Day 86 - Pouch and Pennsylvania (25/9/2016)

This morning, I packed Pouch up to rejoin me on the trail. Pancake's friend Carla (who had done the 100 Mile Wilderness with her) agreed to drive us to the trail and do a day hike with us to Delaware Water Gap. Trout and I were pretty excited to meet her since Pancake had been talking about her for months.

On the way we gave her a trail name that is unfit to print, so I started referring to her as SC. Which seems to have stuck.

The best part of today, though, was crossing into Pennsylvania! NOBOs have been telling us that Pennsylvania was hellish for months. All sharp rocks and dead shoes. I'm dreading it.

SC and Pancake cross into Pennsylvania!

Start: Mohican Outdoor Center
End: Mt Minski peak
Distance: 15.5 Miles

Days 83 through 85 - That NOBO Life (22-24/9/2016)

For the last few days, I've been walking in the reverse direction to my usual southward wandering. On the first day, we picked up Trout (!) and he joined us slacking and relaxing at Pancake's place. Being a NOBO, I kept crossing paths with a whole bunch of SOBOs that were either a bit behind or a bit ahead of me. Every day I'd pass Ducky, Bunchy, Cinderella, & Waterboy, and now I'm hoping to hike with them all more (could be tough... most of them are faster than me).

The best part is that we were able to do 60 miles in three days, and I've got a new "biggest" day: 22 miles.

One of the more embarrassing things, though, is the amount of food we've been eating at McDonald's. My meals have been a Big Mac Meal with a 6 McNugget Happy Meal and an apple pie. On the plus side, I've now got two superheroes attached to my pack to keep me company: Wonder Girl and Super Girl!

Start: NY 17A (sort of)
End: Mohican Outdoor Centre
Distance: 68.3 miles (including about 8.4 yellow-blazed)

Day 82 - Unplanned Zero (21/9/2016)

Pancake talked me into taking a zero day with the words "I have a kayak at my neighbour's* place that you can use on the lake." We also decided to slackpack together for three or four days: I would drop her off at the north end of a section, and then drive around to the south end. She'd walk south, pick up the car, and come get me at the north end. We'd be able to carry lighter packs and do reasonably big miles.

Most importantly, I could chill out and kayak instead of hiking today. Which I did.

The only catch is that since Pancake is 8 miles ahead of me, I'd have to do my first official yellow blazing (when you do a section by car rather than on foot). Which was A-OK by me.

Start: NY 17A
End: NY 17A
Distance: zero

* She said it without the U, but this is a proper english blog.

Day 81 - The Struggle Continues (20/9/2016)

Today became a nero when Pancake offered to pick me up and give me a bed, a shower, and some laundry at her place. She lives in New Jersey and had been visiting with friends for a few days and slackpacking Timber, Legs, Pinky Purple and Foggy. That's right, after just one day on the trail, I got off again.

To kill time waiting for Pancake, I went to the library at Greenwood Lake and updated some blog entries. I also popped into a café (Village Buzz Café) that, was owned by Tortuga, a former thru-hiker! We had some chat, I ate (a lot) of food, and she let me hang out while she closed up. Then she only charged me for a sandwich.

Then I tried to find a place to have a beer. I went into one pub that looked promising. As soon as the bartender saw my pack, he immediately barked that I couldn't have it inside. Which was fine, we rarely bring our packs inside, I had just intended to ask if I could leave it on the patio or if there was somewhere else he preferred. The beer selection was Crappy Beer, Crappy Beer, Crappy Light Beer, or Craft Beer. I asked what the Craft Beer was like and he looked at me like I was an irritant and said "it's beer." I just ordered one because, being Canadian, I figured he had to warm up to me eventually.

Then I saw it. Hanging behind the bar, unobtrusively until you noticed it. A hat. Make America Great Again.

Then I heard it. A lot of casual racism from the two or three other patrons (all the talk was politics).

I finished my beer and left, heading to the second pub in town. Before I got there, though, I saw the Trump sign on the lawn.

So for all my Canadian and Australian (and other) friends who've been wondering who on earth is supporting this guy, I can confirm your suspicions: middle-aged, white racists in small towns.

I just went back to the library and read some Terry Pratchett short stories.

It was also good to hang out with Pancake. We tasted some bourbons and gins, and I had some spaghetti. Pancake agreed to drive me to my mail package in the morning, and then drop me at the trail.

With any luck my motivation will pick up again.

Start: Around the 813 mile mark

End: NY 17A

Distance: 4 miles

Day 80 - Hikers in the Mist (19/9/2016)

Back to the trail. ‎Tim dropped us off at the visitor centre where he found us, and off we went. I'd planned a big 21-22 mile day. It rained. I walked in the rain. It stopped. I walked. It got dark. I night-hiked. It got foggy, I hiked in the dark fog.

In the end the fog won out. It was just too hard to follow the trail with my headlamp reflecting back at me, so I found a stealth site and camped. I'm not sure where I am, but I think it's sort of close to my goal.

The others all had a big day planned too, but wet socks convinced them to cut the day short‎. I really like the Florida guys, but this is one of the reasons I get annoyed when we leap frog each other: since they aren't moving real quick overall, every time I run into them it's because I've had a slow few days. I like hanging out with them, but I kind of hope I stay ahead from now on - otherwise I'll probably run out of time to finish. Or at least I hope it's because they caught up to me, rather than me slowing down.

Start: Palisades Parkway

End: ???

Distance: ???

Day 79 - I got the Bluegrass, so bad (18/9/2016)

This morning started with bagels for breakfast, lots of photos of us all with Tim and Kimberley, then a drive to the Bluegrass Festival. I mentioned Tim was a history buff, and today began with a historical tour of the Hudson River's history as a source of ice in the pre-refrigerator period. It was truly fascinating.

The festival was another great day. This one was a smaller‎, local community event, which proved to be far more social. In particular I met Tenley who seemed to know everyone and connected me with several others around town.

At the end of the day, instead of a rainy night on the trail, Tim had us back to the house for another night, and a plan to leave us at the trailhead in the morning.

Start: Tim's house

End: Tim's house 

Distance: 0 miles

Day 78 - Prost! (17/9/2016)

Today I woke up determined to get 20 miles in. No. Matter. What.

I was short water, but there was a visitor centre around a mile away with a spigot and (I hoped) coffee, so off I went. At the visitor centre I filled up on water, had a coffee, and caught up with Broadway, Troll, and Ser Blue. Turns out the shelter I decided not to sleep at had a beautiful view of both the harvest moonrise and the NY city skyline at night. So I was kicking myself for not staying there.

In any case, I had 19 more miles planned, so I went to head out. I car pulled up and as the driver exited, he said "are you a thru-hiker?" I shook his hand and said I was, whereupon he said "do you want to come to an Oktoberfest?"

20 miles. No. Matter. What. 

"Yes. Yes I do." I replied.

He extended the same offer to the three Floridians, and we all agreed. It turns out Tim sells solar panels, and had a tent at this festival. I spent a beautiful day chatting with some of his prospects, browsing booths, eating German food, and drinking beer.

By the end of the afternoon Tim asked if, instead of going to the trail, we'd like to come over to his place, shower, do laundry and sleep comfortably. In fact, if we wanted we could join him for a Bluegrass festival the next day. Peak Freak and Eskimo had joined us by now, and all 6 of us said yes... which meant piling all of us into his Jeep, with Broadway taking a seat in the trunk space.

It's hard to entirely capture how amazing Tim and his family are. Tim is a Renaissance man with backgrounds in acting, filmmaking, photography, guitar making, bench making/woodwork, parks management, among others I've probably forgotten or never knew about. He also has a detailed knowledge of, and love for the history of his area.

His partner Kim is a pilates instructor who used to be an actress, including appearing in Star Trek Generations with Shatner and Patrick Stewart, and in Star Trek: Voyager. My inner nerd was over the moon.

His eldest daughter (Isabella Rose) is studying singer-songwriting and has an absolutely outstanding voice. I didn't get to talk much to his youngest daughter Piper, but I can only begin to imagine what talents lie there.

So instead of 20 miles, I got 1. And that one will do.

Start: West Mountain Shelter

End: Palisades Parkway

Distance: 1.1 miles