Date: 2008-06-09
From: NY 17, Southfields, NY

To: NY 17, Southfields, NY
Miles today: 0.0

Wow, what a luxury to have air conditioning compared to sleeping in the woods in these temps. I passed out last nite before 10:00 p.m.I woke this morning not really sure if I was hiking or not. About 8:00 I went to the office and asked Sal if anything had opened up. He asked if I'd be willing to move rooms and I said, "Of course!" He moved me to room #19 for today. He told me he had to be outside today landscaping and doing yard work here, so I told him to be careful and drink a lot of water. Then he goes, "Oh, here, here's some water for you," and he handed me a cold bottle of water.A very sweet gesture.So here's the deal. I think Sal knew yesterday he had a room, but I think a little kindness and treating him like a person who deserved respect made the difference here.This made me think. I came here with a "warning" of sorts about this man, so I was on guard, but I continued treating, talking, and interacting with Sal the way I would want to be treated, and he appreciated it and was willing to help me out. I could just as easily have gotten upset and rude when he said yesterday that there were no rooms today, but you know folks...I think most of us are just going through life experiencing some degree of isolation and we all need some positive reinforcement or affirmation from other people that we matter or have something valuable to offer. In other words, we all have a need to feel apprciated, and you'd be amazed what a difference it can make to someone when you REALLY (and I mean authentically here) look someone in the eye, and give a heart felt thank you to them so that you know they really recieved it. People want to know they matter, and we are so often bombarded by messages that say otherwise. I don't think your sense of self wo! rth should ever come from other people, that is instrinsic, but doesn't it feel good when another human being really appreciates what you've done for them?So I moved my stuff from my very green room #49 over to my now very red room #19, and the cool thing is that I discovered there's a payphone on this side of the building and now I can send Persistent my last few entries. My cell signal isn't stable enough again.I got settled and decided to raid my food bag...Rice Krispie Treats and Asian Trailmix here I come (is that offensive to Asians when it's marketed that way just because it has wasabi peas and rice crackers in it? I always wonder, and why don't they make Caucasian Trail Mix? Actually I know why, but do you?)I decided I'd try to figure out where to meet Karen when she comes up @ the end of the week. Tomorrow is still going to be a scorcher, but I'm getting out early and am hiking only 5.5 miles where I can take a road to Lake Tiorati where there's a beach, shower, restroom, and ICE CREAM SANDWICHES! I'm going to spend the hot afternoon swimming and enjoying myself, then try to find a place to stealth camp, because storms are in the forecast again, but the temps will be back to normal after tomorrow thankfully.In the process, I found in my room the Orange County Visitor's Guide and found THE most hilarious description of the AT. And I quote:"Spanning from the NJ border to the Hudson River (about 35 miles), the trail was founded here in 1923. A lengthy portion offers scenic views of Greenwood Lake. It also winds its way through the Bear Mountain Wildlife Center, the most popular section of the entire trail."Ummmm...I thought there were actually88.2 miles in NY, but I'm assuming they are just covering Orange County. And if the wildlife center it refers to is the Bear Mountain Zoo, then I HARDLY think it's the MOST popular spot on the ENTIRE trail. I've heard it's quite tough and sad to see the native animals that we've all seen in nature by now. I've not made it there yet, so I'll let you know what I think. I realize this magazine isn't targeting AT hikers, but it really makes you realize how information is slanted or targeted to particular audiences. I laughed my ass off (and even read it over the phone to Karen who laughed her ass off) when I found this though.So I made some calls and found a place for us that is in no danger of booking up, but it will require me to get into a non-trail town, further up a highway from a trail town because all the accomodations in the trail town are booked! What's that about? No worries, the lady @ the motel gave me the # for the local taxi service, so if my hitching charm wears off, I'll just call a cab.I hear a lot of hikers say they don't like being in towns alone because they get bored, or they hate camping alone because they don't know what "to do." I totally don't get this. For me, time alone, time where I'm sitting still, not sweating my ass off climbing up some NY rock face, time where I can just be is an absolute gift. (did I mention I'm also inherently lazy?)Eventually, I watched an episode of Deadlist Catch..go Northeastern! I went outside to send my emails and OH MA GAWWWWW! It's so freakin hot, I just look up @ the ridge and cross my fingers anyone choosing to hike in this is safe.I ran into Sal, who just finished up the landscaping. He was proud of it, and I found out his dad started this place, and he was a professional landscaper, which explains why there are non-native trees around this place. Sal and his brother run the motel and it's also in Orange County by the way (home of Orange County Choppers). Sal started talking about how important it is for people to just get along and be nice to each other, and I could not have agreed more. He's been here for 30 years and there's a gazebo and a bbq area with picnic tables and gas grills for use. I've definitely stayed in shadier places, so I feel tremendously fortunate to be here out of the heat today. Sal got nostalgic and sighed while looking @ the mountains. He really loves living here, close to the city, close to the woods, but still simple and calm. I always think it's so neat to meet people who genuinly love where they live.Finally, the hiking food wasn't doing it for me, so I ordered Chinese from a local place that delivered. It always makes me laugh when I order food and when I get it they've put 4 forks and 4 fortune cookies in the bag as if to say, "We're sure this can't ALL possibly be for 1 person." I didn't eat it all, but probably 3\4 of it, and the rest is in the little fridge for later. I've also been watching the local news and there was a huge explosion @ a NJ power plant due to the extreme heat just this afternoon, and now over 75,000 people in Essex County, NJ are without power and air conditioning. Man...this is bad, I hope everyone is watching out for each other.So I guess I'll pack up everything and be ready to leave early in the a.m. It's 2.1 miles back to the trailhead, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to find a ride, so I need to be prepared to hike it.All things in life do work themselves out if you stop trying to control them and just bend and move with them.I love this trail because it shows you that over and over again...if you're paying attention that is.~Certain