Date: 2016-07-13
From: Mashipacong Shelter

To: Unionville NY Village Center Park
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I might need to tweak my three pronged attack. I went to sleep at 10:30 last night, then woke up at 12:30am (and noted someone setting up a tent in front of the shelter) and didn't get back to sleep properly. I tried deep breathing, listening to a book on tape, listening to my "go to sleep album", taking clothes out of my clothes sack to adjust my "pillow". Nothing worked. Eventually I must have drifted off about 4, and I woke at around 5:30-6. Caffeine has never really had a noticeable effect on me, so I'll have to play around and see if that was the issue, or if it was something else.When I woke, Line Cook was making breakfast for me!! Oatmeal with powdered milk, pecans, pumpkin seeds, dried apricots and peaches, and all kinds of goodness! I set a new record by leaving camp at 7:30, I had big plans for the day and was excited to get to High Point State Park where they hikers get a free coke from the park HQ and there's a lake with a beach and a concession with an extensive menu!When I got to the park head quarters I ran into several hikers including Little Bear, she was the one setting her tent up at 12:30 this morning after a 27 mile day! I got my free coke and chatted with her about the beach, concessions, and free showers available. All of that was still down the trail just a bit, but we decided to take a more direct route via the road. We found Wander sitting on the beach when we got there, and I headed in for food while she headed in for a shower. After a rather gluttonous lunch I went for a swim fully clothed. Laundry and a bath at the same time!! The three of us ended up hanging out there for a couple of hours before heading to the next shelter.I thought a more direct route along the side of the lake made more sense than backtracking down the road to catch the state park trail to the AT. The others were up for the adventure, so we headed off. It was quite the scramble in a couple of places, but it was a fun little side trip. Back on the AT we parted (baced on our respective paces) with plans to see Wander at the shelter and well wishes for Little Bear who was aiming for another 15 miles. About two miles down the trail I ran into Little Bear sitting along the side digging into her food bag. We chatted for a while, and she debated stopping with us at the next shelter. She has a really tight deadline because of school. We talked about where the shelter was, as it's not listed in the AWOL guidebook, then parted ways again.The rest of the hike was quite pleasant - easy trail, very brief shower, lovely pasture land. .2 miles from the shelter I came upon, once again, Little Bear and Wander hanging by a lovely beaver pond. He was chilling with his uke and she was waiting for me to make sure she found the shelter. We ended up spending a little while hanging there before hitting the last bit to the shelter.The Jim Murray Shelter is also called the Hidden Shelter because it is not an "official" ATC shelter, and as such is not in any of the official guides. Jim is a former thru hiker, and he has been letting hikers use this little, enclosed shelter on his property for twenty years. There's potable well water, a hot shower, a privy, charging outlets. And it's really quite beautiful. We made friends with the two donkeys when we walked up. One other hiker, John the Baptist, was there, and we started getting settled in.Jim had a note telling us not to have pizza delivered to his farm, so we were trying to figure out other creative ways of getting some good grub! We realized town was less that two miles away. We also discovered that there was a pizza place and a tavern with burgers and such. The wheels were really turning now! We tried uber, we looked up cabs, we though about calling Jim and asking for a shuttle. John the Baptist mentioned free camping in the Village Cebter park. That pretty much did it, Wander was already putting his socks back on! While we repairs everything Wildchild showed up after a long 24 mile day. She opted to stay at the shelter as did John the Baptist. We opted to walk the road into town. About the same distance, but likely fewer rocks. Hiking in, we crossed over into NY! We actually crossed over between the trail and the shelter but didn't notice. Once in town we set up camp. Lots of hikers here tonight. I ended up having to tie up the swings so I could hang on the swing set. Once we were set we headed to the tavern. Where we arrived just in time for the kitchen to close!!! The others had a couple of beers, I was happy with coke, then we went back down to the pizza place, Annabelle's, that was right across from the park. I am not hanging from the swing set with a single piece of left over pizza in the pizza box on the ground beneath me (having just eaten the second to last slice a moment ago while reading this) and expecting maybe a little bit of rain tonight. Though every time I check the weather the chances are decreasing and times being pushed back. I just want to stay sufficiently dry! But I'm exhausted! I could probably sleep through anything tonight! That being said, I bid you goodnight!!