Date: 2015-07-16
From: RPH Shelter

To: Appalachian Trail Train
Miles today: 19.9

Today I hiked Yoda-style: with a specific goal, and fast. Fast for me, that is, not Yoda fast. Before he left yesterday, the trail maintainer/beer guy and I chatted a bit more about the possibility of staying at his house today. I'd have to be at either Telephone Pioneer shelter or NY 22 by 4pm to make that happen. I didn't want to stop for the day at the shelter because that would be the third relatively short day this week, but it was going to be a challenge for me to hike 20 miles by 4 pm.I had been looking at camping at that exact location. There is a nursery that lets hikers camp in the back. But it is sandwiched between a road and a railroad so I didn't think it would be a very restful night. Getting picked up right there and spending the night at a house, even aside from the obvious perks, fitted perfectly in my logistics.So, to give myself a chance, I got up and out of camp early, in a new record of 5:50. Aside from Two Bad Dogs, nobody was stirring yet.It was cool and dry this morning. It felt like fall and was wonderful to hike in. I actually started out wearing my rain jacket for the first twenty minutes or so, just until I warmed up.As per usual, the trail started with a climb, on top of which I ran into Fireball. She had gotten turned around yesterday and almost ended up back at the shelter but in the end camped on top of the mountain. We crossed several streams so I got rid of the water I had gotten at the drinking fountain in the state park. It was possibly the nastiest tasting water from the entire trip, ick. There also was a stream with a warning not to use it because there is a farm with cattle upstream from the trail. Even so, there were enough other sources today, though it does look like the area could use some rain.I walked around Nuclear Lake, which was quite pretty and like most of the lakes around here in NY does not allow camping. What's up with that?By 11:30 I had covered more than 11 miles, with just under 8 to go and I had 4 hours to do it. If I didn't stop for lunch, I was going to make it!Just then, a hiker going in the opposite direction told me about snacks & soda trail magic at the road, just a very short distance from where I was. Perfect! I had some potato chips and a Mountain Dew and continued, fueled by sugar, caffeine and salt. All the major hiker food groups!The next section was quite easy. A friend of Southpaw had told her that New York would become less rocky and quite easy after Nuclear Lake. We laughed at that, because it's only 14 miles from the lake to the state line, so it's basically like saying New York becomes easy when you get to Connecticut. But, he was right! And because of that, I hiked the next not quite 8 miles in about three hours. I passed the humongous Dover oak (which to me looks more impressive than the Keffer oak in Virginia, btw), and the last little stretch was over boardwalk again, just like in New Jersey. This was along the Swamp River, which, I am here to tell you, is appropriately named. The boardwalk had two Adirondack chairs, one that said Georgia and one that said Maine. Fun!I crossed the railroad with the smallest platform I have ever seen (apparently not too many people board or get off the train there!) and walked over to the nursery. As I said, they are very hiker friendly and I sat in their gazebo (in the shade) while waiting for Plantman (a vegan, hence the name). Just as he pulled in, Southpaw also arrived so now we are both here Chez Plantman's. It's a lovely place and we have had showers, are doing laundry (while wearing loaner clothes) and had a great meal of real food. Veggies, lots of veggies! And a real peach! The food alone would make this worth hiking almost 20 miles in not quite 9 hours. Tomorrow I'll have 18.3 miles to go to Kent. Rumor has it there is an actual climb in between here and there. Hopefully my legs (and lungs) will remember how to deal with that!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?