Date: 2016-06-01
From: RPH Shelter

To: Woodbridge CT via Hurds Corner Rd. 
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: light rain

I was slow to wake up this morning, but that might've been a function of the fact that Heath Bar was up an hour earlier than I was. The day was set to be gorgeous, and I got out of camp around 7:30. The trail has certainly changed since the beginning of New York. The climbs are far more reasonable, with fewer abrupt climbs over rock walls, more woods roads, and even a few switchbacks - imagine that - here and there. This morning I crossed over interstate 84, a treat for me since I have actually driven on that road many times, and drove up and down it to go back and forth the last time I went home, and I found myself on the very bridge I had seen from the highway. I took quite a long break at the reentrance to the woods right after the highway. I then made my way up to Morgan Stewart Shelter, where I was met by a number of flip floppers, among them Whiskers and Bubbles, as well as Wings, who attempted a thru hike last year but was forced off the trail just a few miles back by an injury. She's picking up right where she left off. When I told Bubbles I was getting picked up later, she joked "oh so when are we going to meet the family?" Hardee har. I passed by the strangely-named Nuclear Lake (actually quite beautiful!) and saw Melted Soul at Telephone Pioneers shelter. He's out for a few days with a buddy and seems to be taking it slower. The biggest surprise of my day came just after the final climb before the road into Pawling. I was coming down the trail when I saw a man with a gray mustache and an AT hat hiking towards me. He looked at me and smiled and paused and I could've sworn I knew him. Then it hit. Just before I came down to Georgia, I went out for my last training hike at Sleepin Giant State Park. At the tower there, I came across the only other hiker I've seen there wearing a pack and using trekking poles. Seeing my pack, he asked me if I was training for something, and I told him that yes, I was planning on starting the AT in just a few days. He told me that he has in fact sectioned the entire trail, and he gave me some advice and pointers, as well as his opinion that if you can hike ten miles over Sleeping giant, you can hike anywhere on the AT (which I've found to be true). He wished me luck and told me his trail name was Willy Walker. And now here he was. I was in utter disbelief. He let me pass and turned around to walk just behind me. Willy has been following this journal since the beginning, and decided to just come meet me out on the trail and hike a little bit and catch up! I couldn't believe his kindness and willingness to come out all this way for me, someone he'd met so briefly. We talked about the trail and about making it to Maine. Willy himself was headed down to Virginia tomorrow to pick up his wife, who has just completed a section from Hot Springs to Damascus. I could not believe it. My former meeting with Willy had been at an amazing transitional moment. I was about to head down to Georgia to start hiking, and frankly, I didn't know what was going to happen. Would I make it as far as my Long trail hike? Would I get injured in the first week and have to come home? Would I just, as many do, give up? Or would I push on m? My world was full of strange possibilites and unknowns. Yet here he was again. And here I was, about forty pounds lighter, with a thicker beard, some swanky new gaiters and two thirds of the trail behind me. I barely even recognized myself in my own memory on top of sleeping giant those months ago. We walked down through a beautiful boardwalk and across New York 22, and through the pastures of Pawling up to Hurds Corner Road, where I had told my father to meet me. Willy would push on and go hike up into the hills a little ways before returning to his car, but I took the time to get some pictures with him and the strange wooden water tower that finds itself next to the road. His visit to me allowed me to take in my hike as it stands in a way I haven't been able to see it this whole time. Willy - or Dave, I spose! - thank you so much for your visit. It means more than you know. I wish you all the best. Just as Willy created the first hill out of sight, the blue Audi was there to pick me up. My father and I drove home through the Connecticut farmland and horse country and he brought me home, where a wonderful summery meal with mom and Lola was waiting. What amazing people live in this world.