Date: 2010-06-14
From: Ringerboard Shelter

To: Bear Mountain Bridge
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: mist

For some time now Trail Trash and I have had a plan. Our plan involved a big surprise for my daughter who is about to have a baby. We both knew she was upset we would not be there for this big moment in our family, but we didn¢t let on what it was we were planning.   So when we got up to the sound of rain we started thinking this might be the day to put our plan into action.We had actually planned to hike through New York to Kent, Connecticut. But as we moved passed the wet bushes and became soaked yet again we decided we also needed a rest. My feet have really taken a beating from the rocks and need some time to heal. We talked about how to do this at William Brien Memorial Shelter while we took a break. The plan was to hike to Bear Mountain and then get to a train station.   I decided to let Susan know but not until we had the plan worked out completely.The next part of the hike confirmed we needed a break. The trail was sparsely blazed and I walked back at least a couple of times to make sure we were still on the trail. Another trail was running with the AT at this point and there were blazes everywhere for it. The AT however only had blazes every few hundred yards. Then blazes would be on every other tree. I was constantly confused about which direction to go. In some places I could see what I thought was the next blaze only to find the trail went around a hill or group of rocks where I didn¢t see blazes. I guess I lost my purist status! But then I¢m still doing better than Bill Bryson.At the top of Bear Mountain, we took a break and talked with three section hikers. They were asking about the water situation to the south. I told them it was all the color of strong tea when you could find it.   They were asking about our hike and I told them about our plan for a break. They were familiar with the area and said the best place to catch a train was Peekskill. They suggested a taxi from Bear Mountain to Peekskill, then a train into the city for connections with Amtrak. So down the mountain we hiked confident this plan was going to work.At the base of Bear Mountain we decided to walk through the trail side zoo. It is part of the trail and we would have this out of the way when we came back. Plus if we got here when the zoo was closed we didn¢t want to risk pulling a Warren Doyle and jumping the fence. Warren got caught.   Since we were not familiar with the area we went to the park administrative building. A woman directed us to the police and they helped us with the cab. Before long we were on our way to Peekskill.At the train station we had a new obstacle. Neither of us had ever used a metro service and were not sure how to go about getting tickets or what train to get on. A man and a small child were on the platform watching the trains, so I approached them for help. I think he thought I was hitting him up for money at first but when he realized what I wanted, he was only too happy to help. Turns out he and his family vacation in Emerald Isle, NC.Our directions took us to Penn Station in New York. The bad part was we had a twelve hour wait for the train. First I called home and told Susan. She was so excited that we would be home for Erin¢s baby and to celebrate our anniversary. I then called my five year old granddaughter, Sydney. I told her I had a secret and not to tell Mom. Uncna (what Sydney calls Trail Trash) and I were coming home to be there when the baby was born.   I was thinking that secret would last till morning. Wrong! Minutes after the call she spilled the beans and my daughter announced it to the Facebook community. Oh well, she was happy we were coming and that was all that mattered.Trail Trash and I ate supper at Friday¢s inside Penn Station and then settled into the waiting area until our train left at 7 AM.