Date: 2018-06-02
From: Mohican Outdoor Center mile 1304.4

To: Route 206 Branchville
Miles today: 17.6

WOW! Best night of sleep possibly ever! I think I rolled over once, and at 6am Elliot climbed into bed to welcome a new day with me. We decided last night that Jodi would bring us to the post office so that River could pick up her resupply box and I could bounce my knee brace and extra snacks up the trail. Jodi made us a wonderful breakfast and we fueled up on coffee, made it to the post office and a quick stop at Mohican to grab the phone cord River had left there yesterday. We were at the trail just before 10am for a 17 mile slack pack.The terrain was decent, small ups and downs all day, some road walking, a very cool frog and snake pond and views! Lots of time on the ridge. The forcast was for scattered thunder showers. We rolled along nicely and stopped for snacks and then lunch up on a nice view area. I rolled out my just received tyvek from my friends Dan and Jeanne complete with a note of encouragement from Brian and took off my shoes and socks to rest my feet. We were overlooking a pond or lake and we could hear people having a great time in the water. And then we watched the sky and saw the rain, which was rolling by. And then to the left the darkening sky and a roll of thunder. We scrambled to pack up, hoping not to have to hide under the tyvek! We were on our feet in record time and headed back on trail quickly away from the ridge. We escaped with only drops, and I mean just a handful. The last few miles were rough with rocks.We met a nice couple who were out for a 14 mile hike, trying to do NJ over the summer. We kept crossing paths with them and had some nice conversation. About 2 miles from the end for all of us River stirred a rattle snake and jumped back. Her shot of adrenaline must have been tremendous because I think I felt it. This snake was angry and rattled repeatedly for long durations. There was no way to sneak around him on the trail so we finally had to bushwhack around and back onto the trail. All the while I was hoping the rest of this snake's family wasn't nearby! It was a snake jam on the Appalachian Trail!River texted Jodi with our ETA in Branchville for 7:45 and we emerged from the woods and crossed the street just as Jodi was pulling in. Jodi had cold water and beer, cold washcloths and fresh towels for us. She's very special to River and I see why. She's been wonderful to me also. I wasn't going to go back to her house but the area accommodations were full. Jodi offered for me to spend another night at her house and she'd bring me back to the trail in the morning. I felt badly because it's 35 minutes each way and she and River were going to spend the day together tomorrow. My other option was 3 more miles to a shelter because you can only stay at designated shelter or campsites in NJ. I was exhausted and it would be dark when I got to the shelter. I accepted Jodi's invitation and once again she made a wonderful dinner of quinoa and kale, grilled marinated chicken and broccoli while we showered and River threw in our laundry. We ate and drank and then retired for the night. I'll be up at 6 and ready when Jodi is. I hope I sleep as well tonight as I did last night!