Date: 2018-09-12
From: Pochuck Creek, NJ

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: thunderstorm

It took me some time to pack up this morning. I had items drying in different places and I had items in two drawers. It seemed like I had more gear to pack than I had room but all went into the backpack somehow. Heartrock and I went to the Mixing Bowl for breakfast. She had a Greek omelet and I had a western omelet. Then, too soon, it was time to head back to the trail and say goodbye. After parking at County Road 517 I decided I had too much food. I removed a bag of bagels, a jar of peanut butter, and a few packs of crackers. I only needed three days worth I concluded. Heartrock and I said goodbyes complete with hugs and kisses. We reminded each other we'd see each other in 12 days when I reach Duncannon. At 9:40 I headed out on the trail waving to Heartrock as she waved to me until she was out of sight. The trail went up and over some hills and creeks. After Pochuck Mountain the trail dropped steeply down rocks until reaching the Wallkill National Wildlife Preserve. I met two nobo section hikers slipping on the long wet boards through the forest as I was doing the same. Then the trail came out to the open wetlands of the preserve. The trail enters the area then does a loop around the edge of the wetlands. Different species of birds rested or hunted in the grasses or the ponds. A beautiful area. After a short road walk the trail crossed the Wallkill River and a short distance later returned to the woods. Rain started and lasted about 20 minutes. Just before crossing NJ 284 I slipped on a tilted boardwalk. My trekking poles flew and I felt I did too then I landed on the boardwalk on my left side, ouch! I stood up, recovered my trekking poles and continued. A short distance after the road and a few fields the trail followed an old railroad bed until veering off near Lott Road. At Lott Road I veered off the trail and into Unionville, NY because Horler's store and deli are there. But since I ate well this morning my mission was just for ice cream and a soda. After my mission was complete I headed back to the trail. I went up a different way because of an old green 1940s truck, I was looking for it. I first saw it in 1998 with tall grass around it. In 2008 I saw it and it was being driven around. In 2012 I saw it parked. And today, I saw it again, parked by a garage at the old house I first saw it at. Looks like its still running. Back to the trail and onward. Trail was very wet. Just before one road crossing I slid on a big long smooth rock and went right down on my bad knee. Oh, that hurt. I got up and it hurt.  Plus I scraped my shin bone pretty good. A good five inch streak of a bloody scrape. Keep on walking is all I can do. The woods were fogging. Kind of spooky. A couple of Barred Owls were making strange noises up in the trees. They were squawking kind of like crows. Spooky woods. After crossing a road and climbing steeply the trail weaved through the foggy woods and across a creek. I met a nobo section hiker Knock Knock who was going to night hike and asked about the terrain. I said the terrain was good after the initial drop ahead. I especially warned him of the slippery boardwalks and bridges while showing him my scraped leg and drying blood. At 6:40 p.m. I arrived at High Point Shelter and camped across the creek from it. Strangely, no one is here. Rain began about 7:30. The katydids are calling. I heard a Barred owl, too. I can hear the creek running strong below the campsite. I hope my knee works tomorrow.