Date: 2004-07-03
From: Campsite near High Point State Park

To: Wawayanda Shelter 
Miles today: 26.4
Weather: clear sky

Well it's done. I made it to Wawayanda Shelter. It's 3:45 AM. My feet hurt. I've hung my food because the bear locker was full. My tent is up and I've discovered that I set it up very near the open privy. Too bad, it's 3am and I'm not moving. It will be a short walk for me for the morning constitutional. Did I say my feet hurt? good night. Well this was a freaking long day. I even got an early start for once. Planning to make some good mileage and maybe start catching up to Flora & Fauna, Dragon Slayer & Lobstah and/or Grass & UB. I was hiking by 8am or so, and was at High Point State Park by 8:30am. I even saw a bear on the way. Got some video of him, not sure yet how it turned out. Anyway, I wasted some time at the park getting water, which is turning out to be a pain up north here. Where are all the streams and springs? Also used the phone to send emails. So already I'm losing time, this would continue all day. Next was stopping by the "Secret Shelter" owned by Jim Murray. There is a small mention in my guidebook, but he prefers word of mouth. So here it is out of my mouth: "Go There, it is great." I met some day hikers and one told me that he went by and it looked like a nice place and I should check it out. When I got to the road there were signs that said "Well Water 100 yds", so I figured I should stop by for water at least. It was a beautiful spot. An old farm with some old cabin type buildings. One was the original Ice House for the farm. Jim has rebuilt them and turned them into a place for thru-hikers to stay. I got my water and went over to the one open cabin to check it out. There was a shower head and faucet and knob sticking out of the wall to make an outdoor shower. I turned on the water and lo and behold, HOT water! Oh Yeah, shower time. Now, I know what some of you are thinking. It's summer, it's hot out, you're all sweaty, why do you need hot water? Whatever. There ! is no reason ever to take a cold shower. A cold shower is what the KGB used to use to torture prisoners. " Hit him with ze cold vater, he vill talk." I think cold showers are even regulated by the Geneva Convention. Anyway, I did some laundry in the huge wash sink inside and took my deliciously warm shower. With soap and everything. Since it was out in the open I showered with my shorts on and washed them at the same time. As I was finising up, Jim Murray himself showed up. We got to chatting and as you see, more time lost. Jim was great and I had a blast talking to him about traveling around Europe. Since I needed to resupply in Unionville, just down the trail, he told me the quickest way into town and I took off.It took a few minutes to get there, but Unionville was cool. Very small, but friendly. Some neat old houses on the way into town on Unionville Rd. I got to the store and ordered a big German Bologna sandwich. As the nice lady made my lunch I took care of resupplying. Then went out side to eat and pack up. It was late by the time I left. After a while I met the same day-hikers at a road crossing and I they gave me a soda and we chatted a while. I hiked until sunset and had dinner as I watched the sun set. So I kept going and going and going...Crossing the swamp on the raised bordwalk by moonlight was cool. It was after 3am by the time I reached the Wawayanda Shelter. It was a long tiring day. There were a few big climbs and lots of rocks, and it just wore me out. My feet hurt still.