last October on our way to New York and finished off a bottle of Pepsi I was carrying. I then set out up the Trail which was well-travelled and easy walking for the four miles to the attractive glacial lake, Sunfish Pond. From there, the Trail degenerated into the same old Pennsylvania rocky Trail. The going was slow and hot. After another few hours, I reached Rattlesnake Spring and met Jerry from Ohio who was an AT Thru-hiker and having trouble getting going again after a four-day lay-off with his parents and girlfriend. I was like a godsend to him and he attached himself to me. A likeable guy, but I hope he doesn’t plan to walk with me the whole way to Maine. The remainder of the day was spent trekking along a low rocky ridge in high heat and humidity with occasional views marred by the haze. Near the end of the day, the former blister between the big and second toes on my right foot began to hurt a lot. I limped in the last few miles to Brinks Road Shelter and arrived at 7:15pm. It was very hot with mozzies around so we both erected our same tents (you can sleep with no clothes on in the tent!). After a hurried dinner, I got to bed at 9:00pm and spent time on my diary and re-reading letters before lights out at 9:30pm.
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