Date: 2003-08-03
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Miles today: 0.0

WHITE BLAZE DAY 112 7/4/03 mm 1053.7 11miWoke up around 7:00 a.m. on the deck of Mollie's playhouse. Walter offered to drive us back to the trail and we gladly accepted. We arrived at Pen Mar Park before it was officially opened for the day, so we had it all to ourselves. We fixed breakfast there and enjoyed the early morning view of the Western horizon. A couple miles later we were out of Maryland and into Pennsylvania. Except for a couple of steep climbs, the trail was really quite easy today. We stopped for lunch at Deer Lick Shelter and later a stop at Antietam Shelter for a break and a resupply of water. We passed Tumbling run Shelter and hiked to the Buzzards Peak overlook where we found a great campsite just below the highest rocks and decided to set up camp and enfoy the view. Ate dinner on top of the highest rock and enjoyed a campfire until we hit the sack about 9:00 p.m., also known a "Hiker Midnight". No rain today, but warm, typical summer day. Plans are to meet up with Cindy, Clark and the kids tomorrow at Caldonia State Park. Seneca's arm is still swollen, so we may take a few days off to rest up.WHITE BLAZE DAY 113 7/5/03 1062.3mm 8.6 mi.Started out around 8:00 a.m., a fairly easy hike except for a couple of rocky ridges. Met Zoot and Popi along the trail and told them we may get off the trail for a few days. Clark greeted us on the trail about 1/2 mile before Caldonia S.P. Cindy and the kids were waiting for us by the creek as we walked into the park. Actually the kids were in the creek, no surprises there:) It was a nice family reunion, only the little one, Chloe,did not know what to make of Pa Pa's beard! It took her a little while to warm up to me. We set up our little two man tent next to their huge tent (looked like a 10 man tent) Drove into Gettysburg for dinner and toured the battlefield. It was decided that we would all head for Seneca Falls N.Y. in the morning. Seneca and I decided that the Pa. rocks would be to hard to handle with only one arm, Our plans are to spend a few days with Mom and Dad, rest up and if her arm is doing better, get back on the trail at Bear Mt. N.Y.WHITE BLAZE DAY 114 7/6/03 0 MILESClark fixed us all breakfast, then we packed up and headed for N.Y. Stopped in Duncannon Pa. and picked up our mail and bump box, added that to an already overloaded van. Arrived at the Fruit Stand, where my parents are spending the summer in their motor home. Surprised Mom and Dad along with my cousin,Mary and her family. Later Dad took everyone out to dinner at Emiels, a favorite local restaruant. The food was great, and the company even better! cindy, Clark and the kids put their tent up beside Mom and Dad's R.V. We spent the night in the R.V....this made Seneca very Happy:)WHITE BLAZE DAY 115 to DAY 120 0 milesWe spent five wonderful days visiting relatives and friends. Lots of celebrating, eating, "lots of good eating" and of course a "little" drinking. Since Seneca and I both grew up in the Finger Lakes area, we love coming back to it. It will always be home to us, even if we have spent the last 34 years in Fl.WHITE BLAZE DAY 121 7/23/03 mm 1390.3 6.4 miAfter spending last night at Harriman S.P., Mom and Dad dropped us off on the trail at Bear Mt, Bridge. We waved our goodbyes and walked over the Hudson River. We have skipped 321.6 miles and plan to make them up on our way back south.We did a short hike today, stopped for the night at Graymoor Spiritual Life Center run by the Francisican Friars. Father Fred came by the ball park pavilion, where the designated camping area was, and invited all the hikers to dinner at 5:30. Of course we all accepted and enjoyed a "great" salad and spaghetti dinner. After dinner Father Fred took us on a tour of the Friary, which was built in the early 1920's as a Catholic Seminary but is now used mostly for retreats. It was a beautiful place. After the tour we went back to the ball field and finished setting up camp, the mosquitoes were BAD. A few more hikers had come into camp, one of them being "Takereasy", whome we had not seen since Damascus. Great to go over old times with him and catch up on the news of the trail, who is still on, who is off.WHITE BLAZE DAY 122 7/24/03 mm 1407.5 8.2 miGot a late start because of rain. It was a very warm and humid day:( The trail goes up and down a lot but the elevation difference is small. There are no views to enjoy. After a relatively short day we stopped at a campsite near Dennytown Rd. and set up for the night. Darma Bun and Suds stopped and talked awhile. We haven't seen them since before Waynesboro. Earlier today we saw a flock of turkeys, at least 20. We are in the tent early, 7:30 p.m. because of the bugs:( Hope it cools off!WHITE BLAZE DAY 123 7/25/03 mm 1407.5 8 mi.Woke to beautiful blue skies, the trail was rough with lots of ups and downs. In the morning we stopped at the south end of Lake Canopus for a break. The humnidity is high and we are soaked with sweat. Some place in between the south and the north ends of the lake, Seneca tripped on a root and skinned up her left knee but didn't hurt her arm:) We ate lunch at the overlook at the north end of the lake. From there on the trail was much better. We stopped for water a Shenandoah Campsite and decided it was to nice to leave, so we set up our tent for the night. One other hiker set up behind the cabin and "Wildflower", whom we have not seen since the Blue Ridge Pkwy, came in just at dark, along with "Takereasy" and "Lief". We talked for about an hour and them turned in for the night.WHITE BLAZE DAY 124 7/26/03 mm 1418.1 10.3 mi.A beautiful morning , started out at 7:55 a.m. A very nice trail until late in the day, temperature around 90 and high humidity with a slight breeze and lots of shade. We found "Mt. Butterfly" camped at an outcroping. We visited for a while. We hiked out to rt.52 and then .3 mile to a deli and pizza parlor, wher we pigged out. Large pizza, ice cream etc.........bought a few staples, like snickers bars, shocolate sugar waffers and breakfast bars. While we were there we used the phone and called Mandy, all is well:) After we got back on the trail we hiked about 4 miles to the Morgan Stewart Shelter. We met "Smily Joe the Bartender" there and "MT. Butterfly" came in later. Set up our tents for the night.WHITE BLAZE DAY 125 7/27/03 mm 1434,7 16.7 mi.We got a little rain just before sun up. Most of the day was cloudy but no more rain, just hot and muggy. Except for a few spots, the trail was fairly easy and well maintained. Our first break was at Neuclear Lake. We stopped, took off our shoes and waded a little, felt good:) Long day 11 hours 10 min. Finally stopped at 7:50 p.m. at Wiley Shelter.WHITE BLAZE DAY 126 7/28/03 12.6 mi.We walked a little more than a mile to the Conn. state line. Another muggy day, lots of ups and downs. We found a beautiful spot under the foot bridge over Ten Mile River and took a nice break. This was a nice section of the trail. Later in the day it was harder. We got into Kent avout 6:30 p.m. and rented a room at the Fife and Drum Inn and then had dinner at the Inn, expensive but good. Took a walk around town after dinner ( can not get enough of walking) ran into Mt. Butterfly, who came in late and didn't have a place to sleep, so we offered to share out room and she took us up on the offer.WHITE BLAZE DAY 127 7/29/03 mm 1454.4 7 mi.Called Mom and Dad this a.m., all is well except Dad has heel spurs:( We talked with Cindy and all was fine there. Got our laundry done, picked up some groceries, ate lunch at a diner, picked up white gas at the outfitter store, said goodbye to Mt. Butterfly and headed for the trail. Lots of hikers in town and we ran into Cornpatch, who is now hiking without his wife, Jane. He said she did not like the heat! Don't blame her there. This section of the trail is beautiful and probably the easiest hike we have had except for the steep drop off, St. Johns Ledge, which is probably second only to the "Dragons Tooth" in Va. The rest of the days hike was along the Housatanic River and was really nice:) We got to Stewart Hollow Brook leanto and met "Tiperarry" eating dinner. He is the neat Priest from Scottland whom we met on the trail in the Blue Ridge Parkway. We visited for awhile and then set up camp. Mt. Butterfly arrived at dark and set up her tent near us. Lots of hikers are here tonight, Takereasy, Lief, Stretch and others, who will remain nameless.WHITE BLAZE DAY 128 7/30/03 mm 1466.8 12.4 miOur hike started out with a great walk along the river bank for the first couple of miles then we started the ups and downs for the rest of the day "Mt. Butterfly" hiked with us most of the afternoon. The Helicopters we heard last night were a rescue unit trying to evacuate a young hiker who had gotten ill. Words is they got him out with an ATV. We are camped at Sharon Mt. Campsite with lots of Mosquitoes. We hiked 9 hr. 50 min. and didn't have much time before dark.WHITE BLAZE DAY 129 7/31/03 mm 1480.1 13.3 mi.Slept late and started out at 9:00 a.m. A pleasant hike all day. Stopped for a lunch break at the Mt. View Cafe with Mt. Butterfly. Passed by the Great Falls on the Housatonic River and walked into Salisbury Ct. at about 6:30 p.m. We got lucky (trail magic) and were able to get a room at Maria's house. She takes in thru hikers during the summer. Great lady, with a great sense of humor. She drove us to a Chinese restaurant in the next town and came back and picked us up when we were finished.WHITE BLAZE DAY 130   8/1/03 0 milesWent to the coffee shop for breakfast and then Maria gave us a ride to the laundramat. Later we picked up groceries for 6 days and mailed the bump box ahead to Dalton Mass. We planned on hiking out today but it rained all morning and we felt it was necessary to do something about Seneca's arm, which is still swollen. Maria called her doctor and we were able to talk to him. He suggested that she remove the splint and see if the swelling would go down. He said if it did not improve by morning to go to the ER and have an x-ray. After we decided not to leave until tomorrow we went to the library and checked out Trail Journals. We are joined by Cornpatch,Morf, Journey, and Butterfly at Maria's tonight. Maria is at her son's celebrating her birthday. The rest of us all went down town to the ice cream shop and had huge Sundaes:) When we returned to the house, Maria was home with a large bottle of wine that we all shared in honor of her birthday and Mt. Butterfly's B-Day which will be tomorrow. We also got to watch Maria's pet wild fox come in for his nightly feeding!WHITE BLAXE DAY 131 8/2/03 mm 1494.3   12.3 mi.Went to the coffee shop with the whole gang, sang happy birthday to Mt. Butterfly( 56 today) Seneca's arm was a lot less swollen, so we decided to head back to the trail. We said our goodbyes to Maria and were on the trail by 9:15 a.m. It had rained all night and was still sprinkling off and on. Later the sun came out and it was a warm but not unpleasant day. At one point we crossed the Mass. state line and now we have only 1,000 miles left to hike. Race Mt. in Mass. had some great views from a rocky ridge. We picked a lot of blueberries along the trail. Finally we had to set up a stealth camp at the junction of the Race Brook trail because we ran out of day light. There is lightning in the distance and we expect a shower.WHITE BLAZE DAY 132 8/3/03 mm 1502.2 9.8 mi.Soon after breaking camp we were climbing Mt. Everet, a very hard climb up over rocks. Took a short break at the Hemlocks leanto and stopped for lunch on a ridge on Jug End. The Jug End ended up being a very steep and difficult decent. We made good time across the flat area to rt. 7 where we got off and hitched a ride to Great Barrington Ma. It rained most of the afternoon so we were nice and wet, not a good thing when you are trying to hitch a ride! A nice young girl finally stopped and picked us up and took us to the Days Inn. We will be going to the ER in the morning to get an x-ray on Seneca's hand, it is swollen more the ever:(