Date: 2005-08-05
From: The Chiles Household, Bethleham, PA

To: Salisbury, CT (staying at Cousin's house)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

Here I am writing again, finally! I've taken a LONG break from my journal for many reasons. I guess I was just tired of it, and not a whole lot was happening. Sad, but true. A quick recap....My time off in Philly was great. Walking through New Jersey was pretty quick, but a welcome change in scenery. Walked for a few days with Pumpkin. That was fun to hang out with her again. Drawbacks of NJ, HOT and H2O was DRY! Then crossed into NY. Not a whole lot to say about it except for it SUCKED! Wow, I was not expecting NY to be so hard. The heat was pretty incredible too. At Bear Mountain I got off the trail for another 2 days to hang with Jim again before he went back to Milwaukee. It was a very nice visit. We didn't do a whole lot 'cause there really wasn't a whole lot to do. But thoroughly enjoyed the AIR CONDITIONING of the hotel! Jim's so great, I'm gonna miss him like crazy for those next few months.Got back on the trail eventually with a pair of new boots, quite excited about them. Walking out of Bear Mountain was a little nerve-wracking. I though I'd be by myself for quite a while. Seemed like I was in a hiker void, I was trying to psych myself up, because, really, it was something I want to be able to do...be on my own out here. Little did I know I was going to spend my first night back out with at least a dozen people. It was great, of course everyone was SUPER nice! People amaze me out here everyday with their kindness. The next day of hiking (30th of July)was good. Nice weather, decent terrain, good people. Stayed at RPH shelter which was fun 'cause you can order pizza from that shelter. So we did, mmmm yummy! Bad news for the boots though, they produced a nasty blister on my right heel.So, the 31st I was going to walk into Pawling, NY with Not Guilty and Snowman. We were all going to meet at the road to hitch. I could barely make it there. My feet were screaming! Literally! When we got to town and the park we were allowed to stay at I took my boots off and found a MESS. I had never seen skin like that before. Like hamburger, all torn up and BURNING. There was NO way I was going to walk the next day! Luckily I broke down in a good spot. I was planning on walking to Salisbury, CT, four days north and stay with my Mom's cousin Bonnie and her husband Kenny. I made some calls home in hysterics, they quickly did some arranging and Bonnie and Kenny came to my rescue in Pawling the next morning! I've officially yellow-blazed the whole state of Connecticut, but it'sll be a GREAT section to come back and do with my Dad!My stay here in Salisbury has been AMAZING! Bonnie and Kenny are incredibly gracious hosts and super fun too. Bonnie and I spent a whole day trying to find new boots in Great Barrington and ended up back here ordering on-line. I can't thank them enough!So now, I must walk away from this incredibly comfy home and back into the woods. For some reason I'm not all that excited, which makes me a little sad. I'm thinking its 'cause my momentum lately has been so hurky jurky. I don't really have any other major stops planned and really the most beautiful parts of the trail are ahead. I'm sure once I get back out there with friends it'll be great. Sometimes I am thinking 2 months is such a long time and at other points I realize its a flash in the pan.I not only want to be successful at finishing this trip, but I really want to be able to look back on it with a great big smile on my face. Hopefully, that WILL be the case.To all of those at home, whereever that may be, I can't thank you enough for all the support and encouragement. I didn't realize how much I'd need it!