Date: 2008-07-25
From: High Point Shelter

To: Mayor's House, Unionville, NY & Liberty Corners Rd
Miles today: 11.9

I got up about 6:30 AM and got on Trail about 7:30.An easy hike today. I hiked fairly fast and got to the road to Unionville, NY about 12:30. Even though the Trail goes through New Jersey there, I hiked about 1/2 mile West and I was in Unionville New York. I went to the Post Office and picked up a package that Nancy had sent.I then hung out in the city park for a little while until Roger Shulz got there. We had talked on the phone and arranged to meet there and do a day's hike together. After he came, I went to Horler's Store and got a sub sandwich. He then took me up to Mayor Ludwick's house, where I would stay the night.Mayor Ludwick is a most interesting person. He has a modest home and has opened it to hikers. His wife suffered from Multiple Sclerosis and died several years ago. Dick Ludwick, as mayor of Unionville, realized that the Appalachian Trail (even though he is not a hiker himself) brought a diverse, interesting group of people to his town. He started taking in hikers and has become a legend on the Trail. He, along with Bill (his father-in-law?) and Butch, a friend who works for the city, provide great hospitality to hikers. They wash clothes, cook supper and have great conversations with all the hikers. Dick outfitted his basement several years ago with bunk beds for hikers. Although the house is modest (including only one bathroom), there is always room for one more. There must have been 20 people there the night I was there, including some who camped out in their tents in the back yard.So, after checking in at the Mayor's house, Roger drove me down the road some 6 miles to Liberty Corners Road and dropped me off. He was going to park his car and meet me at a point down the Trail. I started hiking and eventually got back to Unionville. Somehow, Roger and I did not connect and I never did see him. We met back up at the Mayor's house. He hung out for a while then headed home.I got well settled in at the Mayor's house. I took a shower and dressed in a spare white chenille bathrobe (Bill was washing mine and others' clothes). I called Nancy about 5:15 PM and told her my situation was amazing; I was sitting in the sunshine on the Mayor's deck, in my bathrobe, drinking a beer (first one's free, second or more, 25 cents apiece). This was truly a luxury.We had supper (a great stew and cornbread) as a group. Dick Ludwick gave a small speech and welcomed us all officially to his home and his town. After supper, he showed a video from a show called 'Britain Has Talent', I believe. It was about a guy named Paul Potts who sang Opera as part of a competition, like American Idol, and won. The point was that he did his own thing and persevered and won. All throughout the video, the background music was 'Vincera' (I will win, from the Opera Turandot). Dick Ludwick's message after the video was that we all had come a long way, but had a long way to go to Mt. Katahdin, and would have to persevere. Keep the message, Vincera, in your heart. Although he appears to be a crusty guy, he teared up as he told us this.After a pleasant evening and talking with other hikers, Hell On Bad Wheels came in. I was very glad to see him again; I last saw him in Hemlock Hollow, North Carolina.I slept in my sleeping bag on the floor of the basement.