Date: 2006-07-10
From: Rutherford Shelter

To: Unionville, NY -9th State
Miles today: 11.4

Rutherford Shelter was bad (have I said that yet?). The mosquitoes got worse at dark. Those in their tents probably got the best night¢s rest. Bama sprayed her 98% DEET where she could, but some were actually biting thru her clothes. The only relief was when the slid down in her sleeping bag and covered her head with her bug net ¢ but that¢s sort of like sleeping with a handkerchief over your face.Everyone got up and out of there this morning and set off for the High Point State Park in hopes of finding a drink machine and decent bathrooms. When they arrived, the park office was not open yet for the day and everything was locked down, including the bathrooms (thanks New Jersey!). No drink machine either. But here was a pay phone and Bama was able to call my office¢s toll-free number for a nice chat. Bama thought she could sneak a shower in the camping area before many folks got up but decided it would wash off all her DEET. She took a quick run up the elevated viewing platform to see if New York City was visible this morning, but it wasn¢t ¢ too much smog and haze. One of the interesting features of the New Jersey bogs are the wooden boardwalks or puncheons. Built almost at swamp or water level (some are elevated like train trestles), they make walking possible. Bama, Little Wing and Old Drum stopped later at the Secret Shelter, one privately built by a former thru-hiker, Jim Murray, on his land to offer a few conveniences that NJ didn¢t offer. It was a cute, little two-story ¢doll house,¢ as Bama called it, with a little porch and bunks downstairs and two in the 2nd story loft. There was running water, electricity and hot water for the showers and a clean privy! Whoo hoo! They had lunch and then a nice shower and changed out of their dirty clothes and were also able to do a little clothes rinsing.Bama took advantage of the power to charge her cell phone. Jim also has a smaller cabin for himself, but he wasn¢t home to thank. His pet donkeys were fun to watch and they vocalized their welcome and interest in Bama and Little Wing.It was so nice ¢ with no bugs ¢ that they stayed there for 3 hours before hiking on to Unionville, NY ¢ their first official entry into the Empire State.UPDATE: Jim told Jazzman and Turtle that both donkeys names are Jake. They look exactly alike and neither responds when he calls. Jim thru hiked the AT in 1989 and then bought 85 acres next to the trail. Unionville, a little village about the same size as Port Clinton, but nice. First to the post office to pick up a mail drop we had mailed from Slatington, PA ¢ a very nice man waited on Bama. Then a little shopping. Bama, Little Wing and Drum set up their tents in the City Park, right beside the playground. This is a very hiker-friendly town ¢ and there are NO BUGS! Cohiba and Otter were already set-up there and Bama met a new thru-hiker from Tuscaloosa, AL named Mulligan.The park caretaker, Butch, who lived within a stone¢s throw of the park dropped by to say hello and told Bama he would make rounds tonight to make sure everyone was OK and to shoo away any curious kids. He also brought them some bug spray that he had and wanted to share with the hikers. Sara¢s Soda Shop was the place nearby to get a meal and something to drink and also has a hiker registry. A very nice lady named Barb waited on Bama looked and sounded just like Penny Marshall from the old Laverne & Shirley TV show. Bama knew she was in Noo Yawk. She got a fabulous chicken salad sandwich and a milk shake. Delish! Tomorrow, Bama and Little Wing will go back to Sara¢s for breakfast.The guys decided to hang up their bear (food) bags as usual and chose the town park¢s football goalpost. They hung up the girl¢s bags, too - it was quite comical to watch them. Bama hopes they don¢t return the town¢s generosity by tearing down the goal tomorrow . I¢m sure some of the townspeople don¢t ¢get¢ thru-hikers ¢ but they¢re still nice. Little Wing and Drum decided to go out for dinner. Bama wasn¢t that hungry and decided to stay behind and watch their stuff. While she was waiting, Butch came over to chat and Little Wing and Drum returned from dinner. Everyone wanted to know about everyone¢s background. The mayor, Dick Ludwick, a man about Bama¢s age, stopped to say hello. Butch says the mayor doesn¢t ¢get¢ thru-hiking, but he¢s a very nice and friendly person to all. Bama told him Unionville was the friendliest trail town she had been in and the only one where she had met and talked with the mayor.Tomorrow? They drop back on the NJ side of the line for a while ¢ still about 35 miles from a permanent crossing into NY. On toward Wawayanda Mountain and the Wawayanda State Park Headquarters and shelter ¢ probably. But who knows . . . every day is different.Bill