Date: 2004-05-15
From: Campsite at Seven Lakes Drive

To: Fort Montgomery
Miles today: 4.2

I wasn't going to write this journal entry until tomorrow morning, but as usual, when we go to town I can't sleep in the nice soft hotel bed with the fluffy pillows. I sleep great in the tent with my tiny camp pillow and an inch of foam padding between my aching boy and the ground. Anyway, it was an interesting day. We got up at 5:30 packed up and climbed Bear Mountaain. On a clear day, there are views of New York City, but this morning we looked down on the clouds covering the valley below. We met a couple of guys on bikes who had peddled to the top. That would have been a good workout because it was a long climb up but not a difficultone. We were in a bit of a hurry tio get to Fort Montgomery before the post office closed which caused us to skip the trail side zoo. As we were walking the .7 miles into town, we were joined by Voice in the Wind and his dog who had been following us on the trail since April 15th and reading our registry entries. They are hiking from the Maryland line to ME then going back to hike the southern half. This is called a flip flop in hiker language. We were all pretty grungy coming in. As we passed a group of tourists heading for Fort Montgomery Battle Field I could smell the soap, shaving cream and shampoo. I can only imagine what they were smelling as the 3 of us passed them on the way to teh post office. We got there in plenty of time. A kind man gave us a lift to teh Holiday Inn Express where we were lucky to get into a room right away. It was great to get clean again. Gary went to get food while I cleaned up and started laundry. We have different priorities upon entering town which is good. Voice in the Wind soon joined me in the laundry room. He wasn't staying at the motel, but talked them into letting him use their washer and dryer. Ice Cold is also in town with family and was picking him up from the hitel to take him where he can get a shower. Gary and I decided to go to West Point to catch the last tour bus of the day. This was at 2:30 OM and we had to be there at 3:15 to get teh tour. We got a hitch right away, but he dropped us at the wrong gate where a soldier in camoflage was standing guard and checking ID's armed with a mean looking machine gun. He told us we had to walk to the visitors entrance a mile or so away. We walked as fast as we could and finally asked some boys in a car for directions. We offered them some cash for gas and they gave us a ride to teh visitor center just in time. It was a nice tour. West Point is a beautiful site with the Hudson River flowing passed the hills. The buildings and statues are pretty impressive. We didn't haev a chance to go to the museaum. The driver of the bus dropped us off about a mile from the hotel. By that time we were starved, lucky for us, there is a great steak house next to the hotel.After a good meal, we called friends and family. It was wonderful to be able to talk to voices from home!So, now it is almost 1AM on the 16th and I am writing this instead of sleeping in this cushy bed. it was raining outside a little bit ago, and I was glad not to be out there tonight.Well, yawn, I guess I'll try to get some sleep. I can already taste that Holiday Inn Express sticky bun I'm going to eat from breakfast. I'm thinking about what I need to pack and buy at the store for the next leg of this trip. I keep looking at maps and the data book to decide where we will stay and get water between here and Pawling, oru next town stop. I alwasy have trouble sleeping when we come in town. Watching the news never helps either. Its so sad, all the people getting killed in the Middle East on all sides.