OhMEGA was able to join me in hiking after Columbus day so that was really nice. We got a ride to the trail after parking in Kent. It was fun to hike together again and nice to have good company and she got to escape from the city. She got a reminder of why she's the sane one for not going out into the woods to play "homeless bum" night after night.
I also caught up to some friends we met in ME who are flip-floppers and it was fun to catch up with them.
I had a mini adventure one night. There is a tiny but official train station for a NYC commuter train on the AT called the Appalachian Trail station. As a good tourist, I took out my camera to get a picture. When I took it out, I heard a dull thud. Looking around for the source and seeing none, I ignored it. Three miles later and as darkness settled in, I started to unwind for the evening and was going to call ohMEGA. When I couldn't find my phone, which I had in the same pocket as my camera that day, I quickly put two and two together. It must have been my phone that dropped when I took out my camera. With a forecast of rain, I decided I had to head back at once for it if there were to be any hope of retrieving it. I grabbed some bars, my guide, and took a few swigs of water and I set out. Fortunately there was a detour by road, and after about an hour of walking, I found my phone under the bench. It took me another hour or so until I returned and was able to start my normal evening routine. I had a late dinner and more walking than planned, but all ended ok.
The other day when I crossed over from NY into NJ, was another very rainy day. I was hoping to do big miles, but instead, the rocks got super slick and my day turned into a day of falling hard. I had three big falls and got pretty badly bruised on my hip, knee, and elbow. It was a very rough day and I have to admit I threw my poles out of frustration once or twice. At the end of the day there was a detour that took my by some houses, and since my knee was cut, I wanted to wash it out. I saw a house with a hose and a boy scout trailer parked outside, and decided to ask them to use the hose. My luck was about to change.
Not only did the family let me borrow their hose, but soon I was offered a shower, a warm meal, to come in and rest, a bed to stay, and they even had their daughter who is a nurse look at my knee. I wanted to intrude as little as possible, so I tented in their yard, but gladly accepted their hospitality. That night they also happen to have a scout meeting and invited me to participate which was also a ton of fun and better than my standard evening entertainment of keeping an eye out for bears. This family was extremely generous and I was very grateful. They left the house unlocked that night in case I needed anything, and when they joked how they didn't think I would steal anything, I thought there was no need: had I simply asked, I feel they would have signed over the house and asked if I wanted the cars too. In the morning, he wanted to make sure I had everything that I needed and even offered me cash! This is from a man who not too long ago lost his job! They were my trail angels that saved me when I needed a boost. Thank you very much again to the Ruths.
As I was near the end of NJ, I had misread my guide and thought I had 40 miles to go to Delaware Water Gap, but when I rolled out of camp at the late hour of 9 am, I realized it was only 30. I thought to myself, "hmmm, I've never gone 30 in a day" and decided to go for it. So I pulled my longest day and pushed hard all day long and a little after dark. I kept moving at as brisk a pace as I could manage, and by day's end, I had done 31.4 miles, crossed into a new state, and had a hostel to crash. But I paid for it. The next day, I noticed an array of blisters that had taken over my feet. They were painful, and even though I treated them, putting on and walking in my shoes was hard. The next two days I only did 24 miles in total, but yesterday I was back to a respectable 21 miles. PA is very rocky and hard on your feet. The sharp rocks are constantly forcing your feet into positions that you aren't comfortable with, and bending them this way or that.
Fortunately last night, I was able to meet up with a section hiker that we had met in the 100 mile wilderness. He gave us his number at the time, and told us that we were welcome to stay with him when we reached his neck of the woods. Again, when I needed a rest for my feet and the comforts of civilization most, the trail and its magic found me. When I called, it turned out they were near where I was going to be the next day. He and his wife came to pick me up, took me to the grocery store, hooked me up with shower and laundry, treated me to dinner, and made me welcome in their home. We chatted a good deal about many topics including the trail, recent news, sports, and politics. It felt like I was family, and in a way we kind of are. Hikers know and understand their fellow hikers in a way that there is bond. While many think we're crazy, hikers can understand why we do this and we all have a shared connection. It's again, part of the magic of the trail that a bond between strangers can generate this feeling of belonging and fellowship. I am very grateful for their hospitality and support, and the boost that they provide helps make the hike easier and lifts spirits high. Thank you again to the Carolans!
I have a few mail drops coming! I am badly in need of new shoes among other supplies, and ohMEGA has arranged (from what I hear), an amazing care package; one for the ages. Not only does it have new shoes in it, but also supplies to start a bounce box and other goodies I need on the trail. She packed so much in, the lady at the post office complimented her for the deal she was getting by using a flat rate box. I'm going to start a bounce box which is a box of items that are needed every once in a while, but not all the time, and you keep mailing to yourself again and again so that it "bounces" down the trail with you. I'm really excited to see all the goodies that await me! It's much easier to do the trail with ohMEGA providing support. Be it logistical, looking up something quickly on the internet, and most importantly the moral support, the trail is much easier with her there behind me. My trail angels and her as the biggest one of all, are what make this hike possible. Thank you
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Location:Nolans Way,,United States
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