Date: 2016-07-03
From: Vernon, NJ

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

Verge and I woke up well rested and ready to hike. Dori had the table set and breakfast ready to go! She cooked us some tasty eggs mixed with cilantro and onions, and we also polished off the fruit and had some toast and hummus. Yum! We also got to set some peanuts out on her deck and watch as the bluejays came and flew down to eat them. Dori was more than happy to drive us to the trail, but she presented us with a couple other options as well. She told us how she plays pickle ball and would love to teach us how to play, and she also showed us her kayaks and how close the lake was to her house in case we wanted to kayak or go swimming. Who can turn down hanging out with the sweetest lady ever while learning new things (pickle ball) and doing what we love (kayaking and swimming)? We had to consider that we had already had our "near-o" day in Delaware Water Gap on Monday shortly thereafter followed by an actual zero day with my friend Kate on Thursday, and here we are debating another diversion from the trail today (Sunday), but as Dori said, "when opportunity knocks..." Looks like we're hanging out with Dori today!Pickle ball was SO fun! It was fairly easy to catch on to because Verge and I have both played tennis before. I can't wait to tell our grandparents that we know how to play and can now challenge them in a match! (They'd probably kick our butts.) Since Dori was sensitive to our time goals (our hope was to have fun but still get back to the trail today), we didnt stay for too long so that we could go back to her house and start getting the kayaks ready! We unloaded and rinsed them off and put new stickers on them, and then we brought them down the hill to the dock where we (mostly) gacefully maneuvered into them and paddled around the lake. We saw lots of fish, turtles, ducks, and swimmers. We hopped in the refreshing water after as well! It was bliss. Dori talked about how you have some moments in life where everything is perfect and you have nothing to worry about because you're so happy; this was definitely one of those moments. We went inside and Dori made us a delicious grilled cheese with cilantro, hummus, radishes, and a pretty purple cabbage salad on the side. We devoured it all! The next few hours we relaxed and Dori gave us everything she could think of! (Toilet paper, snacks galore, new trash bag liners, even a pair of sneakers that didn't fit her because Verge's are falling apart!) I can't believe how generous she was! Though we continuously thanked her for everything, she was constantly reiterating that she was as thankful for us as we were for her. For the finale of our perfect adventure, we went out for ice cream at Heaven Hills Farm and walked around looking at flowers. Dori dropped us off at the trail and we said our goodbyes. Goodbye Fairy Godmother! This was truly magical. (We'll see her again, I'm sure.)We hiked the "Stairway to Heaven" though I'm pretty sure we were leaving heaven behind, and we ran into Bougie and Sailor Jerry a couple times on our way to the Wawayanda shelter. By the time we had got going it was past 5pm, so there was a pretty slim chance of us getting very far. Perhaps it's best to just accept the near-o day, get a good night of sleep, and have a good long day tomorrow. As we were sitting in our tent, I could hear all the buzzing from the mosquitos that had been devouring me outside, along with some fireworks that must have been going off in town. I've never heard mosquitos that loudly. Ramen and a couple cookies for dinner, and I'm ready for bed! I am so incredibly thankful for all the magic New Jersey has brought me, and I'm very excited for what New York will bring. Only 100 miles until I get into New England...and only 145 miles until Massachusetts...wow...time is FLYING.