Date: 2007-08-10
From: Pawling, NY

To: Pawling, NY
Miles today: 150.0

Back yet again!Apparently some of my readers are beginning to feel as though my entries of late are a bit too surface and lacking depth and insight. I apologize sincerely and will make a more concerted effort in future entries to be a bit more thorough. But let's start with the meat and potato details. I made it through both Conneticut and Massachussets with relative ease. The mosquitoes got a bit naughty at certain points, but nothing we Sobos haven't encountered before. One of my favorite things about hiking through the lower parts of New England and now New York, are the fields. I've had some amazing views on my trek, but there is something so peaceful, calming and quintessentially american about stepping out of the green tunnel and into a huge rolling field. I end up having to go over electric fences and cut through old roads and farmland; it's so cool to me that the trail cuts through terrain like this. The other day we came to a field littered with hay bails and took a break play atop the large rolls. But that to me is what is so great about being out here on the trail. If I want to stop, I stop. If I want to pretend as though I'm 10 again and play in the woods, I do this too. But for all the seriousness that exists within this trek (trying to do something epic, get big miles and live like a mountain man) there is an amazing sense of freedom too. Hanging out with some of the people I've met out here I've managed to laugh more often and harder than any other point in my life. And typically it's over the most random things we can think of. But I am truly cherishing those days when I feel completely carefree and the stress of life just sort of vanishes away. Now I don't want to give the impression that I don't have days where it's tough, when hiking seems like a chore and even getting my day started becomes a test of will. But those moments are overshadowed by the overwhelming sense of enjoyment I am having out here.I am currently in Pawling, NY and yesterday Prancer, The Juice, Sweet Tea and I journeyed into the Big Apple via train. It was a place I'd never been before and certainly an overwhelming one. From one extreme to the other is what we've all been saying about our trip. As soon as I stepped off the train at Grand Central I was immediately freaked out. The boys and I were kidding about how high our anxiety was at being in the middle of the big city action, and how we were all very close to making a bee line run to Central Park to find a quiet patch of grass and a tree to huddle under. One day was certainly plenty enough time for a visit. We stayed with The Juice's sister in the city and got to do some walking (our forte) in Times Square. Again, too many people and too many lights for this thru-hiker. It's strange when you are in town for a bit too long how you crave being back in the woods and really look forward to that return. Today was somewhat of sad day as well in that we had to say farewell to Prancer. His parents came to town from PA and now he is headed back home to get ready for the coming semester at school. Being out here is such a lifestyle in itself that you could tell it was killing him knowing it was something he had to leave behind. Plus, we are all a bit bummed out because we lost a hiking buddy, someone we sort of just assumed would always be around. But alas, he knew this going in and while it's sad to see him go, the journey continues for each of us. I've now officially crossed over 1/3 of the AT, which is an exciting milestone. I have a long way to go still, but it feels almost surreal to think that I've covered as much ground as I have. I went through my first pair of boots though, which is also an exciting milestone. They each had several holes in them that seemed to be growing in diameter, not to mention the worn out treads and foul odor being emitted. My apologies to my mother who is about to receive a package filled with pungent boots; god bless her. I am going to try to push on and not stop in town (except to resupply) until I hit Duncannon, PA. It's time to start hitting the miles with a bit more of a steadier rythym, so wish me luck. All the best!DutchMEGA 07ps: if you check out my buddy Sweet Tea's trail journal you might be able to snag some shots of me, he's much better at posting photos than I am.