Date: 2008-07-11
From: Gren Anderson Shelter, NJ

To: The Mayor's House, Unionville, NY
Miles today: 20.1

I woke up at 6:15am after having my mp3 player on all night. I was set up in the woods all by myself last night, when just before dark, an older guy came to within 75 feet of where my tent was and he set up his tent. That would have been okay normally, but he snored and grunted all night. I've only heard someone worse than him one time.Just a note for anyone who does snore loudly...if someone is tenting alone in the woods, please be courteous and DON'T set your tent up close by. I almost moved at 10pm, but I turned the volume up to #3 on my mp3 and listened to Grateful Dead all night. I can sleep great listening to them. :-) I also heard a couple coyotes yippin' pretty close by. Maybe they thought someone was dying with all the snoring. :-) I ate a couple Poptarts and a danish, then packed up and started walking north on the Appalachian Trail at 7:20am. I climbed the first mountain and got to Sunrise Pavilion way before I figured I would. I took a picture of the pavilion, then finished the climb. Sunrise Picnic Pavilion Mike was there talking to someone. When I got close, I could see it was Artful Dodger. I had hiked around him and Red Dane a couple years ago. I almost didn't recognize him because he's put on about 15 pounds since last time I saw him...he's not slim and trim like I am. ;-) He's on a multi-year cross country walk. He started on the coast of Maine earlier this year and hopes to make Oklahoma, then come back next year and do more. It was great seeing him again! We stood there with a nice cool breeze blowing through the pavilion and talked for about 45 minutes before I walked on. Mike caught up to me when I was standing still looking into the woods. I heard a noise and was hoping to spot another bear. We walked on together to Mashipacong Shelter. I finally got to sign a register in NJ and use a smiley face sticker. Mike found a pair of sunglasses there and put them on for a picture. He stayed there and I walked on. Mike¢s a cool hiker dude in shades I walked by the side trail to Rutherford Shelter without stopping. I did stop at High Point State Park Visitor's Center and ate lunch. I took my shoes and socks off to air out my feet while I ate some tuna salad and crackers, nuts and some chocolate. I got rid off my garbage and filled my water bottles and walked on after about 40 minutes. I got up to the viewing platform at the state park and took a picture of me sportin' my new cape hat and sunglasses, which are working great for keeping the gnats and yellow flies away from me. That¢s High Point Monument in the background There was a nice breeze, but the sun was out and it was pretty warm. I walked by High Point Shelter side trail without stopping. I was just getting out of the park and I caught a glimpse of something moving up ahead. I couldn't see what it was, but as I got closer, a turkey flew up and away. I had some easy walking from there on to Unionville. It was about 6 miles of slightly downhill and fairly smooth Trail. There was about half a dozen small gravel or slightly used paved roads in that area. I walked by the water sign that indicates the turn to Jim Murray's Shelter. That's an enclosed shelter on private land that Jim lets hikers use for free. It has a shower and bunks and braying donkeys. :-) I originally planned on staying there tonight, but Dodger told me about the Mayor of Unionville and how he has a bunkhouse for hikers, so I walked the extra 2 miles to get into town. I was walking down the road to see if Sara's Soda Shop was still open when Butch pulled over and told me about the Mayor's place. Sara's has closed. :-( I hopped in the car with Butch and he took me to the Mayor's house and introduced me. They have a nice hiker bunkroom in the basement and offer you full use of the house and they feed you dinner and breakfast....and all just because they like to help hikers! Thanks Dick (the Mayor), Butch and Bill! Bill cooked some chicken noodle soup and we had garlic bread, a salad and watermelon for dessert! :-) Mike was here for all that too. When I went into town to resupply, I saw Mike so Butch pulled over and offered to take him back to the house. I stayed and resupplied, then walked back just in time for dinner.They even have internet here...the first computer I've been on since Duncannon, PA.Today was a warm day, but the humidity was still down a little.I've been trying to plan for the next 3 or 4 days and decided to just carry enough food and let whatever happens, happen. Circuit Rider and Sherlock are starting on the Trail on Monday and I might be real close to where they're starting at in NY, so I may get to walk with them for a day or so.I see my ol' buddy Chief signed my guestbook again and called himself a "real" hiker...can you bahleeve that?Hey Chief, you have more miles logged between your bed and your commode this year than you do on any Trail....or are you counting those miles too? :-) It was another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)