Date: 2008-09-14
From: Graymoore

To: Seven Lakes Drive
Miles today: 10.5

I got into my bag on top of my table around 7:45. Was listening to my ipod dozing when my phone rang. It always takes me by surprise when my phone rings out on the trail. I am never expecting a phone call. Even though I left my cell number at work in case they need me. It was the southern support staff checking in. Wanted to know when I would be done with my hike - was worried about me being caught in Hurricane Ike. No problem I should be home in my bed by the time it gets up to NY. Quick call.As I laid there I started seeing flashes of light. I thought for a moment it was lighting, but then it was red and blue. I realized it was fire works. Some where off in the distance they were doing a show. It seemed like it lasted quite a while. I think I fell asleep and they were still going off.I was awoken about 1am to rain. I wasn't getting wet, so I tried to fall back to sleep. It was so freakin hot and muggy. I finally did fall back to sleep, but was woken again at 2:30 this time because I was getting wet. The roof was leaking and the rain was blowing in. The table I was on was toward the back of the picnic pavillion. I thought I was far enough from the roof edge that I wouldn't get wet, but it was windy and it was really pouring. My bag was getting wet and was was dripping on me. I got up and pulled my table more into the middle and turned it horizontal. The tables on the other side of me seemed to be staying dry to the wind was coming in the back and not the front. I figured I would move closer to the front and might stand a better chance of staying dry.At this point, I was sweating so I took off my sleeping shirt and put on my smelly hiking shirt. It was actually damp so it felt pretty good. As I laid there I couldn't decide which was worse being hot or having to smell my shirt. I opted for the stench. I tossed and turned the rest of the night. When I woke up it was about 6 and it was still raining out. Plus, it was really foggy.I was packed up and headed back to the trail about 7:10. By now, it was just a steady drizzle. It was really foggy though. I had my rain gear on, but was dying. The gear lasted about half an hour and I couldn't take it any more. First off was the jacket.Not as many acorns on the trail today and the trail was pretty wide. I was making great time.Ran into a nobo just north of Hemlock campsite. He was out for a 10 day hike - heading to the Mass border. He came through Bear Mountain yesterday and stopped at the October feast. Enjoyed it while he was eating sausage and drinking beer, but regretted it once he was back hiking.I saw a couple of deer up on the mountain, but not much else. It was so foggy - there were no views just fog. I made it down to Rt 9 by 10 and was across the bridge by 10:30.Crossing the bridge was kinda neat. But, it was wierd to see all the suicide prevention hotline signs. Pretty sad that they need to have them posted all over the bridge.I ran into some German tourist crossing the bridge - they made me stop to take my picture. Pretty funny. The humidity was killing me. I was sweating like a pig. I don't think I have ever sweated as much as I have the past 2 days. I finally had to take my rain paints off.Once I got across the bridge I got messed up and went the wrong way. I ended up going across the highway, but it just didn't seem right. So, I back tracked and found my way to the zoo entrance. Going through the zoo was kind of sad. But, I did smile when I went by the bob cat cage. The cat was laying on a garden variety cat bed. It just struck me as funny to see this wild cat laying on a cat bed similar to what I have at home for my cat. He was sitting there licking himself just like a house cat.I made my way across the park to the trail and as I headed into the woods - I called the SQ to check where she was. She was somewhere on the Taconic. I figured I could make it to the summit of Bear Mountain by the time she got across the bridge.By now the fog was gone and the sun was out. The park was filled with people having picnics and waiting for the Octoberfest to start. It was really hot. I had expected the climb up Bear Mountain to be worse than it was. Not that it wasn't bad, but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. With the humidity it was still kicking my ass. It was just not as narrow and rocky as I expected.The SQ called me while I was resting up at the top. I told her I would make it down to Seven Lakes Drive and would call her. There were a lot of tourists on the top of Bear Mountain - lots of motorcycle riders. It was a perfect day to be out on a bike. Early fall and nice weather can't beat it.I just made it down to Perkins Road when the SQ called me again. She didn't understand where I was going to be. She kept insisting that the road ended at the park. I tried to explain to her that it didn't and I could see from the map that she should just take a left out of the park and she would be on the right road. She wasn't buying it.I told her I would call her when I got to the road. Directions and the SQ just don't mix.I crossed over another paved road which I incorrectly thought was still Perkins Drive. I figured I had another .5 miles to get the Seven Lakes. But, I kept going up and up. I was dying.I got to the top of something and I had a view of the tower on Bear Mountain. Oops. I asked an older couple that was sitting enjoying the view if the road was coming up. They said yes. So, I kept going. As I headed down the trail a guy and his family stopped to chat. And they were asking me all kinds of questions. So, I aksed them if the road was coming up and he said yes - if I kept going I would hit the Palisades Parkway. I said huh? I told him I was looking for Seven Lakes Drive. He said I had already passed it about half a mile ago. He asked me where I was trying to get to and I told him back down to Bear Mountain Inn.   He said he would give me a ride down. So, back down the trail we went and we finally made it back to the road.   The SQ called and said she was on Perkins - I told her to meet me back down at the Inn that I was getting a ride.The guy and his family were really nice. They were from NJ and were out hiking and camping for a few days. Nice family. While they walked up the road to the parking lot - I sat and waited for them. They pulled up in three cars - loaded my crap in the back of one of the cars and off we went. Definitely some of the best trail magic I ever had. It was so hot and I was really whipped. Glad that I ran into them when I did because I would have been killed by the SQ if I had gone all the way to the Parkway.Just as we pulled up to the Inn - I saw the SQ and the puppies. THANK YOU trail angel.I was hot and tired and couldn't believe that I was as directionally challenged as the SQ. Karma in action.   We finally got on the road and headed to get my car. So far, I must say that NY is my least favorite state. Not much to see.