Date: 2007-08-13
From: Pawling, NY

To: .5 miles north of Schaghitoke Mtn Campsite, Conn
Miles today: 20.0

I woke up really thirsty from the beers yesterday and not being able to find the water spigot at the park. The park maintainer said it was on the other side of the Lion's Club building. I went and gorged on some water and walked back into town and got some coffee(more and more the elixir of life). I then walked down and waited for the Chamber Of Commerce to open up. When it did, I got my package and had a great conversation with an older lady that talked about her life in town during the depression. I then went across the street to Chris's Deli and had the sandwich called the works and another cup of coffee. As I was walking out of town, the park maintainer, gave me a ride back to THe Dover Oak. I got going fast and was soon over to NY 22 where the AT actually has a train station that you can take a train to NY City or northward. From this train station: I could ride into NY City and fly anywhere in the world. The trail is accesible world wide.I went across NY 22 and met up with Peter and his daughter. We climbed up for a mile or two and talked. Peter was just doing a day hike and told me that he was working on his MSW(masters of social work). We talked about me experiences on the trail; but, I basically gave him a lesson on outdoor therapeutics and geared it towards the pitfalls and important paradigms for "a helper" getting involved in working with kids for the first time. He was a very active listener; so, I just kept realing off the lessons. He actually knew a young man that had benefited from over a year of counseling at The New Dominion School in Cumberland, Maryland. The conversation; the 2 big cups of coffee; and a "big works" sandwich had me moving fairly easily. I said goodbye to Peter and made it to Hoyt Rd and the NY/Conn state line. Yeah, goodbye New York; "I was a part of it, New York."I sat on a rock there and finally got a picture of a "Peeper". It is a little bity frog that is all over the trail. When I am walking; It is like, avoiding squirrels when I am driving. The frogs are all over and real small. They are called peepers because they actually make a whistling, peeping noise. They are from dark brown to a tannish yellow in color. I dont see these frogs in the south. IT is uaually skinks and lizards that are along the trail.I was happy to be in COnn. The trail changed to a little more gradual inclines and not as rocky. The climb up and over Ten Mile Hill was steep; but, not bad. As I walked along the Ten Mile River, I was loving walking beside a nice shaded river, again. It had been since PA! There were more conifers now and the temp was not as hot; but, it was still very "muggy"; thus, alot of sweating.I took a side road to "The Bulls Bridge". It is a covered bridge that is just outside of a small hamlet that has the Bulls Bridge Inn(GW slept here). I went to a market an pounded some coffee and was on my way up to Schaghticoke Mtn. This was a long two mile climb. It was a serious climb, then a curious ridge walk that goes up and down for several miles. It finally wore me out and I went to sleep on the other side of The Schaghticoke Mtn campsite and cooked my evening meal with the mosquitos eating me alive.