"To forget how to dig the Earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves."
-Gandhi
Start: Pochuck Mt. Shelter
Finish: Barret Road, New Milford, NY
Today: 9.6 mi
Total: 205.1 mi
After hiking our last half hour in a downpour yesterday, setting up our tent while it was drizzling, and changing our cloths, we both went to bed. Unfortunately, we both slept terribly! The sounds of the night (sticks cracking, rain and wind) kept Heather awake and probably in Rambo-mode (head lamp in one hand and knife in other). I, on the other hand, had to go to the bathroom really bad but didn't want to go outside and get drenched in the rain. Its ironic how the rain sound was probably the reason I had to go to the bathroom and also the reason I couldn't.
We woke up late at 7:30am and it seemed as if many hikers had a bad night sleep. Everyone was moving around very slowly with bags under their eyes wiping the mud from their tents and packing up. I was very happy with how well the tent held up in the rain. To be honest, I half expected to wake up submerged in water since Heather was on the "uphill" side of the tent. By 9am we packed the last of the tent and headed off.
My ankle still hurts from rolling it over on a rock two days ago but the swelling is starting to go down. By tomorrow it should be fine. Aches and pains have been a constant on this trip. In fact, it's strange when someone asks me if anything is hurting because EVERYTHING is hurting. The more appropriate question would be to ask what hurts the most. Sometimes you may even get a break from pain. For example, a few days ago my knees were killing me but I then walked straight into and smacked my head on a branch. Knees don't hurt anymore! Lately, whenever Heather's feet are killing her I kindly offer to hit her over the head with my hiking poles but she always gives me a strange look and turns down my offer.
After a few miles of ups and downs and ups and downs we came to an odd sight on the trail: a FLAT boardwalk through wetlands. It was so nice walking on FLAT ground!! Knowing we were on a boardwalk in NJ, I had my eyes peeled for the cast of MTV's Jersey Shore. But, luckily, from this boardwalk you could only see swamp grass, birds and mountains...no chance of seeing blowout hair cuts or stores selling t-shirts that say "cool story bro." I have to admit, though, that Heather and I did take a picture "fist pumping" on the boardwalk.
By 12:45pm we only had about 3 miles to go for the day. Heather's parents and younger sister were coming out to see us today so we were going to get a ride in to the hotel before they got here so we could shower. We smell like a sweaty locker room that wet dogs just ran through and wanted to save their noses!!
-Daddy Long Legs
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