Log 4-07 to 4-10
Log 4-07 to 4-10
4-07. In Branchville, NJ. Received FedEx shipment from Annice, then spent the day testing my alternate boots with the blisters--they felt worse. I sent them back. So, I guess the problem is my out-of-shape foot and not the boots. Also loaded my stuff into my lighter pack and tested that; it was more comfortable and lighter by five lbs., and I switched. I also discarded some more stuff and I have now lightened my load a total nine lbs.
4-08. Ate an early breakfast at the diner and loaded up on French toast. But then I hung around to watch Condi Rice's appearance before the 911 Commission. Saw about an hour of her testimony, and she looked evasive, but unshakable, but of course I don't know what happened after I left.
Hit the trail at 11:00. Met several hikers today; guess they were out for the long weekend. Stopped and talked to a boy scout group, and a group of three older couples who hike together every year on a different section of the AT. Day hikers, I guess; no serious backpack in the group.
Heard my first bear today. No mistaking that. He was off the trail and down the hill from me. I had just stopped for a break and I was sitting on a rock munching on a candy bear when he went off. Sounded like he was about 1/4 mile away. His roar shattered my reverie. Then he roared again. I left.
Trading packs and lightening my load helped; I did nine miles today, my best day yet. Arrived at the Mashipacong Shelter at 5:15, minutes ahead of the rain. There is a hi-tech solar-powered privy here. Must be special; two groups mentioned it to me today.
Cold and damp; going to cook noodles and then dive into my sleeping bag and knock off 3-4 pages of Mystic River.
4-09. Had the shelter to myself last night. Got another late start this morning; can't get up in the cold. I was about to leave at 10:00 when two guys hiked into the shelter from the opposite direction, and one was carrying my pack, the only time I've seen it on another person. Naturally we had to compare notes; we both had the same complaint, poor hip-belt support which leads to screaming shoulders. That conversation took about twenty minutes and I took off at 10:20.
Stopped at High Point Shelter for the night, a seven mile jaunt. The shelter is adjacent to the highest point in NJ (1,800'+). Again, I had the place to myself. I passed a park office with a pay-phone about two miles before the shelter, and I stopped to call. Anybody used a pay-phone lately? $8.00 surcharge and $1.17 per minute! I passed.
4-10. I forced myself out of my sleeping bag and was prepared for a 9:00 AM record-setting start when two guys again walked into the shelter for a break. You get the trend? Two days back-to-back I have been delayed by hikers taking breaks before I even get on the trail. This time it was a father-son duo, both carrying external frame packs, which produced a round of questions from me. Then I discovered the father did the AT two years ago, and that brought on another barrage of questions. Told them I was hiking to Unionville, NY and stopping for the day, because there is a well stocked grocery store there and a $3 per night hostel, The Backtrack Inn. The hostel presented an opportunity to nurse my feet in the afternoon. The father-son said it would take them 3-1/2 hours to hike the seven miles and I told them probably five for me. Surprise, surprise, I made it in exactly 3-1/2 hours. It was early afternoon when I arrived and I should have re-supplied groceries and continued on, but I didn't. I cleaned my feet, changed the bandages, and put on sandals. Felt good to be bootless for 1/2 day.
You should see the hostel. It has two double-bunked wooden slabs, and the floor is covered with lumber and trash (I'm the first one through here this year), but once again I have it all to myself. The bartender said I could use the restroom in the bar upstairs.
The grocery store will be open tomorrow (Easter Sunday), so I'll have a chance to pickup anything I forgot today. I strolled around town and found an old (and rare) book dealer in this thriving metropolis of 500. His business comes from the internet, he said. There were so many books in the small store, I could hardly walk. He gave me a paperback to replace Mystic River, as if I'll ever finish it.
I bought a NY Times and went back to the Backtrack Inn and read the paper in the bar. I thought I was in a casting call for Deliverance. The boys at the bar were all tattooed up, with full beards, wearing gimme hats and drinking long necks. There were two TV's on, both tuned to World Championship Poker. They paid no attention to the sissy hiker.
The bar remained open until 4:00 AM, and the music started about 9:00. BOOM BA BOOM BOOM...BOOM BA BOOM BOOM...BOOM BA BOOM BOOM. The same beat until 4:00 AM.
I hit the grocery store again Sunday morning and left town at 9::30 headed for Vernon, NJ and a Post Office from which to send back more things.
Made it to Vernon about 6:30. Thirteen miles today, best yet.
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