Date: 2017-07-27
From: Franciscan Way/Graymoor Spiritual Life Center 

To: Shenandoah Tenting Area 
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: scattered clouds

7/27Franciscan Way/Graymoor Spiritual Life Center to Shenandoah Tenting Area 17.5 miles Total miles:  1427.7I woke up at 5:45 this morning and got going immediately since I planned on a slightly longer day today. Looking at the guidebook, it appeared that today would be a day just for hiking, without any added attractions.  The topo lines showed many ups and downs, but none of them of would be for long.  I was on the trail by 7:30, and my estimation of the day proved correct.  As many of you know, I am a model railroader with a relatively large railroad in my basement, measuring 23 x 29 feet. When designing my track plan years ago, I realized that it was important to have some areas that weren't all that busy, as the train traveled from one scene to the next. If the entire railroad was full of busy activity, there would be no sense of traveling from place to place. I thought about that today.  Of course, every day on the AT involves many hours of traveling from place to place, all at the speed of walking.  However, today pointed out to me that there are very few days when the entire day is just a travel day.  It was actually quite nice. The trail consisted of many rocky areas, but none that were all that difficult.  There were countless ascents and descents, but, again, nothing that stood out. The weather was cool and overcast,  ideal for hiking but not for highlighting any scenic views had there been any, which there weren't. It started to lightly sprinkle several times today but always stopped before anything got wet.  I ate lunch in a small glade near a wooden shed and filled my water bottles from a faucet on the side of the shed and took my nap leaning my pack against a sign designating the trail as the AT.  I can't remember another day when all I really did was walk from Point A to Point B. It was actually rather refreshing but should make for a short journal entry tonight. Near the end of the day, I met up with Pippi, Mechanic, and Many Miles on top of Shenandoah Mountain.  There is a weathered American flag painted on the summit measuring perhaps three by five feet, which was painted shortly after 9-11. The four of us relaxed atop the mountain for a bit before finishing the day at a very pretty tenting spot called the Shenandoah Tenting Area. There is an open, grassy field, an old garage with a pavilion and picnic table, a fire ring with two plastic lawn chairs, and an old style hand pump for water. I set up camp, changed out of my sweaty hiking clothes, and spent a wonderful evening just being with my three friends.  Using the hand pump was fun as it had to be pumped quite vigorously to get the water to flow.  We all filtered the water to be on the safe side.  I cooked dinner and ate with the others.  I went to bed at dark.  Gravity, who was delayed by having to do some repair work on his pack,  arrived soon after dark. I plan on another relatively long day tomorrow of eighteen miles.  The only "scenic" attraction tomorrow is a deli within easy walKing distance of the AT on NY 52. I just might have to go check out the view.