Date: 2016-05-23
From: Asbury Park, NJ

To: Fairview Lake
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

After two nights of luxury on Bryan and Ellen's giant couch, I didn't sleep well on the carpeted bunk at the hostel. I had dinner with two fellow hikers at the local watering hole, then climbed into my bunk with the vague idea of reading. Instead, I promptly fell asleep. At some point in the night, I woke up to turn over and found myself face to face with Ziptie, my closest neighbor. Her nose was literally inches from my own, a startling experience, to say the least. I jumped back in surprise, cracking my head on the wall and knocking something off my perilously narrow bunk onto the ground. Every snorer in the room stopped snoring. I rolled back over to face the wall and stared at it for a while.As soon as I heard Nascar get out of his bunk in the morning, I was up and ready to go, too. First, though, I had to fall out of my too-tall top bunk and crash into the fan.I slurped down some gritty coffee left over from the night before and an enormous black and white cookie, and was out of the hostel by 6:45, a new record for me.The trail follows I-80 across the Delaware River, which is one heck of a way to wake you up. Interstate traffic, especially over aging bridges that bounce from the weight of the roaring semi trucks, is terrifying.The river was socked in with fog, but it burned off quickly as I started the long climb up a creek bed and out of the Delaware Water Gap. As a popular day-use area, there was ample trash for me to collect, but the great state of New Jersey provides trash bags at the trailheads, so I was able to fill up more than usual. Before second breakfast (10 am-ish) I had collected the usual Coors Light cans (it's always Coors Light), granola bar wrappers, and toilet paper (gag, WTF is wrong with people?), PLUS not one, but TWO pairs of men's boxer briefs. Get it together, Jersey...The creek was beautiful, but I was really looking forward to seeing Sunfish Pond, a gorgeous glacial lake, one of New Jersey's 7 Natural Wonders, according to a sign (good grief, Jersey). It really was beautiful- clear and blue, with a uniquely high acidity that meant only certain species could live in the lake. I planned to sit and revel for a while, but failed to find an empty seat most of the way around the pond. Every flat, sunny boulder had been claimed early by a snake; big, small, brightly colored, black and grey, the creepy little SOBs were all over the place. I finally found a snake free boulder and enjoyed a snack, then continued on, headed for the Mohican Outdoor Center for lunch. But first, Raccoon Ridge. Stupid name, stunning place. The rocky ridgeline was mostly exposed, with endless views east and west, mountains and lakes as far as the eye could see. At the very top of the mountain there was an incredible 360 degree view. With the sun shining and the warmest temperature yet (almost 80!!), it was absolutely incredible. I could have stayed all day, but MOC sells sodas and I was parched.I snaked along the ridge a while longer, crossed a stream where I startled a bullfrog, and began the rocky descent to the road. The trails are so much better than in PA, but they still have their rocky moments, so I stubbed my toes repeatedly on the way down. At the road crossing I found trail magic!! Someone had left jugs of water and cans of Sprite alongside a stream and I gratefully helped myself, cleaning up a few empties to throw away at MOC, just up the road.When I got to the visitor center, I prioritized; first ordering a sandwich with all the fixings and a Dr. Pepper, then acknowledging the presence of a fellow hiker, then reading National Geographic on their couch. MOC is a retreat or primitive resort, with cabins for rent and a dining hall, run by the Appalachian Mountain Club. It would be a great place to get your feet wet on the AT and meet some thruhikers without feeling too far from real humans. I flipped through the trail register before leaving and noticed that, despite my weekend on the Shore, I was only a day behind The Puppies. I was also excited to see Jabba's, aka The Real Hiking Viking's, signature on the first page from when he hiked through in February.I took a "shortcut" back to the trail that saved me from having to backtrack. After hiking through a place known as Rattlesnake Swamp, I emerged on the Kittatiny ridgeline, with mind-boggling views of the valley below. Unfortunately, I was feeling lazy after my 12 miles that morning and long lunch, and it took several hours of harsh negotiations to get my arse back in gear. There are always a few hours like this each day, where I just want to be not moving, and I never know what time of day it'll hit, so I just fly when I'm feeling good and never put in my headphones until the lull hits. KT and a few others passed me during this afternoon's lull, which always makes me feel worse. Eventually, the doldrums wore off, and I enjoyed the last three miles around a beaver bog and along a flat ridge. I stopped for dinner at a big rock outcropping overlooking Fairview Lake. The view was better than fair, it was unbelievable, the best view all day. I lingered a long time, eating couscous with sundried tomatoes and drinking wine out the the 1/2 liter juice box that Mama surprised me with in my resupply box. An eagle flew by, because of course it did.