Date: 2007-09-25
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

mi.sleep shelterdest. RPH Shelter day 75 Well another night in a shelter. Yes it isn't because of the cold. This shelter is an old cabin. It is decent size with bunks, porch, and picnic tables. I can't turn down good places to stay. Best of all, I had a good score here. There is a lot of little things here on a desk. There was also a thermarest on one of the bunks. It does have a hole in it though. Why do you ask that it is good for me, well they are garrenteed forever. It also just so happens I will be at a really good outfitters in 2 or 3 days and can switch it out for a new one. Weight wise it is just a couple oz more than the closed cell foam pad I am carrying for ground use and backup insulation. So I am leaving my pad for the next guy, after I use 2 tonight, and taking the thermarest. Oh and the outfitter I heard about for a section hiker last night. Get this the huge Campmor warehouse store is only 10 miles off the trail. It is in NJ, but off a road I take in NY. And get this they are a huge online and over the phone retailer. They are really great about sending things to hikers on the trail. But the place is not in the guide book. It is only 10 miles off. One 1 road, no turns or crazy directions involved. I was told there is even a bus that will take you there. This really needs to be in the guide book. I am hoping to get a new pack there and switch out my new pad. I might pick up a new hiking shirt or something else if there is a good deal. I will then be sending yet another package home. I am hoping I can convience them to send it home for me like an order. I'll have to see what works out. Runway also needs a couple things. All the better. Hitching with a girl is way easier. People will leave a guy on the road forever, but it is a crime against humanity for a girl to wait. Today the plan was to hit a deli with a descent resupply option in the morning and head out to a state park with showers after that. Byepassing the shelter I am at. Well that didn't happen. On the way to the deli I crossed over an interstate. I stood there for 5 minutes or so watching everyone in their cars. They were dressed up for work and some on their cell phones. I couldn't help laughing and saying outloud, sucks to be you. I am still on a extended vacation. I use the word vacation loosely. It still is a lot of hard work and mentally exhausting, but the payoffs are huge. Way more than any job. I think that if I didn't already have a trailname, some directional one would find my way. I was following the road walk looking for the deli, which is supposed to be .3 off the trail(road), .2 after the turnpike. I walk a few yards up, and turn back. It must have been the side street I passed. I walk a little bit down the side street. One pole even had 2 white blazes side b side, never seen that before.                                                                                                               I looked close at the map. The residental street I was on looked to intersect with the road with the deli .3 or so past it and .5 or so from the trail crossing. By this time i figured why not, it would be faster than backtracking again, and road walked it. I looked way out of place. I was a smelly, dirty hiker all alone walking on the road through a residental area. There was no sidewalk. I probibly looked funny to the people that saw me. I was commited at this point to making my long cut work. The road looped and curved around. I was getting a litle worried but finally saw the road. All said and done I probibly added .75 to a mile onto my hike today. I finally got to the deli after roadwalking on the shoulder of a busy road, again. Second breakfest was an egg, bacon, sausage, chz, and butter sandwich on a role with a soda. They were cool and kept a running tab for me with my card since the min. card purchase was $10. I came back in and bought 2 dinners and 3 days of snacks, along with an New York Super Fudge Crunck Ben and Jerry's for 3rd breakfest. I tried the other 2 favors they had. I was sitting in front of the store eating and repackaging when Runway strolled up. She got her 2 sandwiches for 2nd breakfest. We talked for awhile, which turned into over an hour of sitting there for me. It didn't take long before we decided to cut the day short. Funny I remember when 10 was a good day, now it is pretty much a rest day. I called campmor and confirmed the directions. I also got a chance to recieve all the emails that were waiting for me. They didn't come in on my last town stop. I talked Runway into carrying a couple beverages into the shelter. After all it was only 5 miles away. So we each carried 2 tall boys. 3 pounds of beverages is a lot. I got to the shelter around 2 or so. It felt good to relax. The weekender from last night was also here. I rinsed out my hiking clothes too. Lets just say socks can stand up on their own after awhile. Then rest and reading. I also went through my pack, all of it today. If I am going to do another maildrop home, I want to see what else I can ditch. I decided on 2 big things and my used maps. Big thing 1 is my sleeping only long sleve smart wool top. I only sleep in it. I still have a long sleve poly top I sometimes hike in and wear around camp. I also have my 100 wt fleece top. I wear that sparingly around camp and use as a pillow at night. I can wear either instead. I also have my rain jacket I can wear for warmth. Saving 11 oz. Thing 2 is my rain pants. Only worn 2 days in the Whites hiking. And a couple days at night. I have my convertable pants I can wear around camp and hike in if needed. I also have my long underwear bottoms if needed I sleep in. I only hiked all day 2 times with pants, the times in the whites. Savings 10 oz. That should put me even or just ahead after the new pack and pad. I am thinking about only bouncing them ahead a couple weeks first. That would be!a quick swap back if needed. When it gets really cold and rainy, the rainpants will probibly come back. Oh and I go from having no thru hikers around, to 2. A sobo who took 10 days off in NYC pulled up to the shelter. He goes by the name of Cricket. If Runway pulles away, I'll have someone just behind to catch up and hitch with.