Date: 2014-06-23
From: stealth camp 

To: rt 55 pawling
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I got a txt last night that there would be trail magic at rt 55 compliments of trail angel jeanne kellogg. That was 22 miles from me so i planned on setting off early and getting there by 2 -2:30. I woke with the birds at 5 and instead of easing into the day by listening and stretching my legs i got to work. I still need breakfast but have quit cooking my oatmeal so first thing i did was get my food bag down and put some water on the oats so they would soften up and be just right by the time i had the rest of camp packed up. Then i got everything else rolled up and put away, ate oatmeal, washed my pot and hit the trail with flames coming off my boots! I was on the trail just before six which was a record for me. It was nice and cool and made me think i should do this more often. Maybe i will, maybe i wont. Regardless, i was off. Right about six i came to a place with three tents set up and noticed one fella out for some early morning thai chi. I knew he wouldnt hear me coming and that i was about to scare the poo from him but didnt want to aniunce myself because of the other sleeping campers. Soooo about ten feet away he realized i was there and nearly jumped from his skin. I said i was sorry, didnt mean to frighten him. I should have said youre welcome for the adrenaline, no need for coffee now eh? It was good walikg with nice trail and fresh air. The woods here is a mature forest but with the additional rock outcroppings. Sometimes huge huge upcroppings 50' high with rock debri scattered around. Sometimes its just big ol boulders sitting there wondering how they got there. Its a great mis, i appreciate the woods and the rocks just amaze me. I made it to the top of shenandoah mt, which really shouldnt be called a mt, for a nice lookout. Someone painted an american flag on the top. I need to get me a flag. Then down the other side to the RPH shelter. This one is a real live ahelter with four sides! This a sweet place and should be stayed at if it fits ones schedule. Its close to a road so you can even order pizza from here. The shelter only holds 4 or 6 but there are a ton of sweet tenting spots. This is a great spot. Buuut not for me, i marched on after signing the log book. In the next few miles were most of the hills for the day the first didnt seem so bad even though it was about 600'. By the second hill it had warmwd up and i was dripping. This had a steeper grade with the same height. I was unhappy to get to the top. I stopped and wrung out my shirt, i hope that gives the correct impression of the hill. Once down the other side i got to the road walk that would take me over rt I-84, thats where i met double check. Hes a nice fella in his mid fifties that thru hiked a few years ago and is doing a 500 mile section this year. I chatted as we road walked then as we got to the woods he said he would see me later, he learned early not to try to keep up with a thru hiker this time. I told him about the magic ahead and hiked on. I wasnt going to stop at the next shelter but i was hungry and a bit thirsty so i did. I got a drink, an apple and some sourpatch kids. That would get me the 3.3 miles to finish my day. Double check got there just as i was leaving. Save room for magic i said. The last few miles were not the easiest. One point there was a rock ridge to my right, so naturally the trail turns right up it so i clumb to the top of the ridge thinking i would walk it for a bit. At the top of the ridge i turn and walk south then down the other side north again. Hmmmm, i thought this could have been a poor idea by the trail makers. Then the trail went back up to the ridge and down the other side where i started from. This normally makes me chuckle and say to myself, the AT goes where the AT wants to go, but today there was magic waiting. I had no time for this humor. I knew i was ckose when i crossed the rr track and the stagnant beaver pond. Looked like there were beaver there but the water was black and smelly. I crossed old rt 55 and two tenths later got to new rt 55. I saw Rachel and her son Tuck, they told me to go up the road to where they were set up. I left a little note on the trail for people to walk up the road for magic. Jay and Rachel Kellogg are son and daughter in law of Jim and Jeanne K. They too are great people that feel more like family than friends. Jeanne was on her way over so all we had to do was wait for the hikers to show up! We waited. We waited. Then double check showed up. He would be the only one to come by. We ended up picking up and heading back to Jay and Rachels house around 5:00. I unloaded stuff and showered myself off before dinner. They had some people coming over so i figured i should not appear to be an AT hiker as much as i could. I talked with the guests and answered some questions about my adventure. There always seems to be one thing that people find truly undesireable about long distance hiking. After stuffing myself i played basketball with my buddy Tuck. Hes ten so i am much better than him but it wont be long and i will have my hands full. After that it was getting late so it was time to turn in. I again was sleeping inside. Poor Mike (the oldest son) had to sleep at the neighbors because of me. Sorry Mike. I said good bye to Tyler (middle son) he would be off early in the morning to qualify for the under armor lacross team. Hes pretty darn good. I had company of a four month yellow lab and an air conditioner in my room. What else could a fella need? Right now i cant think of anything.