Date: 2018-06-04
From: High Point shelter

To: NJ 284 Unionville NY mile 1346.2
Miles today: 8.2

I slept okay, conscious of the rain which ended around 5am and the fact that Tyler next to me wasn't having a restful night. When we got up in the morning he said it was the worst night of sleep ever. We talked about some changes to his sleeping system. He's got a summer bag and a thin crash pad and no inflatable pillow. Sleep is super important on trail and something I sometimes struggle with in shelters. I sleep well now in my tent and getting a room in town as often as I feel I need to is helpful to me in feeling well rested and healthy. I feel like I'm always healing and the rest is critical. I hope Tyler is able to dial in what works for him personally and is comfortable on trail. If it's not fun it's not easy to stay on trail. I cooked breakfast and cleaned up, brushed and Thumper and I set off towards Pochuck mountain shelter for a targeted 12.4 mile day with a planned stop in Unionville NY for a quick resupply for Thumper. I bounced a box with snacks a few days ago up to Glenwood NJ for myself. I'm getting low on some things like protein for my meals because the tuna and chicken weren't in my box. I can pick them up here I hope. We crossed lots of footbridges and some more mud today. Pretty picturesque day in the woods crossing marshy areas and streams. When we arrived at route 284 I lamented on the road walk to town .8 on asphalt. Ugh. It's illegal to hitchhike in NY and while we're still hiking the NJ trail it crosses over the NY border a few times. As we approached the top of the hill headed into town a pickup truck will a man and 2 dogs slowed beside me and asked if I was a thruhiker. I gave him a short answer not wanting to stimulate conversation and he drove ahead to Thumper. When I approached them I did join in. Turns out George is a farmer and he mows the field by the trail ( and mows it wide so it's easier for us!!) And he loves hikers. George is an extremely nice man who gave us a warm and welcoming feeling and great information that we wouldn't have known otherwise. Unionville as it turns out loves hikers. Who knew!? He told us we could register at the village office or at the general store and stay in the park. The village office has a water spicket and the post office a power outlet. There's a clean port-a-potty and a gazebo. The former Mayor changed this town years ago into a hiker loving community and as a result they love each other more. A great feeling here and I said to Thumper, let's just Nero here today. How can you not stay here and feel the love and embrace it?We sat on the porch at Horlers general store charging our phones and ourselves. Locals walking by and visiting the store all spoke with us. I updated my journal and ate and drank and we registered for a night in the park. We did laundry in gallon bags and hung it to dry. Super stoked to be here. Probation Termination was also in the park set up. He was waiting on new shoes that would be delivered to the post office around 4pm. Thumper and I had dinner at the Tavern where I enjoyed a pound of ribs and french fries and a beer. There's a charging station, journal and hiker box there too. While we were eating we saw another hiker come in and go to the far back corner. When he passed us we invited him to join us for dinner and not eat alone. Lorax is on his way from Pen Mar Park to Katahdin before his fall semester in Maine starts. He's going for his PhD in chemical engineering. Smart cookie and very social and good company. He's having foot problems because he wears a size 18. A basketball player. He is hiking in basketball sneakers because he has no options unless someone connects him with custom made hiking shoes. He can't even get insoles to help with the foot fatigue. There is no support in these sneakers and I empathize with his situation. I hope he is able to find a better solution. I wish I had a connection to a basketball star who could help this young man out! After dinner we went to Anabelle's pizza for dessert. Ice cream. And then we brushed and retired to our cozy spot in the corner of the park for a good night's sleep!