Date: 2005-11-11
From: Campsite between Rt 52 & I-84

To: Rt. 22/Pawling
Miles today: 0.0

We slept a little later since we¢re sure we can easily make the 14 miles to Pawling where my car awaits us at the AT train station.   Today will feature some easy stretches around Nuclear Lake and the last 2 miles to Rt. 22 part of which traverse an open field.This is only my 4th day out but gradually, my groin muscle injury is making its presence known. Ironically, the worst pain is on the normally-easy straight stretches - I just can¢t hit my stride on the level portions whereas the ups and downs are slow and thus less painful anyway because of the leaves. However, I also cracked my left toes yesterday - another annoyance.On the other hand, Scarf admits she is ready for a break. Day 11 for her today and in addition to a rest, she¢s eagerly anticipating the ¢town food¢ we expect when we reach Pawling. But one thing she won¢t look forward to now is her maildrop; belatedly we realized that today being Veterans Day means the Post Offices are closed.Any doubt she needs a break? As we neared Morgan Stewart Shelter, she asked when we were crossing I-84. ¢Don¢t you remember we came out of the woods and walked on the road back there, that overpass, with all the traffic going by underneath?¢ Ah yes. I wanted to make sure we stopped briefly at Morgan Stewart so she could see the crescent moon on the privy door. I believe it was the first such instance since Eagles Rest Shelter back before Port Clinton.The sky becomes a hearty encouraging blue but the cold temperatures left both of us bundled with our hats and gloves on. One interesting aspect of today¢s hike is we pass two mighty oaks. For some reason the second one - Dover Oak - enjoys more renown but the first one - unnamed, slightly before I-84 - is equally impressive. These 2 along with the Keffer Oak in SW Virginia are sylvan treasures.Nuclear Lake was picturesque but we didn¢t tarry as the hours are slipping by ever-so-quickly. A confusing junction where the Trail finally left Nuclear Lake wasn¢t helpful; one more instance of where a clear sign was necessary. With the holiday, we expected to meet some other hikers today and we weren¢t disappointed. After the turn as we made the gradual ascent up West Mountain (no, we didn¢t go backwards - this is a different West Mountain), we met a party of 3 including an older woman at least 75 who¢s been involved in trail maintenance for decades scouting the trail conditions. Nice to talk to. On the West Mountain summit, we met a guy in his 30s who works for the Social Security Administration in New York City and had taken the train up to Pawling for a one-night out-and-back hike. Then on the steep descent before the turnoff for Telephone Pioneers Shelter, a young guy without a pack asked if we had lost a map or met anyone else. Our previous acquaintance evidently dropped his map and this guy was trying to find him - a Good Samaritan.Finally the steep descent is behind us after we nearly took a wrong turn. Now it¢s County Road 20 and the Dover Oak. Scarf barely shows up in the photo I took. Again the time has passed swiftly and being east of West Mountain, the sun is gone but our last two miles taking us through open fields with grazing cows, more forest, and then planks across marshes were pleasurable.We¢re at the car by about 4. It¢s safe, it starts, it¢s warm, and we¢re ready for town food and a zero day!