Friday, September 7, 2012

I went to see Brenna in Brooklyn for a few days.  She drove me to the trail.  This is on the East River Ferry with Manhattan in the background.  She didn't want me to take her picture, but I did anyway.  I'm glad too, because she's getting ready to go to China for a year to teach English.  China?  Yes!  That's so far away!
 Manhattan skyline at dusk Saturday, August 26, 2012. Ready to hit the trail (again) at Bear Mountain State Park, New York.  See the white blaze?  
                                   Elke and I crossing the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain Bridge.
                   Getting a drink from the lake at Fahnestock State Park.  We spent our third night here.
                         Here's the water supply at one of the nicest shelters I've seen.  RPH shelter.
 This is Master Splinter and his dog, Bruce.  Remember the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?  That's where he got his trail name.  Not sure exactly how.  He was a very good guy.  He's thru-hiking and determined to make it to Katahdin.
 Some more trail friends.  Ladybug (aka Liz), Peter Pan (aka Elias), Nail, and the Silver Surfer.  Elke and I were with Ladybug and Peter Pan for several nights.
                      Does this look like sea coral to anyone else?  What is it?  It was a pretty fungus?
                                                 Elke taking a nap while I get us some water.
                              The boardwalk through the wetlands south of Pawling, New York.
 This is the A.T. train stop for the Metro North train into Grand Central Station NY, NY.  See the building in the background?
 See the building in the background of this picture?  It's the same building.  They let A.T. hikers camp beside it.  Notice the train?  This picture was taken from my tent!  It made for an interesting night!
                                               Connecticut at last!  I'm in New England now!
                                                    Elke meets friends on the trail daily.
                                   The trail passes right past this house in Falls Village, Connecticut.
                                                        The falls of Falls Village.
Here's a view from the trail between Falls Village and Salisbury, Connecticut.  

Friday, September 7, 2012
The trail up here is quite different.  There are a lot more rocks to climb up, down and over. Taking a wrong turn on the trail and hiking an extra 2.2 miles one day on those rocks added to the "challenge".  Other challenges have been the rain from Isaac, yellow jacket nests, and long days.  As always, all the people you meet make up for any hard times.  I'm resting for a day in Salisbury.  Tomorrow Elke and I will hike north again.  We're looking forward to my brother, Howard, joining us sometime next week!  

I miss everybody!