Date: 2008-06-02
From: Brink Rd Shelter

To: High Point State Park
Miles today: 17.9

Well today was a wild day.   The words for the day are Texture and Stealth.The hiking today was fabulous for birds. A variety of birds both in sight and sound.Started out last night, I heard my first owl of the trip. And, continued all the way up the trail.Flushed a grouse out into the open which is always a treat. Heards lots of cedar waxwings, nuthatches, blue jays, chicadees. Had a real good up close view of a pheobe and a red eyed vireo.   And, best of all was an indigo bunting on the summit of Sunrise Mountain. It was a day all about texture. Both in color and in matter. Matter meaning solid surface. Incredible texture.The sunlight was streaming into the forest - makeing the greens look even more vibrant. Dark and light. Browns of all shades. Awesome.Texture as far as the trail itself - rocks, grass, bigger rocks, dirt, and sand. I even decided to add texture to my lunch to go with the theme. I had PBJ on a tortilla and added gorp to it. Worked with the theme, but was a little too sweet. More great views today. I sat on a nice overlook and ate lunch while turkey vultures soared overhead. Days and moments like that make you know why you are out on the trail.I had been planning a 14+ day today, but when I got to the shelter it was .4 miles down a rocky hill, so I decided to push on. Figuring, I did not want to add on extra for nothing. I should have known not to mess with the AT Goddess. It was 2.6 miles to High Point State Park. I figured how bad could it be. Plus, according to my companion book - I could get a camp site at the park. The book also listed a concession stand at the park. Sweet. I might even be able to get there and get a snack. Well, plans never work out the way you want.The 2.6 miles were pretty much all up hill and very rocky. I didn't remember to check the time once I made my decision, but I didn't get to the park ranger station until 6:15. And, they had closed at 4pm. The place was all locked up and there was nobody around any where. I came down out of the woods and got to the road and didn't have a clue which way to go on the road and the book didn't really say. So, I sat there for a few minutes debating what to do.I saw that the next shelter was about 1.7 miles away. What's another 2 miles. I decided to push on. Headed across the road and into a field and then into the woods.   The trail was going right up hill. I must admit my reaction was screw this. I was too tired to keep climbing - so I went back to the road and saw a sign for the entrance of the park.   I decided to head into the park.The park was pretty empty - or at least where I was. There were a couple of cars parked near the bathhouse, but otherwise pretty empty.   The map for the park didn't really show where their campsites were at. So, I decided to just go to a picnic site that was out of the way.   According to the sign at the park entrance it closed at 8pm - it was now about 7:15.   I figured I would lay low until 8 and then set up my stuff. I found an out of the way site down a short road off the main road.   But, there wasn't a good tree to hang my food. I then saw a stone building that was a handicap rest room. Based on the fact that there were signs everywhere about bears - I decided I would stay in the rest room. It wasn't as gross as it sounds. The place was clean and was really large.   About 5 stalls and a nice big clean floor. According to my book - the concession stand closed at 6 - so I was out of luck there. The door swung open and was propped open with a rock. There was a good 4 feet between the door and the wall, so I sat down against the wall and hung out and cooked my dinner.   I was really tired and pretty dyhdrated. I had run out of water before I made it down from the woods. There is not a lot of water in NJ. Not that it is dried up - just no sources at all. At 8pm - I pushed the door closed and moved the rock up against the door. Figuring if someone came in - it would wake me up.   I set up my sleeping stuff between the door and the wall. I was wasted, so I was in bed by 8:30. I slept fitfully. Mainly because my legs were achy and the floor was quite hard.I was awakened about 5:30 by wild turkeys.   It sounded like they were having a party right outside the door. I finally got up around 6 - to see if I could get a picture. There were 3 toms about 10 feet from the building - strutting around with their tail feathers totally fanned out.   It was really cool. But, as soon as I stepped away from the building - they took off.I figured I should get moving before the park opened so that I didn't get caught.   I was hiking and back on the trail by 7:30.   As I headed into the woods - I saw a female turkey and about 12 chicks.   I did get a picture of them.Pretty cool.