Date: 2006-10-19
From: NJ 23, High Point State Park

To: NJ94 Vernon,NJ & St Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel
Miles today: 20.3

Weather - Cloudy with temperature in 60'sMike, the owner of the motel gave me a ride back to High Point State Park. He had hiked the trail in 1982. He said there had been cougar sighting in the area.In the park there is an observation platform right by the trail. From here I could see it was still very cloudy. While on the trail there were some great views of the High Point Monument. It sits on top of a mountain and looks like the Washington Monument in Washington, DC. Just not as big.The wind and rain from the other day has knocked a lot of the leaves off the trees but in some areas there are still plenty of fall colors. Saw a lot of stone walls today, some with the trail passing right through them. Stopped at the Secret Shelter to get some well water and eat a snack. It is a neat shelter, it even has a shower, sink, lights and looks like heat also. But only for thru-hiker use.After crossing the swamp on the bog bridges, I ran into Laughing Socks and Rambling Tanager again headed south. Laughing Socks told me it is Rambling Tanager's birthday today. Wished her Happy Birthday and gave them a hug because it is the last time I will see them since I am hiking long distances. This was my third day seeing them and I have always been looking for them each day. Saw some cows in a field up close today.The rocks are getting less and less and the trail is easier to hike. While I was sitting on a stone wall eating my lunch at Lott Road, a southbound flip-flop hiker name Mr. Blister came hiking up. I had read some of his entries in the shelter journals way down south. He is retired, bald, with a white beard and had on an orange shirt. He said we looked like twins. Wish I had taken a picture of him. For lunch I had the other half of my deli sandwich and the special candy bar Nadine sent me.Part the way up Pochuck Mountain, I saw a sign that read, "Water 100 feet." It was from a faucet at the back of what looked like an abandoned house. Refilled my bottles and moved on. Started to get tired as I reached the top of Pochuck Mountain, a good time for a snack break. The area coming down the mountain was beautiful with hemlock trees all around and a stream to follow.On the other side of Country Road 517, I was hiking on a raised walkway that ran through marshland for about two miles. Along the way I met a couple, Mark and Sue, on the suspension bridge over Pochuck Creek. They live in Vernon, NJ and were walking their dogs on the raised platform. This platform is one of the most unique things I have seen on the trail. Mark and Sue told me where everything is in Vernon. Told me there are bears in the area and I told them where I had seen some bear squat on the trail and they said that was almost in their backyard. They also said they can hear the coyotes howling this time of year because it is their mating season.I am really tired as I cross the railroad tracks and can see NJ 94. On NJ 94 there was no place for anyone to pull off the road if I tried to thumb a ride so I walked up the hill a short distance to Heaven Hill Farm where there was room for someone to pull over. It was around 5:45 p.m. and in less than 15 minutes, a guy named Jim on his was home from work stopped and gave me a ride right to the St. Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel. After walking to Burger King for supper, I went back to the hostel for a shower and to wash my clothes. I am beat, 20+ miles is too far for me and my body aches all over. Sleeping on a carpeted floor but it feels good, I am so tired. The rain is coming tonight and I am inside warm and dry.