Date: 2015-07-12
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: West Wombasha Road
Miles today: 17.1

So, i did not quite make my 125 mile goal, but I got very close and I'm happy with the number. The original plan for today, the one I didn't divulge and we obviously didn't execute, was to hike 26.4 miles. Not because I wanted to make my completely arbitrary weekly miles, but because that was the distance to the most logical shelter option. There was a shelter at 12 miles, but that's just not enough at this stage, so 26 it was.Well, except of course that it wasn't.I did get up really early so as to hopefully finish before dark and left camp at a not record-breaking but very respectable 5:57.The main attraction of the first few miles the NJ/NY state line. A lot of people really liked New Jersey but I wasn't all that sorry to leave it behind. Then I managed to almost miss the sign. At first I was by myself so I tried to take a selfie but that didn't work. But then Southpaw showed up, demonstrating impeccable timing, so we had fun taking crazy pictures.The next few miles were all over-top large rocks. It wasn't easy, but it was a lot better than the small foot-busting rocks of Pennsylvania. It would be really hairy in wet weather but it was warm and sunny so it was fun. Already we liked New York better than New Jersey. Of course, then they had us climb an actual aluminum ladder. Really, New York? Though I was glad it was there and there have been a few instances where we could use a ladder! We reached the road just before 11 and there were cold sodas, small candy bars and water for trail magic. Yes! Thank you anonymous trail angels!! This was also the road where there was a hot dog stand, but it was closed Sunday and Monday. That's just crazy! So we kept walking a tiny bit further to the creamery, but it didn't open until noon. No way we're we turning around and leaving without getting ice cream or a shake, so we made ourselves comfortable at the picnic tables and ate lunch. Then I had an enormous milkshake for dessert.While we were waiting, we had been trying to map out our destinations for the next few days and it was ridiculously challenging. The shelters are 25 or more miles apart and there are no camping options listed in between. After much studying (and deciding we definitely weren't going to make 26 miles today) we called a local motel. It turned out they had a far better rate for two nights than just one, so we are staying two nights. Easy marks, we are. The afternoon was now only seven more miles to the pick up point. There were some interesting rock scrambles, and the nasty pointy rocks also reappeared, but then it was only seven miles so who cares.We got picked up, and once at the motel found we were next to Freebird and Walking Home, so we caught up with them. They also made me a drinkipoo! We are on a lake with lots of normal tourists. It's kind of nice! When we went to dinner, the people in the bar where we ate were all very loud, and Southpaw said that's because we're in New York! I am writing this a day late and today we are slack packing. I know I said I wasn't going to, but I changed my mind. Because I am carrying both water and Powerade, my pack doesn't even feel very light. I better drink fast!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?