Date: 2015-07-08
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Stealth Camp at Mile 1310.8
Miles today: 16.4

I got up late today because a) I didn't want to wake my roommates Pony Puncher and Southpaw and b) the bakery didn't open until 8 am anyway. As it was, even after a 'resupply' stop at the convenience store, I had to wait a few minutes for the bakery to open.But, you could get the lunch menu for breakfast and so I had a wonderful BLT with avocado on sourdough and it kept me going for the rest of the morning. And yea. Because we're trying to have a civilization here! Pony Puncher and I left at the same time. Southpaw was getting a new pack in the mail so had to collect that from the post office and send her old one home. She is a much faster hiker than either Pony Puncher (PP) or me so we were quite sure we'd see her again today.We first had to cross the river (not sure which) on I-80. There was a concrete barrier separating the pedestrian lane but any time a sixteen-wheeler drove by, you could feel the bridge move. We wanted to get off of that thing as soon as possible but halfway through there was a painted border sign. And we weren't so desperate to get off the bridge that we did not take pictures!Once we got back on actual trail, we naturally started by climbing. It wasn't too long or too steep but it was already hot and humid, so we were sweating like crazy anyway. The forecast was for rain in the afternoon, but it came a little early and right as we were on the most exposed section. An earlier day hiker had told us about 360 degree views at this spot and we could see they would normally be quite spectacular, but now everything was muted by the rain. We did have some other decent views today though. Also, blackberries and blueberries! The rain didn't last that long, just long enough to get us good and wet but it was warm so it didn't really matter. The trail, btw, was still rocky, but overall much better behaved than in Pennsylvania. Still, my blister, which I had taped, was not getting better on this terrain and the rain didn't help things any either.I had been looking forward to going to the Mohican Outdoor Center to have lunch and resupply but when we got there it turned out to be a bit of a letdown. The resupply section was tiny and they told us the deli was closed because of refrigerator issues. But then the girl realized they may have some non-fridge stuff and in the end we had a pb&j (PP) and tuna sandwich (me) with chips and soda, so all was not lost. I also got a couple of snacks and 1 dinner and bug spray because mine was finished and the mosquitoes are absolutely menacing here. I look like a pin cushion. The other fun thing was that reader and commenter Bill had sent me another lovely card and gift, and it was great to read! Thanks again Bill!We only had 6 miles to go after our stop at Mohican because there is a No Camping zone in effect that would force us to do ten more miles and we'd likely arrive in the dark. There was no water at the camp site though, so we walked down a steep road to a spring to get water. Only to find that the trail actually went by the same spring a half mile further down. Doh!We did pass a big beaver pond (not desirable as drinking water, hence our earlier spring expedition) and were lucky enough to spot one of the beavers. Check that one of the list! The three of us are camped in a really nice spot and will probably camp together again tomorrow. We are all planning to go to Unionville, NY on Friday. That doesn't mean we'll be out of NJ though, the trail straddles the border for a while. Still, the New Jersey section is not that long and the states should be getting checked off at a pretty decent clip for the next few weeks.I don't really know what's on tap for tomorrow, other than an 80% chance of rain. But today only had the one shower so maybe we'll get lucky again!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?