6/23/06 Friday: Dennytown Campground to Pawling,NY (28mi)

PICTURES:
1. 0820: Nice section of trails helped to get in the big miles
2. 0926: Took a short break here to take in the beauty, heard some kids playing in the park on the sandy beach , lower left of the pic.
3. 1046: A nice walk in the woods
4. 1316: Ridge walking again with a few nice views throughout the afternoon.
5. 1528: No water for 7 miles along the trail so I stopped in to get some water and dinner and met some more hikers there taking a break.
6. 1627: A rather large tree along the trail
7. 1629: Photo op with Switchback and Snapper
8. 1910: Pond near a nuclear test site... no swimming here...lol
9. 2018: Reached county 20 and took this pic of the famous Pawling Tree before heading into Pawling.

Big miles planned for today and I wanted to get as many in this morning as possible... Switchback and I left together but being a little faster, I soon left him behind... Not many views today, but did have one on top of Shenandoah Mtn with a group of boyscouts waiting for some parents trailing behind after a rather arduous ascent... I felt for these weekend warriors... After spending a few moments chatting I wished everyone well and continued on my way meeting the missing parents on my way down the mountain.. I passed a rather nice tenting area at the base of the mountain and proceeded to the RPH shelter for an early lunch... I spent about an hour and cooked up an entre and met Snapper there when I arrived.. We both planned to stop at a deli .3mi off the trail in another 5 miles, and she was on her way... I left about 30 min later after getting some brownish water from the well and rinsing off... The next water source was the deli so I took 32oz of nasty looking water, didnt taste too bad though, and started on the second leg of my day... The terrain today again was easing a bit and I completed the 5mi leg by 1400... Snapper was there with Roo and Ra, a couple of section hikers, so I got my 2liter bottle of Mountain Dew and we ordered a pizza, found some shade and relaxed while waiting for our pizza... The clouds were forming again by 1530 and we decided we best get moving again before we get caught in a downpour... I still had 13 miles to go and wasnt sure if that was realistic... But after a bit on the trail I noticed I was energized by the thought of Jackies visit, or maybe it was the 2liters Mountain Dew in me?? Probably a combination of the two... I wanted to make it to Pawling for the night and hoped to meet Jackie in Conneticut tomorrow. I extimated my arrival to County 20 would be 0830 if I walked 3mph for the next 4hrs... A bit ambitious but after looking at the map, quite possible... I ended up making it to County 20 by 0815, a little dusky but still hoping enough light so someone would stop and give me a ride... When I got to the road I could not help but notice the largest tree on the AT across the street... I set up my camera and had to take a picture of this ... It was magnificant... Well, no one would stop and pick up a sweaty hiker at dusk so I began my 2.5 mi walk to town. I was originally headed for the pavillion by the lake to pitch my tent and use the facilities, but a handwritten note stuck to a tree from someone offering a bed, shower, laundry, and use of the kitchen for $20 was too much to pass up... I gave them a call and Jesse, the owner, answered inviting me to come by.. I took him up on it and 45 min later I was there... He met me with a beer and a handshake and we sat and chatted a bit before he showed me around the place, introducing me to the other tenants... He left me with the others to get the room ready and I mingled, having another beer in the process until Jesse returned. I excused myself, desperately needing a shower and tired from my 30mi trek today and moved my stuff to my room, showered, and retired for the night...