Date: 2006-07-01
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter, NY

To: Schaghticoke Road/Bulls Bridge Road, NY
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: 0

Cell n/a.I was anxious to get going this morning. I'm meeting Sue, and going home tonight. I awoke about 5:30 am and packed up and left about 6:15 am. The hike was comfortable, as the air was cool and the humidity was low. I crossed the AT train station for the New York Metro around 7:30 am. You can catch a train into NYC from there. I wasn't going there, so I didn't do more than take a picture and leave.I hiked on, and at one point I was hiking in cow pastures again. There were a few places where the rain had settled and made the trail muddy. I somehow kept myself from falling or getting dirty. I roused a Tom turkey and his harem. I think I saw about 15 turkeys - some big, many very small. In another field I saw a lone silo that stood on stilts. It looks like a rocket ship. I didn't stick around to have some funny looking little creatures ask me "Take me to your leader." I took a few pictures that will hopefully end up on this entry page.Another "Twilight Zone" moment happened when I was in the middle of the woods and I came upon two brick pillars that had a cast iron arch that read "Gate of Heaven." I pinched myself and it hurt, so I figured I was still alive. I then opened my Thru-Hikers Handbook and saw that it was mentioned there with the description "Old Cemetery." I figured I was still alive and okay.Soon after passing the Gate of Heaven, I found myself at a real Heaven on Earth, or rather one of the best trail magic stops I've ever seen when I reached Leather Hill Road. There were two coolers, one with drinks the other with supplies. I took a Pepsi and a Bagel with cream cheese. The angel even dated the bagels for freshness. I later found out from Bonesaw that they weren't there at 8:00am, so they were real fresh. There were also four chairs to sit in and enjoy this magic. It was a bright spot in my morning! The trail angels were named Mac & Cheese. Thank you for the wonderful trail magic.Knowing Sue would be picking me up today, I then got myself going again. It wasn't long after the magic when I passed the Wiley Shelter and went into Connecticut. Nine states completed, five to go.I reached the rendevous location and went to the Bulls Bridge Convenence store. Sue had trouble finding the place, but it was great to see her when she arrived.Old Goat - Click picture to see full sizeMud Print - Click picture to see full size Sue's Note: I was lost within six miles of Old Goat for more than an hour! That was so frustrating!!!!! We planned to meet about 2:30pm, and I was on track for that time. I was close, but the Google directions I was following were confusing at the end and I got twisted around. I stopped twice and asked for help...the first time I went even farther away; the second time brought me back to where I was an hour earlier!! Aarrgghhh! I should have listened to my intuition ¢ I would have gotten to the right place an hour earlier! I finally found him and we¢re now safely, and happily, home! It¢s so nice to have him here ¢ Old Goat is watching the Pepsi 400 Nascar race and I¢m catching up on computer stuff. This feels so normal!