Date: 2017-07-21
From: Rutherford Shelter Tent Site 

To: Quarry Road, Unionville, NY
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

7/21Rutherford Shelter Tent Site to Quarry Road, Unionville, NYMiles:  11.0Total Miles:  1344.4Note: I have now uploaded all photos to Unionville.I knew it would be a short day today, but I woke up at my regular time and was ready to hit the trail by 7:45. I said goodbye to Arun and headed back up the long side trail.  I was back on the AT a few minutes before 8:00 and headed for my first destination of the day, the High Point State Park Headquarters.  If the trail were supposed to be getting easier, it somehow missed the memo.  However, it didn't take me too long to cover the three miles.  The headquarters is in a handsome stone building on a beautiful lawn. Pippi and Radio were there when I arrived.  I went inside to claim my free soda, which is given every thru hiker, and to look around.  There was a stuffed bear toy sitting on a bench,  and Pippi insisted she take my picture with it. In good fun, I agreed. I had my first major "costume malfunction" of the trip after I used the restroom at the headquarters. The zipper on the fly of my hiking pants steadfastly refused to zip back up.  After several minutes of fruitless effort, I had to acknowledge the reality that it would zip no more.  The only option I had for the moment was to use one of the duckie diaper pins I use to hang my socks and skivies on the back of my pack every day to hold my fly together.  I must admit, it looked rather conspicuously ridiculous.  Gravity arrived and offered me a smaller, less attention-grabbing safety pin, which worked for the rest of the day.  I have decided to either pin or sew the zipper shut from the inside, since I have lost several inches off my waist in the past fifteen weeks of hiking, and the pants are loose enough to get by without a functioning zipper. With my trousers, if not my dignity, intact, I pressed on, ever northward.  There were a few areas of easier hiking over the next few miles, as I approached two different areas I wanted to explore.  The first, was a public beach with a food concession stand.  I hiked along the very rocky and bouldery side trail that hugged to lake side before realizing the road was a far easier option. Nonetheless, I finally made it to Little Lulu's and sat at a picnic table watching hundreds of New Jerseyans and their friends frolic in the lake and sun themselves on the beach. I lunched on a tasty cheeseburger and fries, finished off with a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar and a Gatorade.  I again met Pippi, who had already eaten, swam, and showered since we left the State Park Headquarters.  I remain amazed at how fast some of these young people can hike. There are numerous signs informing patrons that there are no trash receptacles at the beach, and that everyone is expected to pack out their own trash. Maria, the sweet lady at the concession stand, offered me her own trash can so I wouldn't have to find room in my pack for my lunch trash. A small gesture, perhaps, but it was greatly appreciated. I returned to the trail and immediately climbed the steep side trail to The Monument, a 220 foot stone structure that towers over the highest point in New Jersey. Built to honor veterans, it is a massive, impressive structure. I climbed the 291 steps to the top and admired the views from the windows. Once again, I have been treated with an unexpected discovery along the trail. I continued on, as the rocks slowly started to diminish. Soon I was hiking through boggy, swampy areas, aided by raised, wooden walkways.  The going was very hot and muggy, but much easier than rocks.  I began making much better time and soon crossed the Murray driveway, where a sign on the trail offered fresh well water to all hikers, "100 Yards Ahead." I had plenty of tepid water to make it to Unionville but decided to take the sign up on its offer. I encountered a nifty little building specifically built as a rest area for hikers alongside a spigot dispensing ice cold well water. Queen Bee and Jonesy were resting in the building, whose walls are adorned with maps and posters of the AT. They told me I had just missed meeting the owner of the property, a former thru hiker who built the facility to aid fellow hikers. With my bottles full, i quickly covered the rest of the trail to Unionville, which lies a half mile from the trail itself. Unionville offers free tenting behind the Village Office Building.  I quickly claimed my spot on the well-kept, grassy lawn and headed across the street to Annabele's Pizza, where I indulged in three huge slices of pizza, some potato rolls, and an ice tea. I then headed to Horler's Store to officially register that I was camping and picked up a Andes Ice Cream bar for good measure. I then sat on the store's front porch, called my mom, and uploaded photos. It was then off to Witt's End Tavern for some fun and fellowship with other hikers.  Pippi, Mechanic, Radio, and Gravity were already there, sitting at a table a distance from the bar. They told me that the bartender had very politely requested they leave the bar due to the "hiker air" that emanates from us. She gave them each a free beer and provided a charging station for our phones. We were later joined by Dozer, Umbrella Face, Pheasant Man, Boomer, and Red Eye. Lori, the bartender, even brought over the "Smell Well" jar, full of sample sizes of personal hygiene products. Hikers naturally become immune to all but the worst cases of our body odor (no more large quantities of breakfast bacon for this boy!), so we forget how we can come across to "the great washed." Everyone at the tavern was friendly and accepting. Lori, who is pregnant with her second child, told me she is carrying a little girl named Isabella Rose. I told her about my beautiful grandbaby in England named Rose Elizabeth and shared some pictures.  We all stayed at the tavern until long past "Hiker Midnight," because we were having such a good time. We finally left and returned to tent city. Tomorrow will be another relatively short day to Vernon, New Jersey, a larger town where I plan to do a five day resupply and stay somewhere where I can hopefully remove, albeit temporarily, some of my hiker funk. For now, it's back to sleep to rest up for tomorrow's much less rocky trail.