Date: 2004-07-11
From: Goldsmith Road, Murray 

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 13.6

I am at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel--an excellent place. They provide a shower, free laundry, internet, and a roof. I had no intentions of staying in Vernon originally until the temps shot up into the 90's.The morning at Murray's secret shelter was dewey. No rain or breeze during the night. Misquitos swarmed outside my tent all night. I noticed I could see the stars outside and realized that is not a common treat when sleeping in the woods.I took a chance and left my clothes drying on the flat sheet of rock all night. Everything dried out perfectly.We had all planned to hike two miles to Unionville for breakfast at the general store. In Wingfoot, it mentions taking Lott St. but I would suggest hikers continue one mile to NJ284 and hike .3 left to a deli. They will serve you a mean egg sandwich with coffee for close to $3. I saw Wanderlost again and he recommended this place over the general store. He must have yellow-blazed through PA.Pipesmoke, Gator Woman and I hung out for awhile which was fun but a big mistake. Heavy foods and the soaring temps made the hiking sluggish, to say the least. We were mostly in the sun crossing the Walkill National Wildlife Preserve (completely flat and exposed) and following a half mile of paved road around some private property.The rocks have subsided but the rolling hills have returned. Although the springs looked low, there were other water sources. Someone left water for hikers at a road crossing and a side trail led us to a house where we could use the spigot. At NJ 517, the trail becomes a boardwalk across a lengthy marsh. This must be new because the maps showed the trail following the highway. If the sun wasn't so blaring, I would have lingered and taken more pictures.Finally, we reached the road to Vernon and our destination for the day. It was 3 pm and 91 degrees. No one wanted to pick three sweating hikers up. By this time, Pipesmoke had gone ahead and Gator Woman and I were accompanied by Meandethal. We walked toward town spread apart and thumbing every pickup truck that came along that busy route.Finally, a gentleman offered us a lift. He was a school teacher and could also give us a return trip tomorrow. He brought us safely to the cool conditions of the church hostel where I sit typing now. Pipesmoke and Road Runner are also staying here but currently are contributing funds to the tavern down the street.Earlier when Road Runner, Gator Woman and I ate at the tavern, devouring our oversized portions of food, (a strategy the northern restaurants pull to justify overpricing pasta dishes) we talked about how we felt our brains are going to mush. You spend the day thinking but there is little outside input. Simplicity and routine take over and you don't need to bother yourself with anything more than basic arithmetic (for determining miles.) But at the same time, you aren't bored. Too much going on and the trail changes every day. However, I have found that after a long day, finding the right words are a struggle, but the journal writing is a good mental exercise.Tomorrow the forecast calls for rain. We need it. The streams are running dry.