Date: 2006-06-23
From: High Point Shelter

To: Appalachian Motel, Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 18.9

Cell good.The hiking this morning went very well - so well in fact, that I decided to make a town stop for lunch. I went into Unionville, NY, to the general store. I bought some snacks and went outside to a picnic bench to eat it. As I sat there, I observed the cars coming into the lot to the store. It was comforting to see all the cars had New York license plates on them. I've been out of my home state three months, and it was good to be back on home turf again. I'm back in New Jersey right now, but I'll be in NY soon. Unfortunately, I'll leave it again, as my journey continues, but as The Terminator would say "I'll be back!"After my town stop, I ran into NEFFA, so we hiked together the rest of the day. We hiked through Walkill Wildlife Refuge, which entailed a boardwalk walk all around a swamp, and a creek crossing on a suspension bridge. I've seen pictures of this boardwalk in the Appalachian Trail Conservancy magazine, and it was nice to finally walk on it.The scattered showers finally started, and I got totally drenched. When I arrived at the motel, all my clothes were soaked. I did what I could to wring them out and hung them in my room.I had a pizza delivered and proceded to make it dissappear. Soon my guardian angels showed up at my doorstep. My best friends Dean, Brenda, Wanda, Jeff, and Tim arrived at my door! The drove down to surprise me, and to spend time with me. Well they certainly surprised me! It is great to see them. I'm planning to stay tomorrow night at a shelter where they can stay with me. It ought to be fun sharing the trail experience with them.I have to get going now, I'll continue tomorrow.Old Goat Hotel View - Click picture to see full size - Click picture to see full size - Click picture to see full size - Click picture to see full sizeBear Box - Click picture to see full size - Click picture to see full size - Click picture to see full sizeWawayanda Hilton - Click picture to see full size - Click picture to see full size - Click picture to see full size Sue's Note: Brenda called me on their way down to see if I had heard from him yet that day so I could tell them exactly where he is. (Last evening he told me where he hoped to stop for the night tonight, so they had scoped it out.) When Old Goat called me, he was 10 miles beyond where the Pease's were, so after our call, I immediately called Brenda and told them where he was. They had found the motel in their searching, so they knew exactly where he was and went right over to it. Old Goat was talking with our son, Chris, on his cell phone when the front desk called and told him he had visitors. Old Goat figured it was probably another thru-hiker looking for him - he was so surprised to see the Pease family!!! He called me shortly after and said "my boots arrived!" I knew then that they were with him. He loved the surprise! Dean, Brenda, Wanda, Jeff, and Tim - you are such wonderfully special people! What a fabulous gift you have given Old Goat by this surprise visit. He called me after you left him for the night tonight and was in such high spirits to know came down to see him like this! Thank you for being you!!!!!