Date: 2006-10-06
From: Mt Peter, NY

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 14.2

It was in the upper 40's when I went to sleep last night. Clouds moved in overnight and it stayed in the upper 40's, but it was dry out and so was my tent.I woke up about 6:30am and ate 8 mini donuts and 10 chocolate expresso beans for breakfast. I'm looking forward to a sit-down breakfast in Vernon tomorrow morning....with lots of coffee!! :-)))Yolanda and I were both packed and ready to walk at about 7:15am.It took me a little while to be able to walk. My heel was really sore after yesterday's walk, but once it warmed up, it felt pretty good and I was able to walk at my new, slower pace of about 2 MPH. I have to walk flat footed and not push off with my toes.We walked by the side trail that goes down into Greenwood Lake. I was surprised at how quickly we got there.We crossed over Cascade Brook, then Furnace Brook before climbing to Prospect Rock.Most of the walk this morning had been up on a rocky ridge with lots of small ups and downs. Views of Geenwood Lake and all the color in the trees were what we had to look at all morning.We kept walking and came up to the border. We said see ya to NY and hello to NJ.We walked on and before long, the Trail took us down off the ridge. That made the walking much easier.We walked over Long House Creek, then crossed a small road and finally crossed Warwick Turnpike.Yolanda was behind me a ways when I came up to three deer. They couldn't decide whether they wanted to run or stay there and watch me walk by. The finally took off running.We walked by the side trail to Wawayanda Shelter without stopping.There were several times today that I just had to stop and enjoy the beautiful leaf color I was walking through.We walked over Iron Mountain Bridge. It has been rebuilt and now looks more like a wooden bridge with iron rails.We kept walking and climbed Wawayanda Mountain. The old mailbox has been replaced with a wooden box that holds the register. I signed the register and used a couple smiley faces, then we walked on.There's a long, steep descent down to NJ Rt 94. It's about 1,000 feet down and most of it is very steep.We kept hearing gun shots that sounded real close. I figured it must be bird hunters, but when we got down the mountain, we saw a tent city set up where they were doing a re-enactment.Good to know they weren't using real bullets so close to where we were walking. :-)))When we got to Rt 94, we walked across the road to Heaven Hill Farm and I bought a few apples and a Coke.We were going to hitch into Vernon, but Yolanda said it's illegal here in NJ to hitch, so she called a cab.The cabby dropped us off at the St Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel. We dropped off our backpacks and walked up to a pizza joint for a late lunch.I had a dozen buffalo wings and a pizza. I ate all the buffalo wings, but packed out 3/4 of that pizza for tonight.We headed back to the hostel and I just couldn't walk by Dunkin Donuts without stopping in for a donut and a large, black coffee. :-)))I checked email while Yolanda took first shower. I always let her take first shower because.......well, this is where I'm showing a little wisdom and NOT saying what's on my mind. Ha!!!I am up to 114 leaves now. It was a good leaf catching day. I even got a compliment from Yolanda when she said and I quote; "Oh Stumpy, you are so handsome and you move so swift when you chase the leaves. I could never compete with you." At least that's the way I remember what she said....maybe not exactly word for word, but close enough. ;-)))