1400 Miles Done -> 800 Remain

I’m sitting in the Glen Rock Public Library in Bergen County, New Jersey, near the home of Stringbean, a terrific, long-time trail family member I first met 8 years ago when we were both SOBOs on the AT. We’ve kept in touch over the years and he and Toastface- another great member of our trail family- stayed with Wendy and me in Minnesota during their cross country cycling trip some years ago. We’ve also been to a number of Dead shows together, and in general have shared some wonderful times over the years. In addition to the AT, String has completed the CDT (SOBO) and most of the PCT (SOBO) so he’s practically a triple-crowner, and among other things does competitive trail running and ultra marathons, waaaay out of my league. He picked me up Sunday evening from the trail in New York and I’m taking full advantage of the situation, logging my first “double zero” of the trail (i.e., two non-hiking days in succession) hanging out at his house doing laundry, shower(s), eating, and relaxing! We’ve had a great time catching up as it’s been a few years since we’ve seen each other, and he’s driven me all over the place to run various errands, do my resupply, exchange my Darn Tuff socks, etc.

So long and farewell PA. Hello NJ!

Tomorrow morning (Wednesday) he’ll drop me back at the same point on the trail (the Elk Pen designated trailhead parking area in Harriman State Park- item #9 in this link) to continue north. Tomorrow morning I’ll cross the Hudson river via a bridge in Bear Mountain State Park, just a few miles south of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. On a clear day there’s a decent view of the NYC skyline, so we’ll see tomorrow whether that happens or not. If I manage to put in a longish day, I should be able to camp tomorrow night at Graymoor, a Franciscan retreat center near the trail that welcomes thru-hikers to sleep next to a ballfield and pavilion area on the property. I stayed there as a SOBO too and it was fantastic.

Those of you who know my deep affinity for early American novels (18th/19th century) will appreciate how much I particularly enjoy hiking through the Hudson Valley area with the rich local literary tradition of the so-called “Knickerbocker School” of American Literature that includes writers like Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper, and by regional association (in my own mind, at least) other authors like Nathanial Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson. My recent audio book consumption reflects this, particularly the Leather Stocking Tales, as prior to this hike I had only read The Last of the Mohicans.

OK, that’s all for now. In addition to these photos from recent days I’ve once again updated my YouTube Channel (videos 86 – 100 are all new) so be sure to check those out if interested. Thank you again for your interest and support. My most sincere wishes of love and peace to you all! Max