Date: 2003-07-03
From: NY17A

To: NY17
Miles today: 12.0

Today was a great day hiking. Hotdog, Mike, and I got dropped off at 17A, while Carol and Shari shuffled cars around, then met us just south of Fitzgerald Falls. Shari had been there a long time ago, and was looking forward to going again. The falls were very nice, but the most fun thing about the day, was having extra company on the trail. It's even better when hiking with those who haven't been on the trail for as long as I have. They have that great sense of wonder about them, and it helps remind me to enjoy everything I get to see.We had some tricky trail "walking" to do today. Several parts were more like rock climbing and scrambling, but we all had a good time looking up at the white blazes on rocks high above and saying, out loud or to ourselves "We have to go up there??" Everyone kept up good humor, though, making it seem easier than it was.About 5 miles north of where Shari and Carol joined us, Shari drove to NY17, while the rest of us continued on the AT. The day started out a little hazy, but cleared up as the afternoon wore on, providing us with some good views from Buchanon and Arden Mountains. We got a great view of the heavy holiday weekend traffic on the New York State Thruway. Opposite to what I felt yesterday when I heard waverunners humming on Greenwood Lake, today I was glad I was in the mountains hiking instead of sitting in a traffic jam.We had to descend "Agony Grind", a steep, rocky section just south of NY17. We took it slow, as legs were tired, and knees were sore, but all survived. I saved Carol's life by sacrificing the use of one of my hiking poles to allow her to use it. Well, it didn't really save her life, it just made the descent a little less painful. It makes a much better story, saying I saved her life, and we had a good time filling in the made-up details, including backgroud music and a beaming ray of sunshine at the moment my pole was handed to her.One we retrieved both cars, we went back to the hotel, and all went swimming in the lake. It felt SO good! I kept looking around for alligators, like I'd do in Florida. I didn't see any. It's nice to swim in fresh water. It's so much more refreshing than salt water.We all cleaned up, then went out to dinner at the Backyard Grill. They had homemade salsa, which was excellent! I had a steak fajita, also excellent. It was almost 9pm by the time we were through, and our search for a laundromat, though thorough, was unsuccessful. Finally, we gave up the search, and came back to the hotel to get some much-needed rest.I am enjoying Hotdog's family. I mean, who's better to hang around than two great people from Illinois (Mike and Carol)? :-) Lately, I've been getting antsy to put more miles behind me, but when out hiking with non-thruhikers, I see things from their perspective, and realize how lucky I am to be able to do this. I have been putting in miles, and some days, it seems like that is my only goal. But there is so much to see, everyday, every mile. That is why I'm hiking the AT: to see things I would never see otherwise. It takes reminders, and I'm glad Hotdog and his family allowed me to tag along. I've found out how much this adventure is about the people I meet, as much or more than about the miles I walk. So far, each one has worked out better than I expected!