Date: 2015-07-14
From: Palisades Parkway mile 1395.5, 16.7 for the day.

To: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center
Miles today: 14.5

Today may have been the most relaxed full day of hiking so far. Of course the distance reflects that...Since Matt had been quite adamant that he doesn't shuttle before 8 am, Southpaw and I planned a leisurely morning with coffee and breakfast. Then when I walked back from the coffee shop around 7:15, I got a text from Pony Puncher that asked if we wanted to start earlier because Matt was ready. We were not however, neither Southpaw or I had packed yet, and we also still needed to pay. So in the end we left maybe around 7:45 instead of 8 am, and started hiking close to nine. I have enjoyed the two days at Anton's on the Lake, but I'll be glad to be on my own schedule again!We knew we weren't going very far today and that there were numerous distractions along the way. Our first break was just two miles in at an overlook. There were a bunch of other hikers there, including Mosey and Waya who I had met once before near Damascus. I seem to be running into people I haven't seen in hundreds of miles these days.Southpaw and I had both carried in a soda and since we knew there was a vending machine coming up in a couple of miles, we drank these right there.Three miles and a bunch of stone steps further was the top of Bear Mountain, with a tower from where you could see the New York City skyline. If you knew where it was. And squinted. And used your imagination a bit.The trail to the top was wide and the last bit was basically graded for strollers. It was a bit like walking in a park. This was also where the vending machines were, so we had a second soda. . All the regular tourists were clustered at the tower, while the hikers all congregated around the vending machines. The tower was fun inside though, with tile vignettes that depicted photos of construction and early use of the Bear Mountain area. The downhill was recently reworked and it was some very nice trail maintaining at work. Apparently more half a million people use the trail in this area and it had been badly eroded. At the bottom was Bear Mountain Recreation Area, with a lot people recreating. And there was another concession stand, so we had lunch there. Afterwards we walked passed the pool, through the zoo, which was old and depressing, and then across the bridge that marks the lowest elevation in the trail. It's all uphill from here! It was, to start with, too. We climbed the hill on the other side of the bridge and it finally started to rain during the second part. It had been looking very threatening since we started crossing the bridge and thunderstorms were in the forecast. But all we got was rain and not even very much, so that was nice.After this climb, there were a few more level miles and then we got to the road with the 24 hour deli. Time for early dinner! There was a grill inside and I ordered half a quesadilla. It was huge and I couldn't even finish. I also bought some more resupply items, but I'm going to have some funky lunches the next couple of days. Our final destination was the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, which is a Franciscan retreat that has been hosting hikers since the seventies. Some of us are in the pavilion but I am tenting. Until 10 minutes ago, I was the only one, but a whole slew of hikers just showed up and they are currently setting up all around me. Tomorrow looks like theoretically relatively easy terrain and we are planning on more normal mileage. Now that we're not depending on other people's schedules, I can get up as early as I like!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?