Date: 2018-06-25
From: West Dover Road - Pawling

To: Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: broken clouds

It was 0915 when the taxi dropped Epic and me back at the trail. From the Dover Oak the path went through a swampy patch. Then it gained elevation and crossed into a pasture. The air was dry and a cool breeze stirred the tall grass around me. After a mile or so I was back in the forest where I passed several old trees that rivaled the Dover Oak. I was keeping my head up in search of my morning deer when a snake slithered quickly away. Otherwise, I probably would have stepped on it. Now my gaze was set lower and about a half mile later I came across a big crawdad making its way across the trail. It seemed a little out of place, as the nearest stream was a quarter mile away. I wanted to get a picture of this peculiar sight, but the critter was about to move off the path. In an effort to slow its progress I planted one of my hiking poles just in front of the speedster. He immediately went into defense mode, lifting 2/3s of his body off the ground, claws raised above his head. When I brought the camera close to get a pic, the little guy lunged at me, snapping his claws as he surged forward. Then he resumed his fight stance, I chuckled and got his picture. I walked a few steps away while looking at the pic. I didn¢t like the way it turned out. No problem, when I turned around, the fighter was still in the same spot with his claws raised high in the air. He was ready to rumble.After my encounter with the fighting crawdad I continued down hill a few hundred yards to the Swamp River. A 1/4 mile long boardwalk crossed over the river and adjacent wetlands, which were thick with marsh flora. I exited the boardwalk at some railroad tracks. On the other side of the tracks stood a train platform. A rider could catch a train into New York City from here. The stop was aptly named ¢Appalachian Trail¢. Immediately after crossing the tracks the trail took a left turn on NY Route 22, following it for a couple of hundred yards. On the left side of the road stood the hiker friendly Native Landscapes Garden Center. I stopped to grab a cold drink. A food truck was setting up in the parking lot and would begin serving in about 15 minutes. Believe it or not, I passed on the food and kept moving.Back on the trail, I walked another mile or so through more pastureland. On top of a hill stood a wooden water tower. The trail worked its way back into the woods and meandered up to Hammersly Ridge. The trail followed the ridge through a pristine forest for several miles. I felt so alive as I walked along, taking in the sights and sounds, and breathing in the fresh air. I passed a cute shelter along the way. The Wiley Shelter would be the last one in New York. From the shelter it was downhill to the Deuel Hollow Brook. The trail crossed the brook on a bridge and dumped out on Hoyt Road, where it continued for a hundred yards. Just after exiting the road the trail came to a sign that announced my arrival into Connecticut, ¢The Gateway to New England.¢ The AT will continue through Connecticut for 51.6 miles. I have always dreamed of walking on the AT through New England. The time had finally arrived. Better yet, this is the state where I meet back up with my sweetheart. I have tried not to harp on my time alone without Which Way, but I do miss her so much. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Well, my heart can¢t grow any fonder for that gal. Shoot, when we¢re at home, I even miss her when she goes to the store. Just gotta keep moving and we will be back together soon, as it was meant to be.New York was a fun and challenging state to hike through. A big thanks to the New York State Park Commissions, the NY/NJ AT Conservancy and an army of volunteers that maintain the AT through the state. Connecticut greeted me with a little climb up Ten Mile Hill. Down the other side of the hill the trail crossed the Bull¢s Bridge 19th Century Covered Bridge over the Ten Mile River at its confluence with the Housatonic River. The trail worked its way upstream of the Housatonic for about a mile. A side road led to Bull¢s Bridge, a 19th Century covered bridge. On the far side of the bridge was a country store. I stopped in for some dinner and re-supply. The store was run by a friendly Indian couple. Wouldn¢t you know it, they had Chicken Vindaloo in the frozen food section. I hung around the store until about 5:45PM. It was about a 4 mile hike from there, up and over Schaghticoke Mountain to the campsite where I was staying for the night. When I arrived Epic was already cozy in his hammock. We were the only two hikers at the campsite. The tempature is supposed to drop into the 40s tonight. Love it! Peace & Blessings - NSElevation Data:Ascent - 3,500Descent - 2,980Grade - 7.0Weather:Day - 73 / Partly CloudyNight - 48 / ClearOver The Horizon: Salisbury, CT (Rendezvous With Which Way)