Date: 2007-09-10
From: Kent, CT

To: Vernon, NJ
Miles today: 109.0

It's been 9 days since my last entry in Kent, CT and now I've hiked all through the state of New York! I started out the section with new hiking boots that I bought in Kent. I sent home my battered and torn boots that had carried me the first 700 miles. Although I had a few tender spots where the new boots rubbed, they now feel like they're part of my body, ready to traverse rocks and roots.The Trail in New York was surprisingly diverse and interesting. I loved the easy climbs and rocky ridges. The Trail wound through the Pawling Nature Reserve (Nature Conservancy) and Fahnestock State Park as well as fields and meadows. It followed the Housatonic River (in CT) for several miles and crossed the Hudson River over the Bear Mountain Bridge to Ft. Montgomery (half way through NY). We called this section the "Deli Section" as there were delis to walk to within a mile of the trail to enjoy a sandwich that we didn't have to carry in our packs. The best "near trail" stop, however, was on the road to Bellvale, NY. About 0.1 mile from the trail crossing was the Bellvale Creamery and a farm market. Fresh, ripe peaches atop homemade vanilla ice cream made a glorious snack before climbing the highest point on the AT in the state of New York.At the road crossing for Pawling, NY there was a Native Plants Landscape center. I felt right at home, joking with the owner that I could probably sell a few plants for him. He said, "well, let's see what you can do. The next customer is yours!" Being Labor Day, there weren't any other customers while I was there so I didn't get a chance to do that, but I had a relaxing time at the store . I met Pam, the apprentice, and learned that she's relocating to Atlanta soon. I gave her the contacts for the Native Plant Garden and for Living Foods and hope to see her when she comes to Atlanta! At Island Pond, a beautiful little lake that was just about a mile and a half from where the trail crossed the NY Thruway, I discovered that my Thermarest makes a great water float. I basked in the sun - and got my clothes a little clean too!The forests are changing now to predominantly Oak-Hickory. We're still seeing a few white birch trees though. I saw the first Tulip Poplar trees, tall and branch-free, in Fahnestock State Park. The first Cardinal Flower of my trip made its appearance in a low, wet area. I saw a forest understory full of Deerberry and noticed Clethra alnifolia along the shores of Canopus Lake. I love seeing plants that I learned selling native plants at the GPC Native Plant Garden in Altanta growing in their native habitats! Most nights I sleep under my tarp inside my net tent. Since mosquitoes have been voracious at night, the net tent is a lifesaver, or at least a sleep saver! The shelters in this section always seemed to be further than we wanted to hike since it's getting dark sooner. Since the days are shorter now, we've wanted to stop by about 6 p.m. so have opted for "stealth" sites where we go off the trail about 200 feet and find a flat place for the tarp. I look for a place with at least one tree to tie one of the ridge lines, then use my trekking pole to support the other line. It's great having a hiking companion for setting up camp. I take care of the tarp and John fixes dinner. We've had some fantastic dinners combining his pasta/couscous foods with my fresh vegies, garlic, and sprouts. Yummy!I've now hiked about 830 miles from Katahdin! I'm still feeling great and still loving my daily nature walks through continually changing terrain and plant communities.