Date: 2006-05-28
From: Vernon, NJ (St Thomas Episcopal Ch Hkr Hostel)

To: Wildcat Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: broken clouds

9:04 p.m. Damn! Behind again! Quick summary, and then maybe I'll elaborate another day. Two days ago Kaptain, Sunshine, and I hiked through High Point Park (where we got a stale bagel for free!), and then Sunshine hitched to a deli with Fat Camp, Pebbles, Jolly, Moleman, and all while Kaptain and I hiked on. We got to the shelter very early (about 4) and hung out with Coconut Monkey, who took a short day and was already there. We did mini-bowling, which Kaptain sucked at, and Coconut and I did a ? workout. Spiritual Pilgrim arrived later. I called Lockjaw. I was a little disappointed. Sunshine stayed with the others at the Secret (?) Shelter. The next morning Kaptain and I left early and did only 6.5 miles to the Vernon road crossing. We ate at a bakery when we got there at 9:30. We were going to meet Sunshine's friends and sisters at 11:00 there. Sunshine and Jolly came in a little after 10:00, after doing about 13. When everybody arrived, we went to the P.O and then drove to where we were going to start tubing down the Delaware. We were going to grill, but there were no grills at the park, so we cooked burgers on our stoves. It worked OK. It took forever to eat, blow up tubes, and get going. I was getting a little annoyed about that. Also, I'd come up with a plan of picking up Lockjaw at a road crossing before Vernon so he wouldn't have to hike so far (like 28 instead of 32). I knew, as it grew later, that we might not get back in time to pick him up (the next morning Sunshine's sisters would drive him back, because they were going to spend the night in the hostel with us and leave in the morning). So about 3:00 we put in. It was lovely. The water was kind of cold but not terrible. The sun was in and out, but when it was shining it felt lovely. It took about 3 hours to drift the 4 miles downstream. Fun, but the whole time I was checking my watch because of Lockjaw. (I drove, because Sunshine's sister was drunk). Meanwhile, I found out the sisters weren't spending the night. Shit. Being in town is so complicated. So the plan was falling apart. I talked to Lockjaw. He sounded pretty pissed. I told him we'd figure out a ride in the morning and he'd have to wait a bit for the ride then. He decided to walk the rest of the way to Vernon. Pissed. We went back to the hostel, then to get food, then we were going to pick up Lockjaw at the Vernon trailhead. It took forever to find a place to eat and I was freaking out. Sunshine and I dropped his sisters, Coconut, and Jolly (who tubed with us) off at a pizza place, then stopped to get Burger King for Lockjaw, then went to pick him up. He got in, tired, grumpy, but still talking to me. I felt so bad, messing up the plan. I was really upset. The hostel was nice. Today we resupplied, then headed out late-ish. 17.3 today, which was easy, but it was kind of rocky and hilly. We were 2 miles from the end when we came across an ice cream store! Not listed in Wingnut! Crazy. So that was terrific. The shelter's pretty crowded tonight. I feel like a goof for some reason. Today was decent. Feet hurt some. I'm fine.