Date: 2009-08-14
From: Bear Mtn.

To: Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 0.0

Hello again! After a nice respite at "Special Forces" Shawn and "Trail Angel" Jill's house we quickly hopped back onto the trail in hopes of getting out of New York and pushing on through New Jersey. For quite sometime I was trying to keep tabs on 2 NOBO's that Graduated from the great University known as Furman. Clay Crosby and Chris Stone aka Chief WAH and Spurrojo respectively. After leaving them some messages and hoping to land a meeting point, Brewer and I arrived at the destination where we were supposed to meet. Brewer and I went to bed thinking that we'd missed them but around 9pm we hear voices coming down off the trail and see the flash of headlamps. Sure enough it was them! We chatted a little while, caught each other up on the places to go, things to do stuff and enjoied a lukewarm beer that happened to have the same name as the man that first hiked the entire length of the trail. Seeing those guys gave me a little more pep in my step for the next couple of days. Soon after crossing into New Jersey Brewer and I hiked into the little town of Unionville, NY. Yes it's NY not NJ. The trail for about 15 miles or so hovers around the NY/NJ border. In Unionville there is one of the most hospitible, caring places on the trail that I've seen thus far. The ex-mayor of the town takes in hikers and with the help of his buddies Butch and Bill is able to open his house to hikers, feeding us breakfast and dinner. Not only were the meals homecooked and the couches comfy but the mayor showed us 2 videos, both of which were ment to encourage us on our journey. The first was of Paul Potts, the winner of Britain's got Talent. VIN CERA! The second was a photo collection of two hikers who'd hiked the trail in hopes of finishing on their 60th Birthday. There's nothing like a few pictures of the Smokies or of places close to the end of the trail that make you long for the day we'll celebrate finishing the trail. New Jersey is supposed to be the place to see bears. Brewer and I were constantly on the lookout to try and spot one. We'd heard stories from NOBO's of how they'd seen seven bears in one day or how they'd been able to take pictures of bears. We were dissapointed to pass all the way through NJ and not see a single bear...talk about being a bummer.We were in quite the hurry to get out of NJ. It's not a place I'd want to live or work or in our case eat. We had to wait 40 minutes to get a buger at Burger King...that's not fast food. It must have been hillarious to watch us. 2 hungry hikers trying to wait without making a fuss while standing inside a fast food resturaunt with the tasty smell of burgers filling the building...Imagine a five year old that has to go to the bathroom...that's the mental image I get.Coming into Pennsylvania is quite dramatic. You cross the Deleware River on a highway bridge. After being in the woods, having semi's less than 4 feet away from you wizzing by is quite the shock! However, we actually made the same pose that George Washington did as he crossed the Deleware...just for affect of course. After crossing the Deleware we were able to go into the town of Deleware Water Gap where we feasted on the local special. A hot dog and Apple pie for $1.50. All things good in America at a hikers price. The Pastor at the church Hostel was super nice and we chatted with her for a while about some of the people that we know in front of us and people we've met along the way. Curiously enough yesterday on our way to Palmerton, we met a guy by the name of Wrath. Now Wrath when you look at him you think Surfer Dude, when you talk to him...well you just don't know what to think. He was talking about it being his third time being recycled on this earth, and that by fasting and focusing the imaginary lines that he sees on the back of a dollar he can create his own star right in his hand. He was also talking about how tree's were actually scanners and that with enough enegy he'd be able to communicate with trees but he wasn't to that level yet. Oh the people we've met on the trail.Brewer and I are now in Palmerton PA where we're staying in the basement of the old jailhouse. So I guess you could say we're staying in the slammer. They gave us some toothpaste, toothbrush, granola bars and the royal treatment! We're headed south tomorrow after going through some of the notorious PA rocks. Only 150 Miles or so from the half way mark! Go team Go! Until Nextime