| August 01, - August 05, 2005 |
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Back on the AT at 8:25am. I didn't
have to sleep in the cemetery last night after all. When I got
in to Unionville the little store was closed, so I talked to the
lady I had seen earlier in the bike, she said for me to go down to
the community park and filled out my papers in the morning before I
left, so that's what I did. |
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It looks like it's going to rain today,
it's very cloudy. This is rather interesting. I'm above
a stone fence, then down below the stone fence of the old RR and I'm
turning and going on that RR. The stone fence is still going
along the RR tracks to Unionville NY. I was on the RR track
for a short distance and then I opened up to a large open pasture
field. I'm recording
this several days later since I rand out of tape. |
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Several times I was in open fields where I
could see purple asters and purple bee bombs. It had good
views of farm lands below. I went into the Walk Hill river
area and crossed the bridge, where and Simon and I sat along side
the river for a little while and rested and got the weight off my
back. |
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There was a lot of asphalt road hiking in
here. I had to hike on the roads and get on the state route
road cross to hike the river and I still had a quarter of mile of
road hiking to get on to what they call Wall Hill Wildlife
refuge Area. That was really pretty going up through there.
I was almost around the loop and there was a hiker that had come out
of the woods and was coming towards me, we stopped and chatted for
little while. He started in Maine and was going to VA.
He found water shortage problem too. I went on then into the
wood land. Here again is a lot of board hiking, especially in
the low swamp lands. |
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Going up Pochuck Mountain area was
extremely steep, large boulder steps which were difficult for me to
up and down because I had to push with one pole and push with the
other one. When I got up on the mountain there were huge
boulders and the way they were placed, they looked liked canyon.
Simon and I had a bite to eat along the trail that led to the
Pochuck Shelter. Here again it was quite a way off the trail
and didn't have any water supply. We stopped and rested for a
little while and headed towards Glenwood. |
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Going off Pochuck Mountain, Simon had very
little water left and I had maybe three-fourth of a liter left to go
between the 2 of us, so I beginning to hope there would be a spring
or something that would have water. All of sudden going off
the mountain there was this sign that said water 300 feet.
Dropped Simons pack and mine by the tree and took my water filter up
to where the water was, what I saw was A bear box. It was
chained and hooked so that the bear can't get into it. I
unhooked it because right above it said water and sure enough the
guy that owned the A & P in NJ had brought 10 gallon of water and
put into that bear box along with some Capri Sun drinks and some
cheese crackers. We collected the water into out bottles.
I turned around to check out the area because it really looked clean
and beautiful. There was a little sign that said that you have
entered the 'Home of the Angles', sit and rest, I turned around and
was going to close the bear box and there was a note in the corner
that said "Take what you want and that they had sent an angle on up
the road to protect us". I thought that was quite an
interesting message. |
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Came out on 517 a county road to cross and
then we were into another swamp area. This was another
wildlife refuge area. Here again it was swamp, real spongy,
with tall weeds, milkweed pods, cattails, blooming flowers along the
trail. An interesting place to hike. |
 There
was a little look out deck where we stopped for a little rest.
Simon wanted a drink of water so jumps off the deck down into this
swamp area. It was dry enough the he could stand on it ok.
He wanted a drink, but he would drink the water, so when I got ready
to go I didn't know if I was going to get up out of there or not.
Finally he jumped op on there and I caught him by the collar and
pulled him on up. We left from there and was heading on out
the board walk and we saw the river. I told Simon that you
soon be able to get cooled off a little and I'll play around with
him in the water. There was this huge swinging bridge and we
went across the bridge and down the other side and there Simon
played with sticks in the water. |
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Got to the hostel in Vernon NJ. with a ride
from another trail angle. It is the St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
I knew that there were not supposed to be any dogs there, but I was
not well when I got there, so I told Butch Cassidy the trail angels
trail name, who's real name is Brian Connors, that I just wanted to
go and get a shower and check this sore place that was on my back
and make a decision as to whether I needed medical assistance.
After I took my shower I realized instantly the spot on my back was
not going to get any better because that's where backpack was
rubbing and making me sore. I told Brian that I needed to go
up to the hospital. He took me up to the emergency room.
They check out this boil like area that was on my back and decided I
probably should have an antibiotic fed into me intravenously right
away to get the antibiotic into my system fast. It was
midnight when we got back to the St. Thomas hostel. While I
was in the hospital Brian watched Simon for me in his van and I knew
that he was OK because he has a little dog called Worm. |
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The next day I made an appointment to see
Dr. Feldman on Wednesday. I went back to the doctor yesterday
and he poked me with needles and prodded around and said that the
area was full of infection, he thought I may need a stronger
antibiotic, but to keep taking what I had and to come and see him on
Friday morning to see if there were any changes. |
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So that's what has been happening since I
was last on the trail. I've been staying in Vernon NJ. I
will be here until after Friday or maybe a little, depending on what
the doctor has to say. I may decide at this time to flip-flop.
I had to mov over to the firehouse shelter because the hostel
wouldn't take dogs. Dave came with the truck and helped me
load up the truck with all my stuff and help me get to the shelter.
I've also been staying with 2 other hikers and another one came in
Thursday night. The people at the firehouse have been just
wonderful. They fixed steak for us on the grill, baked
potatoes, etc. given to us at no charge. This is an open
pavilion with cool nights and we're safe here. I know if we
need medical attention there will be somebody to take me. That
the story for right now. I won't be leaving this area for a
day or 2 yet. |
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Swing'n Jane and
Simon |
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