Day 111
Miles Hiked Today — 17.8
Total Trail Miles — 1291.5

Tenting Near Blue Mtn. Lake Rd.

After yesterday's journal entry, we ended up taking off the rest of the day. We went with my parents to visit my grandfather in Rumson, NJ.

Today's hike took us past Sunfish Pond, which is "one of the seven wonders of New Jersey." Food for thought.

We ate lunch under blue skies with big, fluffy, white clouds, sitting on some rocks amidst long grasses. It was very picturesque.

When we got to our campsite tonight, we spotted a white plastic bag hanging from a tree. On the tape attached to the bag were the words, "Sneetch and Scalded Dog." Pop-Pop keeps trying to give Scott a trail name - his latest favorite is Scalded Dog. Inside the bag were a ripe peach and a bag of nuts. Trail magic! Opto and Pop-Pop are so sweet. We can't wait to catch up with them.

Day 112
Miles Hiked Today — 10.6
Total Trail Miles — 1302.1

Pop-Pop's Brother's House in NJ

Sue, Pop-Pop's sister-in-law, picked us up at a road crossing today and brought us to her house. Later in the day Opto, Pop-Pop, and his brother, John who is also Sue's husband, joined us there.

Sue and John have been awesome hosts! We had a wonderful dinner with lots of great veggies. We even enjoyed a vegan blueberry cobbler for dessert.

Almost forgot . . . we saw two bears today! Yesterday we actually saw a couple of bobcats. Luckily, none of these critters wanted anything to do with us.

Day 113
Miles Hiked Today — 19.8
Total Trail Miles — 1337.9

Pop-Pop's Brother's House

So how did I get over 35 miles further on the Trail and only walk fewer than 20 miles? Opto and Pop-Pop were about 16 miles ahead of us. When we all returned to the Trail this morning, we started at the point where they exited yesterday. For now I will skip those 16 miles. After I finish the A.T., I'll do a day-hike to make up the skipped section.

Right now it's more important for me to be with good friends than to worry about a few miles. My standards and ideals for this hike are constantly changing as I get closer to Maine. I suppose I'm changing too, but I'm not sure exactly how. It will probably take years for me to understand it.

Tomorrow's hike takes us out of New Jersey and into New York, our 9th state. Only about 830 miles to go.

Day 114
Miles Hiked Today — 10.6
Total Trail Miles — 1348.5

Tenting Near Mile Marker

This section of the Trail doesn't have much water and decent tentsites are hard to find. With the mosquitoes as bad as they are now, staying in the shelters isn't an option.

Today Pop-Pop carried a gallon of water for us for about four miles. That's eight extra pounds added to his 50-pound pack. At least the weather is nice - low 80s and clear skies.

Scott's Achilles seems to be doing okay with lots of Advil and new insoles.

Today the Trail wound through grassy meadows, swampy bogs, and over rocky ledges. Just before we stopped for the day, we crossed over into NY, which is our 9th state! Only CT, MA, VT, NH, and ME to go.

Day 115
Miles Hiked Today — 11.8
Total Trail Miles — 1360.3

Tenting Near West Mombasha Rd.

As of today, I've been on the Trail for four months. It seems impossible that I've lived (mostly) outside for that long.

I've noticed that I'm often tired lately. Early in the hike, I seemed to have an endless supply of energy, but now I am tired all day long. Maybe it's the starchy restaurant foods I've been eating lately. Today we had lunch in a diner in Greenwood Lake, NY (spaghetti with tomato sauce, french fries, bread, soda, coffee, water) and dinner at a deli in Monroe, NY. The Trail crosses many roads here and the terrain is so rough, we always feel the need to be rewarded with non-Trail food.

In case I haven't mentioned it, I've been traveling with Pop-Pop, Opto, and Scott, who still has no trail name. We've become a little family and I expect that we'll continue hiking together for a while - hopefully all the way to Katahdin!

Day 116
Miles Hiked Today — 10.4
Total Trail Miles — 1370.7

Tenting at Lake Tiorati

Another short day. We're all dragging. We're out of energy. Not sure why. Maybe it's the heat.

This lake setting is so beautiful! We took a swim before dinner to clean off some of the dirt and ate on the rocky beach.

I hope that tonight is a little quieter than last night when we had all kinds of wild animals shuffling around outside the tent. All night long.

There's a summer camp across the lake and the voices of children are floating over to us. They seem to be having a great time. I also hear folk music, faintly coming from a house across the lake. A whistle blows, signaling bedtime for the campers. They are booing.

Day 117
Miles Hiked Today — 13.2
Total Trail Miles — 1383.9

Old Oak Hotel, Bear Mtn., NY

Welcome to the dive-iest hotel in Trail history. This place beats the Doyle for sure. Our room smells strongly of mothballs, especially when I change positions on the bed. Maybe the mattress is actually filled with mothballs!

We hiked over Bear Mountain today. Scott's Achilles are really bothering him and he's thinking of going home to rest them for a week or so. I'm still feeling pretty exhausted and having trouble getting through the day. Hopefully, it's just the heat and humidity and not something worse like Lyme disease.

At the bottom of Bear Mountain we came to the Bear Mountain Inn. We decided not to stay at the Inn because of the incredibly high prices. So we ended up at this nearby hotel where $35 bought us dirty sheets on a mothball mattress.

I feel as if I have a lot of thinking to do. If Scott gets off the Trail, will I go with him while he recuperates? Will I then have to skip some sections of the Trail so I can make it to Maine in time? Or should I let him go home and keep hiking? I'm starting to wonder whether I'll make it to Maine this year or not. I could finish the Trail next year, but that really isn't what I set out to do. I have put so much energy into this thru-hike and made so many sacrifices.

Day 118
Miles Hiked Today — 0
Total Trail Miles 1383.9

Norwalk, CT

Since Scott's Achilles was bothering him so much and our hiking partners were heading into NYC for the weekend, Scott and I decided to visit his brother, Joe and our sister-in-law, Melissa for a few days. This morning we took the train from Garrison, NY (near Bear Mountain) to Grand Central Station, where we met up with Melissa. We then took another train to Joe and Melissa's house in Norwalk, where we are now sitting, refreshed and clean. I felt dirtier after one night in the mothball motel than I do after weeks in the woods!

Day 119
Miles Hiked Today — 0
Total Trail Miles — 1383.9

Norwalk, CT

Tonight I found a deer tick on the back of Scott's ear. It had to have been there for at least 48 hours since we haven't been in the woods for two days. I hope he doesn't get Lyme disease!

Day 120
Miles Hiked Today — 7.3
Total Trail Miles —1391.2

Tenting at Graymoor Friary

After having a great weekend with Joe and Melissa, I expected to return to the Trail completely energized. Unfortunately, I still feel very tired and the hiking was extremely tough for me today. It's not that the terrain is particularly difficult, but I am really exhausted.

Scott is hobbling because of his Achilles pain. He needs to let his feet rest and heal so we've decided to go to the Jersey Shore where my in-laws live. I'm going with Scott because I don't have the heart to say goodbye to him again. Plus, I need to step away from the Trail and decide whether or not I want to continue. I've hiked almost 1400 miles of the A.T. and part of me feels as if I should quit while I'm ahead. I still love hiking, but maybe I need a break from it for a while.