Date: 2006-07-16
To: Peekskill
Miles today: 0.0

After waking up to a beautiful view I started packing up when I heard some section or day hikers coming. I talked to them and answered all the typical questions. As I sat at the view point eating breakfast I hear more people coming. They just keep coming. I found out it was a NYC karate club who hikes up Bear Mountain once a year. Then they said there were 75 of them. I don¢t think I have seen 75 people in a week. The worst thing was that I would have to pass them before the top. Once they were gone I left behind them. Finally getting by them I had to do a road walk for about half a mile. The road is the same road that goes right to the top of Bear Mountain. Probably the only mountain near NYC. Everyone who has a road bike, motorcycle or fast sports car from NYC ride to the top. When I got to the top this biker from Brooklyn goes "you made it. We were wondering about you" in a perfect new your accent. When I told them I walked from Georgia I thought they were going to kill me because they thought I was crazy. I simply replied "well I think you¢re crazy for living in Brooklyn." There were several different people up there who gave me weird looks. I headed down the mountain knowing I was going to have to go through Bear Mountain state park. People had warned me that this is where people from the city go when they want to get a wilderness experience. As I came out of the woods into the picnic area it was like entering a market for the united nations. There were people grilling all sorts of stuff with music playing in all different languages. It was quite the adventure. Then the trail continues through the park and goes through the zoo. I was excited for this because I knew they had bears. While walking through the park it was kind of depressing. Seeing all the animals that I have seen for months in cages. In their defense all the animals were rescued from danger and given a second chance in the zoo. After staying at the zoo for a bit I decided it was time to head on. Once you get out of the zoo you have to cross the Bear Mountain Bridge. Its one of the oldest bridges in the country. It was kind of scary walking across it with cars whipping by. After crossing I felt that I had a hole burnt in the side of my head from getting stared at by all the cars. I continued up the trail for a bit before coming up on a hiker. Right before I was about to tell him I wanted to pass he let out the biggest fart. He didn¢t know I was behind him. Instead of calling him out, I just took a break and got a great laugh. After I got up from the break I started walking north again. I looked at the possibility of getting off in Peekskill for the night but I wasn¢t sure. After a mile or so I got tot the road that I thought went to Peekskill. I continued walking till I saw this giant bridge. That¢s when I realized I messed up. When I got up from my break I went the wrong way. I was steamed. But there wasn¢t much I could do about it so I just walked north. That was the last straw on the camels back.That made my decision to defiantly go into Peekskill. When I got to the correct road this time I got a ride pretty quick. The lady dropped me off right at the bottom of the on ramp. I had no idea where any hotel was or even a sign of civilization. Lucky when I turned the corner I saw a hotel close by. It was a little more than I would have liked but it was either pay for a room or a bus ticket the mental institute since my brain was fried at that point. The guy cut me a little break when I threw the whole ¢come on man, I walked here from Georgia¢ bit on him. I have gotten pretty good at it now. After getting settled in the room and grabbing a shower I headed over to the hotel bar/restaurant to grab some drinks and dinner. And in that order. I was the only one in the place and started talking to the bartender who I later found out was the owner. He was very informative and after a while he says ¢yeah a lot of famous people are from Peekskill.¢ I responded with ¢oh really like who?¢ not expecting to be impressed. That¢s when he hits me with the history. Mel Gibson was born there before moving to Australia. Pee Wee Herman. The long time New York Governor Pataki. And the one that really blew me away was that it is home to the yellow brick road. Right down town on the Hudson river is where Frank Bomb got off the boat to go to military school. When he asked people how get to the school they would say ¢follow the yellow brick road¢. And that¢s how the saying was born. Now I am assuming that it¢s true. If it¢s not then the bar tender sure sold it to me. After throwing back a few brew-ha¢s I retreated to my room. Took another shower and watched some Family Guy and called it a night. Defiantly one of the days on the trail that will always stick with me. It was your typical trail day. Full of ups and downs.