Date: 2007-07-08
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter, NY

To: Ten Mile River Lean-to, CT
Miles today: 12.7

It was nice to hike into a new state today. Backyard Boogie had a head start down the trail today, so I hiked with Beach Bum until we arrived at the first point of interest today: Dover Oak.Dover Oak is reportedly the largest oak tree on the Appalachian Trail. According to the ALDHA's Companion, its circumference is 20 feet, 4 inches. Put differently, that is about 6.5 feet across.The next point of interest is the Amtrak commuter train "station" that is adjacent to the railroad tracks that cross the Appalachian Trail. Yesterday, I saw many people who took the train from New York City to this stop and began hiking on the Trail for their weekend outing. It seems like it's a quick way to get out of the concrete jungle and into the woods, relatively easily. Some thru-hikers do the reverse and take a few days off in New York City by catching the train from this point when it travels eastbound. Heading east off the trail from this point is Toni's deli. It's open early in the morning. Once again, Beach Bum, Backyard Boogie, Monkey, and Coco made it our stop for coffee, Gatorade, breakfast sandwiches, and etcetera. While sitting on a picnic table beneath a tree at the deli, Beach Bum and I watched the cars on the road go speeding by. Beach Bum said, "You know, in ten minutes, that car will cover the distance that we will spend most of the day trying to hike." It's an interesting and sometimes depressing perspective.After departing the deli, the trail took us through a few pastures that were fenced. We had to climb over a few stiles to get into the adjoining fields. I saw an opportunity to circumvent the climbing of a style when I saw a "break" in the bushes that surrounded the stile. What I didn't see were the two wires representing an electric fence. Well, I walked right into that trap. I got zapped just above the knees and decided that I'll stick to using the convenience of the stile.I really enjoy hiking through the wide-open spaces of pastures. You get to see the horizon and the big picture of the mountains that you've been hiking through and those that you'll be traveling to. I think it's very picturesque.Further along, Beach Bum and I crossed into Connecticut. There was a small sign about fifteen feet up a tree indicating the state line. I have no idea why it was that high. It made it difficult to get a decent photo opportunity.A mile or so into Connecticut, Beach Bum and I caught up with Backyard Boogie and Blue Skies. They found trail magic left by hikers named "Mac & Cheese." We found a cooler of fruit, cookies, and other snacks, water, and another container of supplies, such as fuel, Band-Aids, and other useful items. "Thank you" Mac and Cheese.Today's destination was the Ten Mile River Lean-to. I did not know what to expect, but I was thrilled that this shelter is right near the Ten Mile River. As soon as I reached the shelter, I dropped everything, took off my shoes, and headed to an area of the river that was perfect for wading on this hot day. I went in the water fully clothed as a way to clean my clothes and get the sweat, salts, and bug repellent out of them. The water was cool, but not cold. Its deepest point was about four and one-half feet. I found a boulder in the water that was about two feet below the surface. It was a perfect size that allowed me to sit on the rock nearly fully submerged to my shoulders and just soak in the cool water, enjoying the surroundings of this densely wooded area. After soaking in the river for about an hour, I returned to the shelter for dinner. The shelter faces east and sits in front of a large, rectangular field about the size of a football field surrounded by tall oak and evergreen trees where you might be lucky enough to see a deer or two in the evening. By 6:30 PM, I was asleep. I'm not sure if it was the heat of the day or the cumulative effect of the past few days of hiking that wore me out. I couldn't even finish this journal. I merely started an outline.Around 9:30 PM, two people showed up at the shelter without making a sound and without even whispering. It was dark and I had no idea who they were. I pretended to be a sleep, but continued to watch them, not knowing if they were friendly hikers or a couple of people out to do harm. In a couple of minutes, they walked away. I figured that they moved down the trail to camp. Since I was now alert and awake after these two people left, I witnessed the most incredible display of fireflies illuminating the field in front of me. To describe what I saw, you might have to imagine yourself as an entertainer or a performer in a dark arena or stadium. Picture yourself looking out at the audience, high and low, and observing the rapid fire flash from a camera's flashbulb all around you. I went back to sleep, only to wake up again by these two figures who walked back towards the shelter around 11 PM. They hardly made a sound. It was spooky. How were they communicating with each other? I couldn't even hear them whispering. My curiosity got the best of me so I sat up and asked them who they were. They replied "Pogue and Six-string." They had come into camp earlier, went down to the river in the dark for dinner and a swim, now they were going to share the shelter tonight. I met Pogue about one month ago and we've just missed each other on the trail since then.Staying in the shelter area tonight: Pogue, Six-string, Freak Boy, Beach Bum, and Backyard Boogie.