Date: 2004-07-04
From: NY 17

To: Figerboard Shelter
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hey everyone! It's been a while because I've been making big miles and haven't had access to a computer at all.Yesterday we made it just short of our destination of Bear Mountain partially because we (Mt Doo, Litefoot, Goldfish, and me) were tired but also because the Bear Mnt traffic was a mess. If we had gone there, we wouldn't have been able to be picked up. So, instead, Goldfish's Mom picked us up just before Bear Mnt and drove us to Sommers, NY where they live. We hung out next door at the neighbors in the afternoon gorging ourselves on beer, dogs, burgers, salads, etc. After we ate so much we couldn't move, we went to a harbor area and watched a fireworks display that wouldn't end. It was fun. Got to meet some more of Goldfish's relatives and have a nice relaxing evening. Afterwards we cruised back to Goldfish's house and slept for 10 hours. In the morning, Goldfish and Mom cooked us an awesome breakfast. Staying here has been awesome. It's exactly what we needed and we are feeling refreshed. In an hour or two we hit the trail again and are going to hike 4 miles to the first shelter for the night. Not really looking forward to getting on the trail but we never are after a good break.I was able to weigh myself yesterday and am really, really happy to see that my weight has stablized at 180 pounds. I was getting worried that I was losing too much weight. I think 180 pounds is perfect for my frame. Hopefully I stay this weight. I've really increased my eating recently because my energy level has been down with all the big miles we've been doing.I'm hoping to reach Katadin in 40 days. That would be a 20 mile average per day. I think this is reasonable. I love hiking the trail but it's really starting to be time for me to get home to Jill and my life. August 15th would be the perfect finishing date but we shall see. I know the terrain gets more difficult in Vermont, NH, and Maine.Tomorrow we get to hike thru the Bear Mnt zoo where Megan, Goldfish's sister, works. I'm hoping we can get a personal tour but know she will be busy. This zoo takes hurt animals and rehabs them in hopes of either getting them back to the trail or spend the rest of their lives there if they won't survive in the woods. It'll be interesting to see. The trail goes right thru the center of the zoo.Lately on the trail there hasn't been many good streams. They've all been very dark in color and have been streams off of ponds and lakes that are warm and silty. So, we've been really lucky that trail angels have been leaving gallons and gallons of water at some of the trail heads. That has really saved us. Warm, dirty water is difficult to drink.While we were waiting yesterday to be picked up by Goldfish's Mom, we had some AWESOME trail magic from a couple of guys that live an hour away. They had an endless supply of sodas and snacks. It was great. Also, one of the guys had a bunch of denatured alcohol stoves and stands and gave me one. The whole thing must weight 2 ounces. I'm planning on using that instead of my Whisper Lite International to save some weight and space. At Stormville, NY on Wed or Thurs I will be picking up my day pack that Angrist mailed to me. It's 2800 cu inches and I want to fit everything into it. I estimate that I will lose 10 pounds of weight that way. It's been a struggle keeping up with some of the guys I hike with because they are only carrying 25 to 35 pounds compared to my 45-50 pounds.Also while we were waiting yesterday, Hai Do of The Journal News, a NY newspaper, showed up and took pictures of us and said he was writing an article about the Rapado (?) watershed. The article is to make print sometime in August. He took hundreds of pictures of us. Keep checking thejournalnews.com for the article. Hopefully I'll be able to get a hard copy.Anyways, gotta get going. Not looking forward to the rain and high humidity today but we only have 4 miles to hike. Shouldn't be too bad.Hello to all and don't forget to sign my guest book!!!