Week 5 - 2024

Vernon, NJ to Bear Mountain, NY/Hudson River - 50 miles

*ONE MONTH LIVING ON THE TRAIL! 

*CROSSED THE STATE LINE - NJ TO NY

(Childhood) Memories

Light the corners of my mind

Misty watercolor memories

Of the way we were …

Can it be that it was all so simple then?

Or has time re-written every line?

If we had the chance to do it all again

Tell me, would we?

Could we?

YES!!!  For two weeks I have been anticipating reliving a childhood memory while out on the trail, hoping and praying that it would all work out for us to do so.

Hikers love to share opportunities to participate in upcoming events to other fellow hikers so when this particular one was mentioned, my ears perked right up.

Still being in PA at the time, knowing we still had to go through NJ yet, it just seemed so far away until we would reach Warwick, NY and you had to reach it on a Friday or Saturday night no less. That seemed like an impossible scenario and a nightmare to plan so far in advance.  Especially since nothing ever goes as planned out here, it’s all contingent on the weather and terrain in how fast or slow you go. As you know, we had a lot of R&R, rocks & rain, so our pace and distance wasn’t where we hoped it would be when trying to plan it out.

The week had finally arrived where we crossed the state line, leaving NJ behind and crossing into our home state of NY. Even though we call Texas home now, NY will always be our true home. Ahhh, it’s good to be home!

My excitement level was high as I told friends, Dave & Robin what we hoped to be doing by week’s end, sharing in the details of doing this as a family when growing up: with thermos filled with boiled hot dogs, condiments, rolls, popcorn, and soda packed in ice in a Tupperware bowl (thank you to my brother for the detailed reminder), we would head to the drive-in in the Triple Cities, sit in our car and watch movies. I remember as a child being so excited whenever our parents announced we were going. Of course, I never ever made it through the first movie without falling asleep in the back seat. Didn’t matter, my belly was full, I was with family, life was good!

So when we were told that if you arrive a Friday or Saturday night at the Warwick Drive-In (Warwick, NY), they allow hikers to set up their tents on the hillside, camp over night, and watch movies for free (not totally free because you need to rent a speaker for $5 to actually hear it). We were all in!  The tornado, microburst or strong winds, whatever it was, tried to halt our plans but in the end it worked out and we stayed this past Saturday night with 6 other hikers, and a parking lot full of excited kids anxious to watch movies and eat snacks while making cherished memories with their families.

Of course it wasn’t entirely the same, I missed not having my family, but having my best friend who is my family now by my side, getting hot dogs, popcorn and soda from the concession stand - I enjoyed every minute of reliving a childhood memory.  I can finally say, I stayed awake for the first movie (just barely!), but fell asleep and missed the remaining two movies shown. Didn’t matter, my belly was full, I was with family, life was good!

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“You’re too clean.” Staying at motels and hostels certainly has its advantages.  Showers as often as you wish and in most cases you can get your laundry done as well.  After one such stop and returning with our full pack on trail the next day, we run into sisters out on the trail doing a day hike.  Normal conversation on trail is where did you start and how far are you going.  After explaining that we’ve been on trail for a month now, one of them blurts out, “you’re too clean”.  I have to admit, we’ve never been accused of that ever on the trail.  It’s mostly people keeping their distance because we are dirty and smelly.  I have to admit, It felt kind of nice to be in the clean and smelling nice category, at least for a little while that day.

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Just found out we’re not only LASHers but MYTHs as well.  In full we’re “Long A** Section Hikers, Multi Year Thru Hikers”.  We finally feel important to have credentials listed after our name. Next time you see us, please address us correctly, we earned those titles!

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We’re bums. Somewhere in NJ I acquired a bum foot from twisting it on a rock, which has caused me to walk with a limp. FROG has multiple bum toes from stubbing on rocks and roots.  In PA we fell a lot on our bum, NJ has caused a bum foot and toes, what will NY bring? Please NY don’t be a disappointment that would be a real bum-mer!

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Green Acres is the place to be.

Farm livin' is the life for me.

Land spreadin' out so far and wide

Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside  

We both grew up in the country, so playing in the woods, cornfields, creeks, riding bikes on dirt roads, hiking in the backwoods, etc. has been all we’ve ever known.  This week we got to see what we’ve always enjoyed and maybe even took for granted in the eyes of a 20-something-year-old, from New York City as we watched him jumping from rock to rock, this way and that. As we approached him, he had a huge smile on his face, “I’m in adventure mode right now. I know I should be more careful but I am just loving being out here exploring in the Catskills.”  I felt both sorrow and happiness for him as I watched him jump with ease from rock to rock. Sorrow that he missed out on this type of life being in the city but also happiness that he finally got to experience it and was loving it. I pray that he will have many more opportunities to play in the woods and that when he has kids he will raise them to have that same “adventure mode” to explore the great outdoors; what God has made for us to enjoy.

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New York is where I'd rather stay.

I get allergic smelling hay.

I just adore a penthouse view.

Dah-ling I love you but give me Park Avenue    

We have been to the city a couple of times and each time returned home saying that was fun but not something we would have to do again. Living in the country is where we are most comfortable. But this week on the trail (this 60-something-year-old was about to see what that 20-something-year-old saw everyday) we would have the opportunity to see the skyline of NYC from Bear Mountain, NY (the city being about 35 miles away). I was so excited to get the opportunity to revisit NYC from the countryside.   As the day got closer, reports were that the Bear Mountain State Park Appalachian Trail was still closed due to flooding from last year.  AT hikers would have to take the bypass road that led us around the mountain and my hopes to view the skyline were dashed.  The upside of that was we were meeting Milt & Nancy that day so a shorter hike wouldn’t be so bad.  Our shuttle driver dropped us off at the trailhead, pointed us in the right direction and off we went. It was immediately an uphill, rocky climb (something we’ve become very used to!)  It supposedly was only a short hike in and then we would see the bypass.  After a mile in, we still hadn’t seen the bypass so we looked at our app; somehow we had missed the road we were supposed to take. We figured God must have other plans and that we were to hike this trail and not the bypass.

It was the most beautiful trail we’ve been on so far and we had it all to ourselves.  While others were bypassing, I guess we were trespassing (not really, it’s the trail, but just not open).  We encountered no problems (not sure why it’s still closed for hiking) and at the top of Bear Mountain I got to see the skyline of NYC and views of the Hudson River! It was one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. I was so excited that my hopes did not get dashed that day and that God allowed us to see NYC from the mountaintop. (I was doubly blessed, the next day we returned to the top of the mountain (by car) with Milt & Nancy so I got to see it all again!). This by far, was my best visit to NYC yet!

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Trail Magic!  Another week of being spoiled by Trail Angels:

*After a grueling 500 ft of rocky descent, we meet Fred.  What a welcome sight! He was ready with a cold Gatorade, applesauce cake, trail mix and great conversation. 

*A sign in someone’s yard to help ourselves to cold drinks. It’s been warm out lately, so what a huge treat! 

*Water and cold Gatorade in a cooler at the end of a day’s hike at a trailhead. Refreshing!

*Milt & Nancy, friends from our former church in Owego, NY drove to Bear Mountain, NY to meet us on the trail as we hiked in.  Nothing better than seeing good friends standing there waiting for you after a tiring descent down Bear Mountain.  Thank you for making the long drive to be with us, running us to Walmart, driving us to restaurants, taking us out for ice cream, our trip up to Perkins Memorial Tower, finding a great place to stay (other than our tent!) and making multiple trips to the post office (after making a complete circle in trying to find the place!!) to pick up packages, to mail Tigger back out, and finally for returning us back to the trailhead to continue our journey north and ignoring our pleas to take us back home with them.  It was so much fun to spend time visiting, relaxing and playing many games of cards!

*Gayla Pirtle and Miranda Berkley (and family) thank you so much for all the goodies you sent to us! Wow! You spoiled us big time! We will enjoy everything !  Love y’all so much!

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And finally … tomorrow is a big big day, we already know it will turn out to be a “beary” good day! Stay tuned for a full report next week. …