A very long over-due THANK YOU goes out to our friends in PA, "Mechanical Man", "Crayon Lady" and the "BLUR". Barely a week before our arrival, they unexpectedly lost their beloved Dobie, Tank. In honor of Tank, this wonderful family opened their arms and gave us a place to stay while Roxi recovered from a GI bug. We gorged ourselves with visiting the Velodrome in Allentown and the water park at Camelbeach. Not to mention the "Blur's" bmx stunt show that can't be beat (we actually let a 9 year old jump over us on his bike). Thank you again and our hearts go out to Tank. Now in Connecticut, we have been staying with the family of Charles Vick, a fellow Hamilton College choir geek, for the past few days. Though Charles himself isn't actually here, James and Kate, along with their daughter Sarah, have been incredibly gracious hosts, giving us beds, showers, amazing meals, and a ride to Six Flags!
The time spent in Honesdale and New Paltz, though wonderful, escaped us far too quickly. Set in a frame of mind of wanting to do everything while we were home, it seemed we had little time to actually relax (Ben's fault, really; we need vacations from his vacations). We spent a night in Honesdale, we took to New York City to visit friend David Lu and catch a Yankees game (Laura cheered for the Ducks), we even managed a trip to the outfitters in Kingston to buy new shoes for our continued journey. Joined by college roomie and friend Steve "Rock Hard" Morris, we set off early last Sunday feeling as though we needed to sleep for another few days.
Unfortunately, we were then hit by the biggest heat blast of the season: 100 degrees, 500% humidity, or so it felt. Thru-hikers were dropping like flies all around us as we ascended Bear Mt. We were so exhausted from slogging through the heat that Roxi insisted that Sarah Vick be called a bit early to come pick us up and bring us to cooler locales... namely Six Flags, of course! Though Roxi couldn't actually come, she enjoyed lying beneath the shade of an oak tree with a chew-toy on one side and her water bowl on the other.After yet another day of riding roller-coasters and water-slides, Steve dropped us off, this time including Sarah, where we had earlier escaped. The weather cooler, our minds refreshed, we hiked into Kent yesterday evening.
This morning we were greeted yet again by cheese omelettes and English muffins (thank you Kate!!). While Laura finishes packing Roxi food, I have escaped to the computer to write to you folks ;-) We plan on departing later this morning and heading for Great Barrington, where we will partake in FarmCamp for a day; an organic farm offers a work-for-stay program for hikers, and Laura really wants to schmooze with the cows and pigs. Roxi, of course, will be jealous, but oh well.
The trail of late has been a bit different; instead of the wilderness that surrounded us through most Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, we have of late been in more of an urban hike. We cross major state roads, if not interstates, every day; we hike through or near towns almost every other day. Some stretches have delis at every road crossing, making the food we actually carry un-needed. Though passing giant oaks and thrilling views, we also walk over bridges and overpasses. This is a different AT from down south, though it be the same footpath.
The spirit and goal remain the same, but the footfalls feel more determined, the ambition beginning to increase as our goal draws ever so slowly closer. Ice cream and hogies are welcome and we will never resist the opportunity to eat something offered to us. We have certainly passed from one part of the country to another and a significant portion of our experience is now behind us, not to be seen again. For example, the Roxi that started with us is no longer the same dog; she has matured, aged, and calmed. Whatever magic of the trail-life there is had changed her into an amazing TrailDog. She truly has become a hiker-favorite and is a joy to spend time with. I imagine the likewise changes have occurred in all of us who've come this far. Its difficult to see those changes now; perhaps they will not appear till we have reached our goal, left the trail, and are attempting to re-integrate into our normal routines. Well, we have hiking left to do (~700 miles or so), I will leave you here to go finish packing my pack. Happy Trails!~TrailDogs
