Date: 2006-06-26
From: Mohican Outdoor Center, New Jersey

To: NY-17A, Belleville, NY
Miles today: 68.0

Now we have jumped back to the southern end of New Jersey to hike the rest of the state with our friends Jig and Flatwheel.We have once again run out of time to finish the updates. Sunshine has healed up nicely. We had a blast with Jig and Flatwheel, and appreciated the dinner we had with them at their home in western PA on our way to Michigan for Jamie's class reunion.OUR UPDATE FOLLOWS.On Sunday June 18 we met up with our friends Jig and Flatwheel to hike New Jersy together. We left from the Mohican Outdoor Center on Monday. It was nice hiking and we saw some pretty views into the valley below. When we got to a high tension line crossing there were several Turkey Vultures flying and landing on the tower. There were also some ripe blueberries that we enjoyed. We stopped at a campsite, got water at a pump that was 1/2 mile farther up the trail. It is wonderful to be hiking with Jig and Flatwheel again, even as a light rain started. Tuesday June 20, After a very rainy night we started hiking in the fog. After some challenging, wet rocks, we spent the night (dry) in a motel and had dinner at the Italian restaurant next door. Wed.June 21, The first day of Summer. While Ed gathered up his old boots the rest of us got to slack pack for the day. It was a pretty walk up to the pavilion at Sunrise Mountain. We did encounter some discretly naked hikers, keeping with the Summer Soltice tradition. We stayed at Mashipacong Shelter and had a treat, because Flatwheel rejoined us with happier feet, water and PIZZA!! Thursday, June 22   Again we had more rain. Rain it seems was the continual theme of this section. After a 5 1/2 mile hike to the parking lot of High Point State Park we enjoyed lunch at a deli, while shuttling cars. We spent the night in a motel after checking out the State Park campsites and finding that the showers were a loooong way away. After dinner at the Old Inn in Sussex, Flatwheel drove us up to the Pavilion on Sunrise Mtn and we watched the Sunset. It was very beautiful. We returned to the motel and finished our preparations for the final 4 days of our hike together. Fri. June 23   After breakfast at a restaurant we went back to High Point State Park and hiked on. It was a good day. We arrived at the observation platform and had a good view of the very tall monument that sits on the hightest point in NJ. We had seen it several times from miles away. We hiked on through several stone walls and ate lunch at a nice campsite by a stream. Then we went on to a very nice, private shelter and decided to stay, because the thunder was starting. The hot shower there was further enticement. It was really nice to relax in such a beautiful and comfortable place. The donkey's provided entertainment and there were lots of birds and other critters to watch. It was a really enjoyable day.Sat, June 24 We woke up to a light rain, had breakfast and packed up. The Donkey's seemed to hollar everytime someone came out of the privy. As we hiked on, we had to keep track of the water sources, because this part of the trail doesn't have many places to resupply. Lost & Found did the splits on a slippery wooden bridge, but wasn't hurt. We walked around the Wallkill Wildlife Sanctuary and saw 2 swans. That night we set up camp at the lower lot of LouEmma Jewish Children's Camp. They gave us water, we really appreciated their help. Our kitchen was the bed of a trailer. A loud noice during the night startled all 4 of us. Was it a tree falling? Don't know. Sunday, June 25   Sunshine slipped and fell on a wet bog board in the Pochuck Swamp. Jig helped get most of the mud off her, while L & F and Flatwheel worked on the muck on her pack. We continued on and came to a very nice board walk and suspension bridge. You might guess that it started to rain and rained the rest of the day. We stayed at the Wawayanda Shelter and had a wonderful surprise. Bob Doyle appeared carrying a Dunkin` Donuts Bag. We really enjoyed (enhaled) the goodies. Thank You Bob!!!! Mon. June 26   We had quite a challenging day while crossing from NJ into NY. There are a couple of rocky ridges that wouldn't have been difficult if they had been dry, but of course, they were very wet. It took team work and some lowering of packs on a rope to get us all safely over the big grey elephants (boulders), but we did it. Jig saw a black bear in NY. We had "proper" trail for about 2 miles and were just starting to dry out when it started raining again. We arrived at highway 17A in quite a heavy rain, reached our car, put the packs into garbage bags and drove to a nearby ICE CREAM store and enjoyed some ice cream.   It was great to hike with Jig and Flatwheel. It truly is the journey, not the destination that is important. It is rare that a chance meeting can turn strangers into friends, but Jig and Flatwheel are good friends and we really enjoy their company.