It had been hot and humid!! Yesterday got near 100 degrees, with 100% humidity it was not a day to be outside. Despite that, Suzie from the Dessin Animal Shelter came down with her cutie Mackie and we walked for a whole.... 1/2 mile!! We then quickly retreated to the A/C of Suzie's car and then a bakery for lunch. After some loverly sandwiches, Suzie dropped us off again at the Delaware Water Gap info center, and though we had been planning on hiking some more miles that afternoon, we ended up waiting out thunderstorm after thunderstorm until we eventually decided to just sleep on the porch of the center! We awoke early this morning (430 AM) and did a quick 17 miles until T-storms once again forced us off of the trail. We are now being treated to food, showers, beds, and movies by the Ken-Etiwa-Pec YMCA Outdoor Center. Yay for beds and free food!!!
All adventures are full of turmoil, and today proved it; while attempting to outrun the T-storm, we made a wrong turn and ended up over 2 miles not only from where we wanted to be, but sturdy shelter of any kind. We happened to have been hiking on a road, and just as we were about to put up our tent and hide a father and son came along and offered us a ride back to where we needed to be; thank goodness for Angels!!! Though our first day in NJ was a bit on the wacky side, we look forward to cooler weather tomorrow, as well as a hot breakfast to eat and a lake to let the Rox-star (AKA Roxi, Roxidoodle, Wookie) swim in!
Pics to be added in the next few days,
~TrailDogs
June 28, 2007
June 23, 2007
Come hike with us at the Delaware Water Gap!
Next Wednesday, June 27th, there's going to be a day hike at the Delaware Water Gap!
Meet us at the visitor's center off Route 80. We'll be getting together at 10:30 am, and leaving at 11. The trip is 10 miles, but shorter hiking options will be available. We're planning to head to Sunfish Pond and back. It is a gorgeous glacial lake at the top of the ridge, not to be missed! It should be a good time. Please bring plenty of water as it looks like a scorcher. We'll be under the nice cool canopy so it won't be that bad. Also, all dogs must be leashed as it is a state park. Hope to see you there!!!!
Meet us at the visitor's center off Route 80. We'll be getting together at 10:30 am, and leaving at 11. The trip is 10 miles, but shorter hiking options will be available. We're planning to head to Sunfish Pond and back. It is a gorgeous glacial lake at the top of the ridge, not to be missed! It should be a good time. Please bring plenty of water as it looks like a scorcher. We'll be under the nice cool canopy so it won't be that bad. Also, all dogs must be leashed as it is a state park. Hope to see you there!!!!
June 16, 2007
Green Eggs and Ham
Duncannon PA is the location, and though we have not had green eggs and ham for breakfast, we did walk through Maryland since our last adventure update. There are only ten miles of walking in West Virginia, and then 50 in Maryland, so after hiking more than a quarter of the trail through Virginia, we have been gluttons for state lines the past few weeks. However, now that we have entered the path of pointy rocks that is the AT in PA, we wont see another state line until NJ at the Delaware Water Gap, probably 2 1/2 weeks away still.
We were treated two nights ago to a lovely afternoon of hiking and then dinner by Laura's parents. They met us in Boiling Springs (found us playing on water slides, in fact), took us out to a loverly dinner at the Tavern, and proceeded to take us to an even loverlier Bed and Breakfast for the night. It was a welcome break from the toilsome journey that is the Appalachian Trail (water slides and all) and truly was appreciated.
Pennsylvania is feared in hiker-lore as a state of rocks; weather small and sharp or big and round, a hiker is supposedly unable to make a full stride through the entire state on account of the rocks. We were eager to test our rock skipping abilities in this state, and at the very least find out if the tales of nightmarish stones were true. The Thru-Hiker's Companion (our trusty guide on this long journey) has this to say on PA: "No other state is feared by more hikers who have never been there." True to lore, we have found that while yes, there are many rocks, stories are blown entirely out of proportion as the travel distance and time. Granted, we have much of the state in front of us, however nothing yet has sliced our ankle's clean off nor shattered our knees into a millions pieces. Truthfully, have spent the previous four years of our lives attempting to navigate the rivers that are trails in the Adirondacks, PA seems alright.
Our first stop in PA was in Caledonia State Park. Sue and Walt Powell, the parents of a Hamilton friend (Sally Powell) picked us up on a hot muggy day and brought us to their home in Gettysburgh. We were treated to a tour of the town and college, a full dinner, a bed to sleep in, hot showers, followed up by a gigantic breakfast and ride back to the trail. So truly, as you can tell, we have been living a tough life of late, full of turmoil and angst. Thank you Powells!!!
Our next adventure took us to Pine Grove Furnace Sate Park, the halfway point of the AT!
The thru-hiker tradition upon reaching halfway to to join the "half-gallon club", which is to say, eat a half gallon of ice cream! Laura dove into her mint-chip while Ben meagerly toyed with his chocolate; as you can guess, Laura met the challenge (with a little help from Roxi) and Ben, though a valiant effort, was unable to claim the prize. The following morning we found the half-way sign and skipped into the second part of our journey!
Thanks for reading!
~TrailDogs
We were treated two nights ago to a lovely afternoon of hiking and then dinner by Laura's parents. They met us in Boiling Springs (found us playing on water slides, in fact), took us out to a loverly dinner at the Tavern, and proceeded to take us to an even loverlier Bed and Breakfast for the night. It was a welcome break from the toilsome journey that is the Appalachian Trail (water slides and all) and truly was appreciated.
Pennsylvania is feared in hiker-lore as a state of rocks; weather small and sharp or big and round, a hiker is supposedly unable to make a full stride through the entire state on account of the rocks. We were eager to test our rock skipping abilities in this state, and at the very least find out if the tales of nightmarish stones were true. The Thru-Hiker's Companion (our trusty guide on this long journey) has this to say on PA: "No other state is feared by more hikers who have never been there." True to lore, we have found that while yes, there are many rocks, stories are blown entirely out of proportion as the travel distance and time. Granted, we have much of the state in front of us, however nothing yet has sliced our ankle's clean off nor shattered our knees into a millions pieces. Truthfully, have spent the previous four years of our lives attempting to navigate the rivers that are trails in the Adirondacks, PA seems alright.
Our first stop in PA was in Caledonia State Park. Sue and Walt Powell, the parents of a Hamilton friend (Sally Powell) picked us up on a hot muggy day and brought us to their home in Gettysburgh. We were treated to a tour of the town and college, a full dinner, a bed to sleep in, hot showers, followed up by a gigantic breakfast and ride back to the trail. So truly, as you can tell, we have been living a tough life of late, full of turmoil and angst. Thank you Powells!!!Our next adventure took us to Pine Grove Furnace Sate Park, the halfway point of the AT!
The thru-hiker tradition upon reaching halfway to to join the "half-gallon club", which is to say, eat a half gallon of ice cream! Laura dove into her mint-chip while Ben meagerly toyed with his chocolate; as you can guess, Laura met the challenge (with a little help from Roxi) and Ben, though a valiant effort, was unable to claim the prize. The following morning we found the half-way sign and skipped into the second part of our journey!Thanks for reading!
~TrailDogs
June 6, 2007
www.DessinShelter.com
Yee Haw!
We are here in Harpers Ferry, WV and have just hit the big 1,000. This town is mostly a National Historic Park and is quite fun but also expensive to stay in. It is also home to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters. We have certainly taken the time to sit back and reflect on our accomplishments, over a pint of course. 1,000 miles is a long way and the 1,175 we have left is even longer. One of our most simple realizations is that walking can truly be a mode of transportation, you just can't be in a hurry to get anywhere. It is exciting to experience the space in between destinations (even if it is tree after tree) as apposed to jumping in a car and cranking on the radio. I find it refreshing to notice the music of the birds and the quiet stillness after the sun disappears over the horizon. To actually make it to Maine would be quite a thrill.
Now that we have reached this once far off goal, we have been thinking quite a lot about why we are out here. Both of us feel more determined than ever to make it to Maine (I mean, we made it this far we might as well go all the way). Many hikers ask about Roxi and I eagerly spurt out her story. For her, being a trail dog is exactly what the doctor ordered. She is high energy and high drive: being a house dog is not what she had in mind. Many other dogs have not made it this far because hiking with a pack on is not the "job" that Roxi thinks it is. To think that our faithful Roxi was once in a kennel at Dessin almost jumping out of her skin for something to do. And now she is a trail dog, completely at home and content with life (still brimming with energy and very focused on anything she deems worth focusing on). This is why I am doing the AT. To get the message out about homeless pets and how wonderful they can be. Many are somehow surprised when I tell them Roxi is a shelter dog. I'm not sure if it is because she is a purebred or because she is rather well trained (compared to a few dogs on the trail that give trail dogs a bad rap). Roxi is doing this trail to raise money for the shelter that found her a new forever home. The Dessin Animal Shelter in Honesdale PA, is, simply put, a special place with a good heart. A small private shelter, it is funded entirely by donations and fundraisers. That's it folks.
I (Pooch/Laura T) have been working with Dessin for nearly nine years and there is a reason I keep going back. I love what Dessin does for the homeless animals in our community. I have set a $20,000 goal for this fundraiser. I am aware that it is rather ambitious, but if that goal is reached, this will be the biggest fundraiser ever for Dessin. EVER! In fact, it will be bigger than all the fundraisers put together in one year. We are on this journey as our way of helping a place that we care about. If Dessin did not exist.... well, lets just not think about that right now. Please, there is no better way to show your support of our mission than to make a pledge: every penny counts.
www.DessinShelter.com
Happy Trails (and Tails =-)
Roxi, Pooch & Tom Dooley
We are here in Harpers Ferry, WV and have just hit the big 1,000. This town is mostly a National Historic Park and is quite fun but also expensive to stay in. It is also home to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters. We have certainly taken the time to sit back and reflect on our accomplishments, over a pint of course. 1,000 miles is a long way and the 1,175 we have left is even longer. One of our most simple realizations is that walking can truly be a mode of transportation, you just can't be in a hurry to get anywhere. It is exciting to experience the space in between destinations (even if it is tree after tree) as apposed to jumping in a car and cranking on the radio. I find it refreshing to notice the music of the birds and the quiet stillness after the sun disappears over the horizon. To actually make it to Maine would be quite a thrill.
Now that we have reached this once far off goal, we have been thinking quite a lot about why we are out here. Both of us feel more determined than ever to make it to Maine (I mean, we made it this far we might as well go all the way). Many hikers ask about Roxi and I eagerly spurt out her story. For her, being a trail dog is exactly what the doctor ordered. She is high energy and high drive: being a house dog is not what she had in mind. Many other dogs have not made it this far because hiking with a pack on is not the "job" that Roxi thinks it is. To think that our faithful Roxi was once in a kennel at Dessin almost jumping out of her skin for something to do. And now she is a trail dog, completely at home and content with life (still brimming with energy and very focused on anything she deems worth focusing on). This is why I am doing the AT. To get the message out about homeless pets and how wonderful they can be. Many are somehow surprised when I tell them Roxi is a shelter dog. I'm not sure if it is because she is a purebred or because she is rather well trained (compared to a few dogs on the trail that give trail dogs a bad rap). Roxi is doing this trail to raise money for the shelter that found her a new forever home. The Dessin Animal Shelter in Honesdale PA, is, simply put, a special place with a good heart. A small private shelter, it is funded entirely by donations and fundraisers. That's it folks.
I (Pooch/Laura T) have been working with Dessin for nearly nine years and there is a reason I keep going back. I love what Dessin does for the homeless animals in our community. I have set a $20,000 goal for this fundraiser. I am aware that it is rather ambitious, but if that goal is reached, this will be the biggest fundraiser ever for Dessin. EVER! In fact, it will be bigger than all the fundraisers put together in one year. We are on this journey as our way of helping a place that we care about. If Dessin did not exist.... well, lets just not think about that right now. Please, there is no better way to show your support of our mission than to make a pledge: every penny counts.
www.DessinShelter.com
Happy Trails (and Tails =-)
Roxi, Pooch & Tom Dooley
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)