Date: 2004-11-06
From: Mt Algo Lean-to, Ct.

To: Wiley Shelter, NY
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

12.4 miles todaySleeping in a shelterWiley Shelter, NYThis hasn't been too bad the last couple of nights sleeping in shelters by myself. There hasn't even been any mice, so I'm going to try it again tonight. This was only the third shelter I've slept in all year. I slept good except for around midnight I woke up for a while, so I read about a chapter in a book I'm carrying and fell back to sleep soundly until about 5:45 this morning. I really could have stayed there in my sleeping bag alot longer this morning, but there was a chance that Dr Dolittle might still show up at Bull's Bridge at 10am. I could have made another cup of coffee and been fine staying another hour or so. I started walking at 7am because I knew that the terrain that I had to go over today was going to be alot like yesterday's...lots of small ups and downs with nothing over about a 1,000 foot climb. It just seems to take longer on this stuff. I ran into a lone grouse hunter who hadn't seen a thing. I told him that I haven't seen a grouse in over two days. I'm sure that made him feel good. I climbed the rest of the way up Mt Algo and then up Schaghticoke Mtn before descending towards Bull's Bridge. On my way down the mountain, I ran into a couple of backpackers that were out for the weekend. One of them had started a nobo thru hike this year, but said he had to get off the trail in Va. for some reason. His trailname was Beavis. We talked a while and named a few hikers that we both knew. It was getting close to 10am and that's the time I said I'd be at Bull's Bridge Store, so I hiked on the rest of the way and got there at 10:10am. I sent in my journal and got my email before I went in for some food and a drink. I ended up staying there for over 2 1/2 hours. I kept thinking that Dewdrop or Chief were going to show up with some fried chicken. They know I would if they were still on the trail, but I guess what I heard may be true. I heard that they both get up in the morning and have tea in a real China tea cup. I bet they even hold their pinkie fingers out when they're sipping that tea. It's a shame what happens to some really good hikers after they finish...they just kind of go off the deep end. I called the Dr and we made arrangements on where we are meeting tomorrow. She is going to be hiking with me for a week or two until she goes back to work. Finally, I looked both ways down the road for any signs of fellow hikers, most of whom I've taken trail magic to, and decided that I might as well hike on. I hiked to Ten Mile River Lean-to and signed the register before climbing Ten Mile Hill. I crossed over from Ct to NY and got to say hello to Pamela. Another state bites the dust!! I've only got 5 1/3 states left to finish this thru hike. I did my part today doing trail maintanance for 12 miles. It was very windy yesterday and there were branches blown all over the trail. I kept clearing the trail all day today while I walked. There were some pretty large branches on the trail that I'm glad fell when I wasn't around. I found two ticks on me!! I didn't think that I'd see anymore of those critters this year. I do remember how infested the area just south of Hoyt Rd was though and that's probably where I picked them up at. I got to Wiley Shelter before 3pm and ate an early dinner and then just before 4pm, I crawled into my sleeping bag to warm up. It was a warm day today. It got all the way up to 55 degrees. That's the warmest it's been in a while, so it felt really warm. The sun is behind the mountain now and the temps in the upper 40s. I read my book for the rest of the day. It's nice taking this much time off from walking once in a while...just 12 miles today. Did you hear that Hippie?? You should be able to get your pokey butt moving and catch me.Another great day on the A.T.