Date: 2005-07-23
From: Near NY 52

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: few clouds

Dandylion is the first one to leave this morning but we soon follow. Lots of dayhikers are out walking their dogs which makes going potty a little bit more complicated than usual.Anyway, back to hiking. UG pulls ahead, Tink passes me. She's on a mission to get to the post office in Poughquag before it closes (it must be Saturday). Livestrong also passes me, he's on a mission to meet people in Pawling. My mission is finding a spot for my next break ; ). I'm in nooo hurry.The break presents itself at the railroad track. UG and Dandylion are relaxing and eating and having all kinds of weird conversations about things I can't mention in this journal. Nothing you'd want to hear about anyways.When I get to Nuclear Lake I can't resist taking a dip. UG catches up to me here. He's having all kinds of issues with his backpack. He's got an external frame which I thought would be bombproof. Turns out it really isn't. The bottom part of the frame is broken. Literally in two separate pieces with some small pieces still breaking off. We discuss our options. We could hike back 1 mile to the last road and hitch to the nearest outfitter or walk a couple more and hitch from there. After looking at the pack and using my sewing kit and duct tape to put things back together UG decides he can make it last to Kent. Crisis averted. Thru hiking really does make you creative.UG takes off again. The plan is to catch up to the Trolls tonight and there are still some miles to cover. The miles are coming easy now though. Except for that little mishap with the swamp and the mud and the fact that my sandal dips in the swampy mud because the board walk isn't what it's supposed to be. But let's not talk about that...A major highlight today is the AT New York train station. A train station right on the trail, how cool is that? Trains don't really run often and I have no desire to go to NY city but it's still pretty cool. At the next road I chat with some day hikers and then spot a trail magic cooler with my name on it. Literally with my name on it. There is no more trail magic in it but UG has left his headlamp for me so I can continue hiking in the dark to catch the Trolls if I wish to do so. He has the name of a caveman but really is very sweet. The trail now goes through open fields. Views!!! They make me happy. Plus I've discovered that I'm making pretty good miles and will be able to catch the Trolls with daylight left. When I read UG's entry in a random register and see that I'm only minutes behind him I get an energy boost and start flying up the trail. Cruising is fun! I'm in a great mood!!! Unfortunately UG's mood is quite opposite of mine when I catch up to him. He's had it and wants to camp at the next water source. Bummer! I'm not sure what to do. Leave UG and catch up to the Trolls or stay with UG and camp short. I have so much adrenaline flowing I'd really like to hike on. Then I think of the times that UG stayed with me or waited for me to catch up and I decide to stay with him. I try cheering him up but all the 'turn that frown upside down' remarks don't seem to have much effect. He goes ahead again and fortunately for me there is no real water source before the shelter. I meet him again at another trail magic cooler. He's got a huge grin on his face. The cooler had beer in it and one beer can make a dehydrated hiker very happy. Plus he met up with the Trolls! I'm glad he's in a better mood and we all walk to the shelter together. Skywalker and Dandylion are there too. We've got a good crowd here.