Date: 2006-07-01
From: Secret Shelter

To: Unionville, NY
Miles today: 1.8

There's no excuse for today except that we are having fun and feeling lazy. Right now I'm sleeping in a gazebo in the public park in Unionville, NY. I hiked less than two miles this morning. Way back in Duncannon, PA I was judging negatively the hikers who were hanging around and couldn¢t leave the Doyle Hotel. Whatever they had, I've caught it too. I don¢t think I've been getting lazy about my hike. I'm definitely not giving up on it. This was my fourth zero day in two weeks and except for yesterday I've been doing short miles. I know I've been rethinking my hike, which must be normal for all of us who get this far. The hike is long and hard. I've been lonely. I think I feel Maine approaching and I'm not ready for it. Summer's here. This must be part of the natural evolution of the thing. Everyone I talk to has changed hiking styles and philosophies. There are people out there forcing every mile of every day. There are people being steady and consistent. There are the rest of us who push hard and then relax. Until I hooked up with my current partners I was getting down and anxious and tired. Now I'm turning it around, and I don't feel guilty. I had been like a monk devoted to and deriving satisfaction from one source, the trail, and denying and other pleasure. I've been out on the trail for four months. I've completed the hell that was Pennsylvania. It's summertime and the hiking is easy. Fish are jumping, and the cotton is high.It's time to give myself a little break. People are getting burned out and are leaving the trail. Firefly is done. I was disappointed when I heard that Free Fall was off trail again, this time for good, and I was surprised to hear that both Figgy and Sanford have called it quits. We've all crossed the halfway point in the past few weeks and the trail is taking its toll.I left the shelter early this morning after taking an outdoor shower. The property is beautiful and there's no better way to enjoy it. I walked slowly and quietly into the woods hoping to see a famous New Jersey bear. I heard crashing and saw bushes swaying, but that was all. Much of the trail was boardwalk through wetlands. I took this slowly as well. It was early and cool and no reason to hurry.Unionville, NY is another of those trail towns with one main street and everything you need is within a block. First stop was the diner. Lost Buck popped out the door and said the place had everything I want. I sat down with Maple Leaf and Enduro. Conversation was a little tough because Enduro doesn't talk, he shouts. Endurs is from Massachusetts buy has been in Miami for twelve years. He's chief of maintenance at a college there. He quit his job when they wouldn¢t give him the time off. He's ready for New England at the end of the trail. He does consistent twenty-five mile days and doesn't take zeros. Maple Leaf is from Ontario. He's retired and low key, the opposite of Enduro. He started the trail last year but had to leave after breaking his foot. He's finishing his hike this year.John, Lilly, Uberdude and Texas came in as I finished my pancakes. We needed post office and resupply and we're heading out of town. Food and folks at the diner were so good we made a long morning of it. At the post office I asked if I could use the lawn to write postcards, a clever hiker ruse. Get approval then take advantage. I spread out tent, socks, boots, clothes and every wet thing to dry. Four other hikers and two dogs stopped to do the same. You know a town is hiker friendly when local folks stop and offer assistance rather than cross the street and allow their kids to gawk only from a distance. The diner and the pub became the town attraction when Maple LEAF SAID THAT WORLD CUP WAS ON AT 11:00. We hike out after the game and make it a shorter day. A second game followed the first and promised an even shorter day. One more stop at the diner was worth the time spent. We decided to hike until dark and pitch tents wherever. The town allows hikers to camp in the park and sleep in gazebos across from the diner. It didn't take much to convince everyone we should stay here for a good night's rest and badminton. We dumped gear and set up for the night.Charlie Foxtrot came in while we were playing badminton but we couldn't get him in the game. He'd decided to stay in the park rather than in the storage room behind the pub which doubles as a hostel. Kutsa and Gary were in storage. Little Engine and Gotta Go were at the Secret Shelter.After badminton Tex, Uber and I stayed in one gazebo. John and Lilly took the other. We stayed up pretty late talking like kids at summer camp. We got the story of how at 18, Texas has the freedom, confidence and drive to hit the trail on his own and the social skills to fit in with an older crowd instead of getting lost in the party mentality of many of the younger hikers. He's got his head on straight.Late.