Date: 2019-07-06
From: Mashapacong Shelter 

To: High Point Shelter (planned);Mosey's Hostel (actual)
Miles today: 5.3

A short hike today aimed to get me queued up to reach Unionville, NY on Sunday. At Unionville I would then have to wait until the PO opened on Monday morning to get mail drop. Before the debacle of two days ago and falling behind schedule, I had hoped to make Unionville today and before noon to retrieve that. Once I couldn¢t I plugged in this short day to help ensure recovery and more gradually get my trail legs.This New Jersey area is really beautiful. Whatever or however you think about NJ, it¢s likely not about this beauty in the mountains. Todays hike took me through ridge and valley section just very green and lush. Also today¢s and a little yesterday hikes took me past rock wall remnants of past settlements. These have always attracted me and been attractive. Bad news is that after only about 3.5 miles my energy started to fade. Legs tired again way too soon. Of course by that time to the day was heating up. After hiking down to the visitor center at the Highpoint State Park, which is where water is available, restrooms, etc. I was informed by park employees that a strong thunderstorm was headed this way. Sure couldn¢t tell by looking. Being that the rest of my hike was uphill and only about a mile plus to go and I was exhausted I decided to hangout at the center.They were providing a free soft drink to all AT hikers. Quite a treat. First trail magic I¢ve had. Got to thinking that feeling this tired that maybe I could just hitch a ride or otherwise get into Unionville and maybe a good idea too with the storm. About then it started raining. Got my gear inside right before things got very wet. When I had arrived say 20 or 30 minutes previously there were only a couple of other hikers here. Dark skies suddenly brought more in. I think most all AT hikers, as opposed to local day hikers, stop here for water¢¦not to mention restrooms too. The storm brought them in in droves. As that was happening I had decided to get to Unionville. Tried Uber for the very first time¢¦visitor center staff said Uber was the least expensive mode. Was having no luck with that when a soaked to the bone hiker, Tigerlilly, overheard me and wanted a ride as well. She¢s a thru-hiker from Dayton OH¢¦go figure¢¦and a former student at Cedarville University where my son-in-law teaches¢¦small world. Anyway some of her hiking partners started calling in and we all ended up at Mosey's Hostel in Port Jervas NY. Cost with shuttle, laundry and breakfast just a tad more than an Uber ride¢¦and in Unionville we would be tenting. Probably in rain or certainly on wet ground. Besides Tigerlilly we have: Rebel from Tucson, who owns several restaurants; Try-Try, from Nashville (on her second attempt at s thru-hike); Shock Top from Denver, who is an amazing hiker averaging over 20 miles per day; finally Just Dave, a section hiker like me, but who has been hiking already a few weeks. Dinner was at a microbrewery in Port Jervis. At dinner I had the pleasure to sit next to Just Dave. Very interesting guy. Lives in Asheville, teaches ROTC, a former West Pointer and Special Forces. I finished a book about the first group of those guys that went into Afganistan, the horse soldiers. Just Dave is close friends with all those guys! Now that was very interesting and inspiring conversation. Mosey is a thru-hiker from 2015 who started this hostel in her home upon finishing her hike. Very welcoming and accommodating a real pleasure to be staying with. Tomorrow she will take me to Unionville where I will camp (hopefully not in the rain) and wait for the PO to open on Monday for my resupply. Word has it that this year a nearby drive-in- theater is inviting hikers to camp for free¢¦Including a movie. One version has them giving leftovers from concessions to hikers as well. Don¢t know if that¢s my ¢ cup of tea"Blessings,