07.21.07
Day 17 July 1 Sun
4mi to High Point State Park + 7mi to secret shelter
once again I was the last out of camp, I don’t know what it is I’m just NOT a morning person. That being said I only had to walk 4mi to meet my family and I wasnt really in a hurry. after I ate and packed I tried calling several times but only spotty signal this deep in the woods I ended up climbing up onto the roof of the shelter just to have a signal. It would be several hours before anyone left to come and then its about a two hour drive up. The miles went by quickly, it looked like rain so I took shelter in the Park headquarters and waited. Michelle came up alone got there about 3ish and we went out to grab a bite of real food.
After restocking headed back out about 5 to walk the last two miles to High Point Shelter. When I got there B. Floyd had already been there and gone. Left me a challenge to meet him tomorrow at the Wawayanda Shelter. Well I wasn’t going to take that sitting down. I cowboyed up put my pack back on and hiked 5.4mi to the secret shelter on the Murry property. Jim Murry who is a thru-hiker has some property and lets thru-hikers come stay. With running water, shower and electricity who could resist. those miles flew by made it in about 2 hours and who should already be there but Terripin Flyer and Granite, along with a charming lady headed south bound trail name of Slow & Steady. Was greeted even before I made it to the property by the sounds of donkeys.
The cabin was a small 200sq’ with running water inside and a shower around back. Since the sleeping platform was full I set up my tent and then joined everyone on the front porch. It was a pleasure to feel at home and have good conversation. Rather then just eating and crawing into the rack as usual.
Not a cloud in the sky that night the moon was so bright you could have danced in the pale moon light all night long. I stood out in the field for a long time watching it craw across the sky.
All night we listened to the sweet sounds of frustrated donkey love. Finally about dawn they stopped and wandered back into their stable. Every time they would start up it sounded like a animal attacking I would wake up thinking we were being invaded. Then the EeeeeAwwww would start up.