Date: 2015-05-18
From: Poughquag, NY

To: Telephone Inventors Shelter
Miles today: 24.0

My eyes shot open in a flash. I felt a bit of panic. What time was it??I looked at the clock on the bedside table. It said 5:00am. I relaxed and realized that I was not late for going to the trail. Bird and I got up and quickly finished our resupply. We had stayed up way too late catching up last night. We got out last minute packing down and met up with Deadline and Denzi.The drive back to the trail took about 30 minutes. The ride was so appreciated. Denzi (Deadline's wife) was so helpful with her treats, rides, and general support.Soon, we were back at the road crossing where we left off. The Canipus Lake, with its rugged and rocky shoreline, was adjacent to the trail and very tempting for a swim.The temperature wasn't too bad, but the humidity was through the roof. The heavy, moist air laid like a blanket over the area. The moisture formed into a low cloud/ fog that drenched anyone who stepped outside into it. Deadline, Bird, and I hit the trail and got started. The terrain was nice, but the overhanging bushes and foliage kept the air still which was preferred by all of the local insects. The bugs took advantage and pestered us continuously.We passed a fellow and a lady and chatted them up. The guy said he was producing a movie with the gal. He said the lady was the director and the were scouting locations.The guy seemed a bit odd. We really couldn't read him too well. He wasn't impaired....but was he eccentric?? He kind of was off. The girl was following his lead. Even the movie's subject was weird. I believe that Deadline described him best by saying it was like having it was like Steve Erwin and Jimmy Buffett having a serial killer baby.We had a good laugh about it and kept walking. My pack was really heavy due to the recent food resupply. It made for some really sore shoulders. We chugged along and made descent progress.The trail had ups and downs, but really nice scenery. The Ladyslipper Orchids were scattered all throughout the forest floor. Numerous old rock walls had built all over this area. I suspect they were made from clearing the lands for farming.As the day got old, we made it to Nuclear lake. This lake had a unique story.   There was once an experimental nuclear lab on its shores. One day in 1972, it exploded and sent contaminated debris all over the woods and into the lake. This debris was bomb-grade plutonium! The area was closed and officials then tried to rehabilitate it.Eventually, the scientists claimed that all of the Geiger readings were normal. That led to the trail being relocated back to the shore of the lake. Interestingly, the guidebook suggests that you not drink the water!We eventually made it to the Telephone Inventors Shelter. We would stay here for the night as there was a big rainstorm headed our way.With the additional food weight that I am carrying, I thought it made good sense to actually sleep in the shelter tonight!! I don't want to gain extra water weight by carrying a wet tent too. It was my first, non-required shelter stay (third for the trip--two shelter stays were required in the Smokies). I was happy with my decision, especially when the rains started falling!!We ate, listened to some music, and crashed out for the night!