Date: 2009-07-02
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Mohican Outdoor Center, NEW JERSEY (mile 1294.1)
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: light rain

Cell weak OG notesWe started our day by going to the diner for another big breakfast. We like to do this when in town to store up all the calories we can before we hit the trail. We then walked back to the hostel and had a great discussion with Pastor Karen and two other hikers. We were taking our time as we only planned to hike 11 miles today. We usually hike 11 miles in 5 1/2 hours so we had all afternoon to hike.We packed up and headed out of town about 11:30 am. As we were on the bridge that carries Interstate 80 and the AT, we had an equipment malfunction. No, not a wardrobe malfunction like Janet Jackson had at the Superbowl. Our malfunction was a lot less exciting. As we were walking we were carrying our hiking poles rather than having them hit the concrete walkway. At one point we heard a clinking noise and noticed that one of the tips of C6s poles fell off. Not only did it fall off the pole it fell off the bridge. We decided we needed to go back to the outfitter in town to get it fixed. Fortunately he had the parts and it didn't take long to put them on.We restarted our hike by now sucessfully crossing the bridge into New Jersey. We're in our 7th state, that leaves 7 states to go.Once in New Jersey we stopped at the visitors center and got water for Gatorade. We drank down the Gatorade and refilled the bottle with water for later. We then walked under I 80 and headed into the woods up the trail. The trail in NJ started with a gradual uphill climb for about 4 miles. Incidentally we may be out of PA but we are not out of the rocks yet. After 4 miles we reached Sunfish Pond, which is one of NJs 7 natural wonders, I think the other 6 are toll booths on the 6 busiest highways. We walked around the shore of Sunfish Lake, I would like to say it was easy, but it wasn't. The shore is all rocks and we had lots of uneven rocks to navigate to get around it. It was not what we wanted to see, as we were hoping for an easy first day for C6. We tried to take our time and not get hurt as we hiked. I am pleased to say we did that just fine.We arrived at The Mohican Outdoor Center and immediatly checked in. We then ordered sandwiches, soda and gatorade, and ice cream. When they were made we sat down and ate our dinner at about 5:30pm.After dinner we came down to the bunkhouse and picked a room for ourselves. Right now we are the only ones here in the building and have no idea if anyone else will be here tonight.The center allows thru hikers to camp for free or we could pay to stay in the bunkhouse. We decided to stay in the bunkhouse because of C6's head injury. She may have to sit up during the night if she gets dizzy and it will be a lot easier to do here than in the tent. The whole building seems to have been recentally renovated and everything is real nice in here. We should have a good night here and hopefully an uneventful one too.C6 notes Last night had its challenges, but no dizziness, thankfully. I was afraid to lie down after Monday and Tuesday nights being so bad. So I propped myself up with pillows and tried to sleep semi-sitting up. That was not a successful attempt...argh! I finally decided I needed to try lying down to sleep (this was around 1am...ugh!). I didn't have any dizziness, and I was able to sleep...finally. I felt stable this morning, so we decided to hike on. I was very cautious as we hiked. We did go over 2 or 3 areas of rocks just like the stretch of rocks when I fell. I was extremely anxious on any/all the rocks all day today, but especially on the parts that were just like the rocks on which I fell. It didn't help that a couple hours into our hike it rained. So then the rocks were wet...and wet rocks cause their own hazards.I'll be so glad to get out of these rocky mountains. I hate them (the smaller rocks) because they are so difficult to hike on. We couldn't go very fast today and be cautious, so we elected caution and took our time getting here. Even with going slow, we got here about 20 minutes earlier than I predicted we'd get here if we hiked a 2 mph average.I feel fine now, and I was no more unstable while hiking today than I was before I fell on Monday. I'm a little anxious about tonight, since the worst dizziness happened at night. We chose to pay to stay in this building (rather than tent for free) so I can prop myself up if I need to again. We are in bunk beds, but they are in a room that only has the one bunk bed set in it.This is a real nice place. It's nice and quiet right now, too, since we're the only people in the whole building. There are many rooms with bunk beds, so they could probably house about 18 people.   (And many more on the floor and two couches, if needed.) It has 4 bathrooms, and 3 of them have showers in them. It also has a nice large common area with a full kitchen, two dining tables (seating for 16), and a corner with two chairs and two sofas. We're enjoying lounging on the sofas. What a lovely evening!We even took showers....our third each in 3 days. Wow! We're living high class for hikers! This place is much less expensive than our last room, however. (That was $90/night; this is $23 each tonight.) We feel as if we're in a private house right now. There's still another 75 minutes before the office closes though, so more folks could show up at any time.Younger thru-hikers tend to stay at free, or minimal cost places (shelters, camp in the woods hostels, or very cheap motels). Older (usually retired) folks tend to splurge more. Neither of these trends fit the mold of every younger/older thru-hiker, of course.OG and I are staying at better places than he stayed at in 2006. He's frugal and just didn't want to spend the money in 2006. Plus he had much nicer weather than we've had, so he tented more often. If we had more nicer weather we would tent LOT more often. Our staying here tonight is in case I need to get up and sit up tonight. I'll let you know, tomorrow, how tonight went. At least I have lots of options here. As a last resort, I could even come out to the lounge area and sleep on one of the couches, propped up, if I need to. I hope to not need that at all, but knowing I have the option is nice.I'm now going back to the magazine I was reading when OG finished his entry and handed me the PocketMail. So goodnight. "See" you tomorrow. Old Goat & Check Six