Date: 2009-07-02
From: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center - Trail Mile 779.4

To: Fahnestock State Park - Trail Mile 767.6
Miles today: 11.8

Day 12[Watson & Holmes report their arrival and sent the following:"Safe at Clarence Fahnestock State Park campground with TT & L, SM and In-Tents. Raining, lightning & thunder but tent is holding up and H is sleeping."Her journal entry:]Woke up early but another slow start. It was still drizzling so hard to get motivated about hiking. H is still sore around his rear end. DZ thought it might be worms, when a dog's rear itches, but H is up to date on his Worm meds (in fact, that reminded me to give him his monthly dose). He's been off his food recently, I think because I've been adding people food to it and he's been gulping it down rather than chewing. I'm going to stop that. If he needs to go slower until his appetite catches up then we will go slower. Finally I notice his tail itself is sore, and hope that it's just a bruise. We'll see. Still, I carry his bags on top of mine for a good bit of the day. It's mild hills but a long buggy hike because of the mosquitoes (lots of thunderstorms). We use AG's doggy poncho again when it rains, but the tree cover keeps it from being unpleasant. Later the sun breaks through and we stop for lunch. Spaghetti with Meat Sauce is good, and warms me up!! H naps until TT&L and SM pass by. Then we're packing up and off again. H carries his packs for a while, as the weight is taking a toll on my hip and ankle. He doesn't complain. Finally we get to one of two campsite options, where the trio (now quartet with IT) are taking a break. Not five minutes after they head out to cover the next 5 miles to the campground, a trail angel shows up with some trail magic - beer and iced tea! I chose the iced tea, as I was planning to hike more and didn't want to be tired. Thanks, Augie!! Off we go into more swampy forests. Mild hills again, but lots of soggy spots and bugs. Halfway through I look for my bug spray and can't find it. I think I've left it behind but later realize it was in the other pocket the whole time. Ahh well. Halfway through our buggy walk, there is a stream where the stepping stones are 4-6 inches under rushing water. H is not happy at all, and after trying to drag him across doesn't work, I give up. I take off my shoes and carry our packs across, then head back for H. He realize what's about to happen and runs back up the trail. I chase him, barefoot, and tempt him with chicken strips. (Dad, the 2 inch sections are perfect - thank you!!) We walk back to the water's edge and I pick him up with one arm under the belly and one under the neck and between the front paws to the chest - just like at the vet's. Across we go, slowly feeling for each step and H too scared to struggle. Thank goodness!! Another mile or two, still carrying his packs, and we come to a road. Again I've lost track of the miles, but this time in the right way!! Woo hoo - the campsite is only a mile down the road. It's a busy road, though, with no shoulder, and I'm much less motivated to rush on road miles than I am on trail miles. Very thankful to Steve who stopped on his way home from work to give us a lift. We find the quartet set up at the campsite and Steve gives us a bag of apple cheerios to share for breakfast. Two trail angels in one day - thank you both!! We set up and finish dinner (Ramen with extra dehydrated chicken pieces) just before the rain hits. H and I manage to dive into the tent before the downpour. A bit of good natured joking around between tents and we all turn in for a long night's sleep.41° 28' 20.48" N 73° 49' 17.65" W, 974 ftFor HarveysMom by Harvey's GrandPop