Date: 2015-07-04
From: 1,441.1 campsite, NY

To: New York City, NY
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: light rain

Little hiking was to be had today - little meaning 7.6 miles. I slept in a bit assuming I would be putting in a shorter day as Moosehead's friends joined us on the trail. I was all for giving my aching foot a day or two of fewer miles. However, as Moosehead and I were waiting, we decided that being together for the majority of the past 90+ days was finally too much. He seemed to want to spend quality time with his friends without me around so I respected this by heading on. I'd cover the the next 7.6 miles in no time flat, just over 2 hours, the only eventful thing taking place being a weekend hiker offering me a Ziploc bag stiffed with blueberries which I scarfed down in under a quarter of a mile. I also enjoyed the serenity of Nuclear Lake, assuming I was the only person enjoying its beauty at that very moment. However, as I rounded the lake, I saw 2 men training their black lab, tossing bumpers into the lake and having the dog respond using a series of high-pitched whistle blasts. At this I decided it felt too crowded and I continued on to the Native Landscapes & Garden Center located on NY 22, just outside of Pawling, NY.As I exited a boardwalk leading from the woods to the road through a swampy field of tall grasses, I walked onto a railroad line leading from upstate New York southward into New York City. Normally this wouldn't have been that interesting except this line had a wooden platform nearby stating this was actually the Appalachian Trail stop. Super cool, I thought, and continued to the garden center that has been hiker friendly for years, offering water, an outdoor shower, a bathroom, a small selection of food and sodas, electric outlets, and 1-night camping. I was expecting a care package that I'd soon discover hadn't arrived despite having been delivered 2 days earlie. I'd later find out that the post office in nearby Pawling had seen the "Hold for AT thru-hiker" written on the package and kept it there instead.I walked half a mile down the road to Tony's Deli, a small convenient store offering a limited selection of goods, but mainly bringing in customers for the food. I purchased a huge sub, 2 hotdogs, and a few Pepsi's and was soon off in a backroom entering a food coma as I watched Andy Murray cruise to another win in Wimbledon. I also took the time to call both my mom and twin brother. My brother suggested I look into going into the city. I was soon hobbling back to the garden center to find out of it was possible to get in. Next train: 45 minutes. Done. I was soon onboard for a 2-hour ride into downtown Manhattan.On the way in I contacted Burnside's brother, Matt, to see if we could meet up and I crash for the night. He was out of town for the weekend, but got it set up with his building that I could stay. Matt, thanks again. Class act. Having never been to Manhattan before, I was quickly overwhelmed by the number of people, towering buildings, and lack of green that has been my surroundings for the previous 3 months. I was soon zigzagging through streets, trying to look like a local, though my pack, wardrobe, and scruffy facial hair made it easy to tell that I wasn't. I finally found Matt's building after a little trail and error and was soon showering and looking so ewhat presentable in his 18th story apartment.Back on the streets I was soon following a wave of locals and tourists alike as we made our way to the river on the east side where the large fireworks show was being held. A strst hof interstate was closed off and people packed into the northbound lane normally packed with speeding vehicles. With constant worrry on the news regarding a potential attack during the holiday weekend, I can confidently say New York felt like one of the safest cities in the world with cops stationed at nearly every street corner. The fireworks show would last just shy of 30 minutes and, although I've never been on the front lines of war, can safely assume the sounds and lights experienced during this time was somewhat similar. New York easily spent several times more on fireworks than most US citizens make in a year. 'Merica.Afterward, through a series of backtracking and cussing, I found a place to eat suggested by Matt, Brother Jimmy's BBQ. To keep it short: decent food, though lacking in spice, younger crowd, hot chicks, overpriced everything. My evening concluded around ~2:00am as I headed back to Matt's place under the glow of city lights and the beacon that is the Empire State Building leading me in the general direction. I stopped at a CVS to grab a 2-liter of Coke and was up to ~4:00am as a result before finally crashing. From what I've heard, 3:00-4:00am is a pretty average night in the city, but I have no shame in admitting I limped into 4:00am hurting. What a cool way to spend July 4th when just this morning I was hiking in the woods.Only 1 here's to is needed in the spirit of Independence Day and it's a personal opinion summed up by Jeff Daniels in The News Room: America is not the greatest country in the world, but we can be.