Date: 2013-06-17
From: New Jersey

To: New York
Miles today: 95.0

Immediately upon entering New York I am walking on the top of the ridge, on top of a blazing hot rock with very little shade. Up and down the crest of this ridge, a ladder to help me climb a little spot, tiring with the pack and in the heat. So I make a stop into Greenwood Lake, NY for a little "treat myself" to a hiker breakfast. I enjoy the pit stop as I take a short 12 mile day to the next shelter. Other than this day, my days consisted of around 20 miles a day. It so happened that a shelter would be in and around that range.I wish I was warned on how difficult some section in NY were going to be. By looking at the elevation plot in the AWOL guidebook, I could see that it would be a roller coaster of a day; a lot of ups and downs, short but numerous. There was a 10 mile section of these consecutive up and downs that made my knees screaming by the end. In Harriman St Park, where the deer walk around like tamed pets, and day hikers give me some trail magic; chocolate covered espresso or coffee (whichever if there's a difference) beans and a Mt House dessert...which was just the treat I needed later in the day.I get caught in a heavy rain storm one day, I figured it would blow over in a couple minutes but it never did. When I hike in pouring rain, and amazing thing happens...I instantly stop caring. It's the only way out of the rain so to speak. Once your soaking wet, your soaking wet. I do however seek refuge at the end of the day in the William Bien Memorial Shelter; one of the original shelters I believe. A well built, rustic looking shelter. However, with two slanted bunks and a dirty as hell, cracked floor, I would have passed this site up had it not been raining. At the time though, this looked like a 5star place and I very much appreciated the run down shelter. The rain event brought with it cool, crisp, and clear air; perfect for my climb over Bear Mt and over the Bear Mt bridge over the Hudson River. Strangely enough, the trail goes through the Trailside Museum in this area. And I couldn't help but feel just as weird as those caged up animals while walking through that place. Fortunately, I could blame my smell on the animals. With NYC just over 30 miles away, the area was swamped with dayhikers and tourists. I meet back up with Bean and hike through NY with him. I meet the youngest thru-hiker (attempting anyway). The kid was only 5 years old, wish em luck. New York had a number of delis near the trail. Less than a mile is worth the walk for a overstuffed yet not overpriced sandwich. I camp at a monastery; yes the monks let hikers camp at the Graymoor Spiritual Center, and once again I get a large pizza delivered to a shelter I stay at. Sure sometimes living on the AT can be tough, but sometimes we live like kings (and queens). I am able to stuff my face beyond my conceived limits and still lose weight. A pint of Ben and Jerry's is now held just as highly as a cold beer. 3/4 an 18 inch pizza for dinner, the rest for breakfast. The nearby delis serve whopping sandwiches, and while sitting in a deli eating, a little girl asks her mom while standing right next to me, "mommy what's that smell?". Sure enough I got a laugh then figured I should move my stank self outside...where I belong. The miles melt away in New York.