Date: 2005-10-13
From: Morgan Stewart Shelter

To: New York Route 301
Miles today: 17.8

This was a really wonderful day on the trail, despite the rain, with a very happy ending indeed!I started the day by putting on damp trousers and wet socks, putting my feet into wet boots, hoisting a wet pack, and setting off up the trail. The trail continued to be kind and generous, with enough ups to keep me warm, but generally pretty level. There were the usual low spots where the water was a foot or two deep, but you just have slog on through it and keep going. There really isn't any alternative. My mood was still good, however, as my hike of this last sectin is going well, and that's the important thing.Around lunch time, I arrived at the PHR shelter, happy to be out of the rain for a few minutes while I munched onsome cheese and crackers.I picked up the shelter register, and was delighted to see a message for me from an old mid-March hiker gang member - Socks. She had completed her hike and was looking for me to see if I needed anything - like a day off! She said she lived only 45 minutes away, and left her phone number. I called, but she wasn't home so I left a message. I said I was planning to go on to Route 301, at the entrance to the Farhnstock State Park where I had been planning to rent a tent site - being as there was no shelter or town anywhere nearby. I said I'd try to reach her again later when I got near the park.I wasn't counting on making connections (did't want to get my hopes up!), but managed to hike the next 7 miles in about 4 hours. I called Socks again, and she answered the phone. It was almost surreal, and what happened after that was just the best trail magic I could ever hope for!When I emerged from the trail at Route 301, there she was. An hour later we were at her house, with me in the shower and my wet hiking clothes in the washer.When her husband, Randy, got home, we went out for dinner to one of my favorite restaurants - Outback Steakhouse. We shared a blooming onion and some coconut shrimp and then I had the ribs and a great salad.I was then able to resupply at the local grocery store which - and just to continue the fantasy - found a "buy one, get one free" special on my non-prescription dietary supplements by Ben and Jerry's! I got two for me, and of course got two free ones to share....We went home and watched Surviver on tv, and then I headed off to bed. Unless you have been hiking for most of a week in pouring rain, with everything from your socks to your bvds sopping wet, you just can't imagine how grateful I was for this kind of trail magic.Socks was the hiking partner for Butterfly Moon, my first partner, after I dropped off the trail with injuries. We tried to call Butterfly, but she was out. Have I mentioned that the absolutely best part of the trail is the people you meet out here? I rest my case!Thanks, Socks and Randy. I had a great time!And, as a result, I now have a shot at doing an 18 mile day into Bear Mountain for tomorrow night - God willing, and the creek don't rise. Or in this case, the Hudson River, as Bear Mountain is just on the other side of that major milestone.As of today, I've done 158 miles in 10 days, almost a 16 mile per day average. Life is good.Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com