Getting into PA was initially exciting and we went into some cool towns. We went to Hamburg where we got to go to the Yuengling brewery (oldest brewery in the US) and had free beer tasting at the end!! My friend also came to visit me here which was wonderful. The rest of PA was really boring. There were no great sites to see, no big or exciting climbs, and nothing really beautiful about it. We had heard before how the rocks in PA are bad and with this antisipation our hiking friends The Jersey Boys worked out to slackpack north PA with their dad. They invites us along which was incredible and we spent 2 days with day packs going through the rough rocks, but had the reward of a bed and good food.
The Delaware water gap was really nice. The church hostel had a free jazz concert while we were there! Into NJ within the first 6 miles it was already much more beautiful. We camped that night at a place called Sunfish Pond and went swimming in this glacier lake (pond)! The rest of NJ was seriously gorgeous. No more bashing NJ for me and we saw 2 black bears!
Once we crossed the NY border it felt as if NY was letting us know what state we were in. Immediately we start hiking on crazy rock slabs, up and down rock faces, and climbing up ladders because the rocks were too steep. Hello New York! But what NY held for us was worth the crazy climbs and poorly marked trail. NY was where we were to meet up with our long lost hiking friend Happy Fella. We met him back in the Smokies and were around him hiking all the way through Erwin, TN where he made the decision to get off the trail. It was the right choice for him and we didn't blame him with the awful weather we had been having. So way back when NY seemed really far away we had made the plan to call him when we got there. So here we were in NY and we got scooped up off the trail with beer and strawberries by the one and only Happy Fella. It was incredible! We went to his home and got to see his amazing wife again who cooked us dinner! Then we spent the next 2 days slackpacking with Happy Fella while he hiked and moved his car along the trail with us as we went. We were really thankful to have him especially going down Bear Mt. where the trail gets lost among side trails. It was a wonderful 2 and a half days of being spoiled and getting to catch up with a friend. So thank you again Happy Fella and Mary Ellen and we will keep in touch!
In the next few days we worked out going into NYC to visit one of my friends from high school who is living there. That was another crazy adventure where we happened across some more trail magic. A woman had a sign out for free breakfast at her house. And after waffles and coffee she offered to help us get to the train station. She slackpacked us another 9 miles (this is the most slackpacking we have done) and picked us up with her daughters in the car and drove us to the train station. People out here are seriously incredible. Into the city we went which was a little crazy, but exhilarating and a lot of fun! We took a zero there and went to the 9/11 museum which was really good! I would recommend going if you can. We also went on the Staten Island ferry just to ride around and was a good refresher from the museum.
Back on the trail for a day and a half before getting picked up by Marly's parents for another zero and good food and sleep!
Although this seems like we have been doing a lot and all really fun, which it has been, I am starting to feel tired and unenthusiastic about the trail. It turns out that a lot of the thru hikers around us are feeling the same way. We have all said that the Virginia blues don't exist, but the PA and maybe through NY blues do exist. The terrain is boring, the sites are not too exciting, and generally there is not a lot to look forward to that is in the near future. Most people have slowed down a lot. In no way am I feeling like quitting or giving up. I am ready to get to Vermont where we will be climbing big mountains again and having exhausting, satisfying days of hiking.
Katahdin is getting closer, but I need things to look forward to on the daily basis rather than monthly. Still I love the trail, and the people, and the life I am living. Still I can't believe I am out here sometimes. Love to all.
