Date: 2014-07-05
From: Highpoint Shelter

To: Vernon, NJ (St. Thomas's Hostel
Miles today: 18.0

Set the alarm for 5 but had not slept well, so did not get up until nearly 6. I had planned to try Sherlock's technique of mixing the oatmeal with water in a plastic bag and letting it sit while I packed up. I also shook up a packet of Via with a packet of hot chocolate in a water bottle. The whole idea was to avoid having to heat water. It worked pretty well, but next time, I'll stir the hot chocolate mix in a cup first. It did not all mix with the shaking, and I had some lumps of undisolved mix.I was on the trail at 7:30, the hiking remained reasonably easy, and I made good time. By noon, I had covered 9 miles. Took a break and tried calling the hostel. The answering machine said the hostel was closed for the season. Was that just an old message, or were they really closed? I talked with Lee, who gave me the vicar's text number, and she said she would email the hostel team. I sent the text and headed on, hoping for a response. I knew White a Rabbit and Rose were headed there but had no way to reach them. Soon after my break, Siesta caught up with me, and we hiked together for a few miles. He was just getting back on the trail after a visit home to Philadelphia. The route took us almost two miles on a grassy road around the Wallkill Wildlife Reserve, a large wetland rectangle. There were massive numbers of little grasshoppers jumping in the grass, and it was impossible to avoid stepping on them. I was wearing long pants, but Siesta was in shorts and said they tickled as they hit his legs. On the climb up to the Pochuck Mountain Shelter, I told Siesta to go on at his own pace. When I got there, he offered me on of the Whoopie Pies he had bought in Unionville -- enough sugar to fuel the next six miles into Vernon. He planned to go on past Vernon to the Waywayanda Shelter, so we continued at our own paces -- his faster than mine.On the way down from Pochuck Mountain, I met a SOBO couple, Heisenberg and Blueberry. He is a chemistry teacher at Lawrenceville, and she is also a teacher. They said the Vernon hostel is open, and a woman was at the trailhead offering rides. They have only until mid-August, but they hope to make it as far as The Priest.After the mountain, the trail goes along an amazing meandering boardwalk through a wetland for .8 mile -- clearly popular with walkers, runners, and especially bird watchers. I spoke with one woman on the suspension bridge about 3/4 of the way along who said she is celebrating turning 50 by trying to find 300 bird species in New Jersey. She is over 260 so far.My feet were really ready to be done, especially since the trail was out in the hot sun, but there was another mile and a half to the road to Vernon. I got there and took out my sign. After about ten cars had gone by, including a Vernon Police car, a young couple, Rob and Michelle stopped. They said they like helping people out, and they took me to the church. I found the entrance to the hostel in the back, down some steps to a lower level patio outside the parish hall. Checked my phone, and I had both a text from the vicar, Doc Whittaker, and an email from Lee. I wrote him back saying I was there.One other hiker, Worldly, was there. He had taken a zero because he was concerned he might have a stress fracture in his foot. The hiker room was one end of the large parish hall. There were some stuffed chairs, two cots with mattresses, and all sorts of hiker goodies -- some breakfast pastries that a woman had just brought in, sodas and ice cream in the hiker fridge, and a hiker box of assorted food and other items. They ask that one sign in on the computer, and it is also possible to make a donation through PayPal, which I gladly did. As I was getting ready to take a shower, White Rabbit and Ramblin' Rose arrived. They elected to tent outside rather than sleep on the floor, but they were pleased with the amenities. We all showered and did laundry, including sheets and towels from previous hikers.Doc Whittaker came in looking for me, we chatted a bit, and he offered me a ride to the Italian restaurant. He also went out of his way to show me the A&P, drug store, etc. I ate manicotti and a salad (unfortunately no beer) and walked back to the church. We could hear, but not see, the local fireworks.