Date: 2010-07-26
From: RPH Shelter

To: The NY-CT Border
Miles today: 26.7

Day 104: A Trail Magical Marathon Reunion DayWoke up to a chilly morning snug in my sack. There was a small spider hovering from the ceiling of the shelter over my head. Good morning! Powder left as Scatters and I were waking up. We had hoped that One Life would somehow miraculously be there for breakfast, but he didn't make it. Not sure where he ended up camping last night. We packed up and left to hike five miles to a road with a deli. Great morning hike on the cool morning with nice breezes. It was going to be a beautiful day! We got to the road, and there was AWESOME trail magic there! Sodas, juice boxes, the entire Little Debbie line of treats, chips, donuts, and a few extra dinners. Wow! But what was even better was that Xan and Neutron came strolling down the street back from the deli - oh hey!! They sat down at the trail magic and we caught up and ate. It ended up being quite a group with them two, Scatters, Powder, Restless, Creek Diver, and me. Good times. We had our fill and hiked on. It was so nice to see the guys in a place where we might actually be hiking with them again. We had heard that they were about a day ahead, but since we did a long day yesterday, we caught them. Oh happy reunion. We hiked on at our own paces, and it continued to be a beautiful day. At one point (this happened yesterday, too), it was so quiet. I couldn't hear any roads or people. The wind stopped, and the ground was soft dirt, so my poles and feet didn't make noose either. It was so peaceful! This must be what all those parents are screaming about. Peace and quiet... It was nice. We came up to a shelter where I met a few new faces: Bird, MJFox, and Twiggzy. Soon the whole group was there, and we took a quick snack break. Then we caught the guys down by a stream and had a longer snack. It was here that Scatters decided today was the day to complete her first marathon day. Allllll the way to the CT border. I was in, and so were the rest of the crazy kids. We would be pushing it with light, so we hiked on at good, quick paces. We stopped to get water near the Dover oak tree. It was HUGE - a girth of over 20 feet! And estimated to be over 300 years old - reportedly the largest tree on the AT. We hiked on together until we got to NY-22 where the AT train station is, as well as a landscape business that is hiker friendly. There was a picnic table, so the five of us made our dinners for the night despite 6.8 more miles to the border. After cleaning up, the hike was on. I could only go until 8:45 before having to get my headlamp out. The full moon was AGAIN soooo bright, but the tree canopy was too thick to let the light through. Headlamps did the trick though. Powder, Scatters and I came up to a road just as five hikers were getting dropped off. It was the Chicken Pot Pie group. They headed up to the shelter, and we sat down by the SECOND dose of trail magic for the day - cookies and lemonade!!!! It was so unexpected and just the perfect dessert. We sat down for 20 minutes with only 1.5 something more miles to go. Eating cookies and drinking pink lemonade in the forest in the dark. I think it was 9:25pm. We sugar-rush-hiked uphill to the Wiley shelter and saw a big ole group of familiar faces. Beaver Chief was there and Tattoo was finally back on the trail! Hello! We said quick hellos but had to get going (despite the STRONG temptation of staying and hanging out...). Scatters was really excited about finishing her marathon day! And the sugar rush continued...And then we were there! Here! No big sign, but a small note on a register box. Well done, Scatters! Now officially part of the marathon club. Tick that one off the goal list - and good timing because the terrain is only going to get harder now that we are officially in New England. Wow - Connecticut?? And Massachusetts by the weekend!?!?? Only one third left!!!?! This crazy trip is flying. I guess I always have been serious about ticks, but now that we're in New England, the chances of getting one with Lyme disease are much higher. Thr signs are everywhere. Scatters reminded me to do a check before bed, and I found a teeny tiny one on my foot. Fingers crossed that it was clean...Miss you, One Life!