Date: 2008-07-15
From: William Brien Memorial Shelter, NY

To: Bear Mountain Bridge, NY
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: clear sky

I had a couple friends sign my guestbook recently and they simply can't wait for the "official" start of this year's leaf catching game. In fact...they have already claimed to each have caught a few leaves. That's almost like a horse starting the race before the starting gun goes off. I'm feeling generous for some reason and have decided not to issue the normal 4 leaf demerit to Goosebump The Snow Princess and Amoeba for trying to sneak one over on the "Leaf Catching Official".Poor Baby Bump...if she sees a leaf falling anywhere near her, I sure hope she ducks because her momma will run you down to get that leaf. The same goes for anyone walking with Amoeba...I hope for your sake that you're not between Amoeba and a falling leaf because she'll just plow you down. Tisk, tisk...they should both be ashamed of themselves. :-) I woke up at 5am and finished writing my journal entry and sent that in by 6am. I had a couple Poptarts for breakfast and drank up a liter of water. I packed up and was walking north on the Appalachian Trail at 7am. I didn't mention this in yesterday's journal because I don't like to talk about times when I come close to crying. I was at Tiorati Circle where the picnic ground and beach is and I ate some tuna out of a can for dinner. Someone close by was grilling chicken over some charcoal and the smell was wafting right past my extra sensitive nose. That nearly brought a tear to my eye..... :-( I was climbing Black Mtn and spooked up a 6 point buck with antlers in full velvet. He took off running and I stood there watching that magnificent animal. I got up to the top of Black Mtn and I got my first view of the Hudson River below. I descended Black Mtn and carefully made my way across the high speed traffic on Palisades Parkway. There was a sign that said; New York City 34 miles. I got a couple pictures of the speeding cars and got out of there! Speeding morning traffic on the Palisades Interstate Parkway I crossed over Beechy Bottom Brook, then climbed to the summit of West Mtn. I saw a scarlet tanager as soon as I came up over the last rock on the climb. He sat in a tree just long enough for me to reach for my camera, then he was gone. :-) I walked about another mile on the top of that mountain and ran into a day hiker just as I started my descent. He said that I had been walking over the second oldest part of the AT yesterday and the oldest part today. He sounded like he knew what he was talking about. I took a couple pictures of the Bear Mtn tower on the mountain across the way before I descended West Mtn. That's my next stop! :-) I walked down off West Mtn, crossed Seven Lakes Dr, then started the 700 foot climb up Bear Mtn. It didn't seem like long and I saw the tower coming into view. I snapped a picture just before I summited, then walked over to the tower. This was the first time that the tower was open when I walked by. I climbed to the top and spotted the NYC skyline in the distance. View from inside the Perkins Tower on Bear Mtn When I came down, I met a hiker by the name of Shane who is walking from Harpers Ferry, WV to Katahdin. I showed him the NYC skyline....he thought that was cool. :-) I sat down in the shade and breeze and had a small snack and drank most of the water I had left, then started the descent to the Bear Mtn Bridge which crosses the Hudson River. I didn't go over the bridge today because I walked to Ft Montgomery and got a motel to relax for 24 hours. I did try going through the zoo though, but turned around because there was a long line and it wasn't moving. I walked by Hession Lake, then took the road towards Ft Montgomery. Hession Lake I came to Foxes¢ Country Deli in a little over half a mile and ordered a pastrami and swiss on rye, a kraut dog, a small bag of Cheetos and two Cokes, then sat outside and ate while I watched the cars go by. I thought people were cutting back on their driving....but you sure couldn't tell. I still see what seems like just as many cars zipping by when I get around the roads. That pastrami and swiss on rye was piled high 2 inches thick with pastrami! Yumm! :-) I walked over to Bear Mtn Bridge Motel and checked on a room. It was old and very small and they wanted $70.00 and I deserve better! ;-) I walked over to the Holiday Inn Express and got a bigger room with two beds, so if I get tired of lounging in one bed, I'll walk over and get in the other bed. :-) My plan is to not leave here till check out time at noon tomorrow. I want to give the ol' body some down time. I've got the AC crankin' out cold air and me and my clothes are clean....life is good! :-) I got a call the other night. It was late and I was sleeping soundly in my tent. That will teach me to turn my phone off at night. :-) Anyway, I answered and it was my ol' buddy Chief. He said; "Sook Lumpy" (that's southern drunk talk for; "Look Stumpy") He said he was drinking wine and wanted to open another bottle, but lost his corkscrew and wanted to know how to get into that fresh bottle of wine. I asked him who bought the wine and he said; " Sell Wumpy, I bought that bottle of wine fine just today....it's the mest buney can buy".I told my ol' buddy Chief that if he bought that bottle of fine wine himself that he didn't need a corkscrew....just twist the top off. He said; "Twist it off....oh, that worked...bye".I turned my phone off and haven't heard from my ol' buddy since. ;-) I couldn't believe it was 6:30pm already. It seemed like I had just gotten here at the motel. It was WAY past my dinner time, so I walked over to a barbeque place I'd seen earlier and when I walked in, I heard someone call out my name....it was Gator!I joined him for dinner. I had a very good 1/2 a barbeque chicken, fries and baked beans for dinner. We sat there talking about everything that's been going on since I last saw him back in Palmerton, PA. I got a picture of him with an empty Samuel Adams glass....but he was happy. I think he'd had at least one before I got there. :-) I got back to my room just before 8pm and am in for the night. Oh yeah...I stopped at the front desk and got lots of coffee to keep my coffee pot working tonight and tomorrow morning. :-) Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)