Date: 2015-07-24
From: road crossing 4 miles south of Fort Montgomery

To: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

I am sitting in the pavilion at Graymoor Life Center. The sun is rising, we are tenting on a ball field with 19 tents, two hammocks, and one guy sleeping on the floor in the pavilion. When we got here last night, we took advantage of the icy cold shower. After only one day hiking, we were soaked with sweat. I washed my hiking clothes and hung them to dry. Our day started by walking to the post office from the Holiday Inn. I mailed home 7 pounds of gear which had been replaced by about 3 pounds of Katwalks lighter gear. We ordered a couple of pizzas and packed them out Ghosthiker style. A cab picked us up and brought us 5 miles back to the place we got off yesterday. Our first climb was Bear Mountain. It was actually a great climb, not what I was expecting at all. It seems that as we get closer to populated areas the trails are grades and maintained with safety in mind. Even though it is a Friday, there are lots of day hikers out. We hiked together for this stretch and chatted and it was nice. The sky was clear and the views were great, but NYC still is better visible with the eye than with the camera.In a few hours, we found ourselves back near Fort Montgomery. We walked through a zoo, oddly located just before the big bridge going over the Hudson River. I have never really loved zoos, I do find the animals fascinating, but they make me sad. This zoo in particular, with its tiny cages and small habitats, was disturbing. After seeing the animals free in the woods, the kinds of birds that they had stuffed and mounted on the wall flying free, I think the contrast more than anything shocked me.   Then I thought- I live in a zoo. At home. We put ourselves in cages of debt and live with bad decisions because we think we are supposed to. My shop is in a soul sucking location, completely dependent on the vitality of the poorly managed public park in front of it. I wring my hands when they close it for this reason or that or let the main amenity sit wasting, unused, not living up to its promise of drawing people to the center. The landlords could care less- they just want their money. No matter how many cute tricks we merchant monkeys do, like pouring money back into the schools and community, like helping keep our property values strong- we can't make them care. So I sit in my cage, all riled up, throwing poop at them like a frustrated monkey. I'm glad to be away from that stress- out of my cage. We cannot control what others do. That is a lesson I need to learn, and I think I am. We did see a beaver, up close. That was cool. It swam back and forth in its little habitat, looking bored.We crossed the bridge going over the Great Hudson River. I could see the commuter train that takes people to New York, hugging the side of the mountain and next to the River. Another time , I thought. We only had another 6 miles to Graymoor Spiritual life Center, our destination for the evening. The climb after the bridge was tougher than Bear Mountain to me. Whether because I was tired or because it was harder, I don't know. It was steep but still nicely grades with well placed rocks to step on. About a mile before we stopped, we came to a deli. We saw Recalc, Tiger Mike, and Scientust. We chatted and ate then homes to he GSC. It is a very cool place and hiker friendly. Lots of people hiked in. We are all feeling good and looking forward to the Whites!