Thursday, June 21, 2012
(Sun. 6/10/12) High Point State Park, NY (Phone Update)
Brett called fairly late (for him) from High Point State Park. The park is actually located in New York, but the trail is not quite done with New Jersey. He should cross the official NJ/NY border soon and spend about a week hiking New York. This was, sadly, a very short phone update. I think Brett was started to fall asleep on the phone. He's working hard!
(Fri. 6/8/12) - Sunfish Pond, NJ (Phone Update)
Brett called me while stopping for lunch on the trail. He found the perfect place to stop and enjoy the view at Sunfish Pond in NJ. I was told it was the southern-most glacier-formed lake (in the U.S.? on the trail?). Brett said it was an absolutely beautiful alpine lake. He found a nice boulder to sit on. What started out as a lunch stop turned into an hour-long (at least) break of enjoying the scenery.
A few other other hikers stopped by while Brett was on the phone, and I was able to say hello to Hawkeye and one other (I can't remember now who it was). It sounds like Brett has met a few nice guys who have continued to pass each other (leap-frog) and keep up with one another since they started in February.
A few other other hikers stopped by while Brett was on the phone, and I was able to say hello to Hawkeye and one other (I can't remember now who it was). It sounds like Brett has met a few nice guys who have continued to pass each other (leap-frog) and keep up with one another since they started in February.
New Jersey Timeline (6/8/12 - )
6/8/12 (Fri.)? - Crossed the PA/NJ border [1288.0 mi.].
6/8/12 (Fri.) - Lunch at Sunfish Pond, NJ [1293. mi.].
6/10/12 (Sun.) - High Point State Park, NY [1330.3 mi.]
6/12/12 (Tue.) - St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Vernon, NJ [1350.9 mi.].
6/15/12 (Fri.) - Views of NYC Skyline from Black Mountain, NY [1388.9 mi.]
6/16/12 (Sat.) - Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, Peekskill, NY [1404.1 mi.]
6/8/12 (Fri.) - Lunch at Sunfish Pond, NJ [1293. mi.].
6/10/12 (Sun.) - High Point State Park, NY [1330.3 mi.]
6/12/12 (Tue.) - St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Vernon, NJ [1350.9 mi.].
6/15/12 (Fri.) - Views of NYC Skyline from Black Mountain, NY [1388.9 mi.]
6/16/12 (Sat.) - Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, Peekskill, NY [1404.1 mi.]
(Thu. 6/7/12) Delaware Water Gap, PA - Phone Update
Brett said that he hasn't minded the "Pennsylvania Rocks" as much as he expected. However, the last three days had been tough. He climbed Lehigh Gap the other day, and it was the toughest climb on the trail so far. He was literally climbing over boulders. It was tough, "but fun". Brett hiked about 16 or 17 miles this day. Brett said he can really tell that the days are getting longer, so he is hiking more.
Brett recently had a nice meeting with some of his extended Wendel family.
I asked Brett about how it felt to sleep on a mattress either in a hotel room or in a house with a family. Brett said he actually preferred to sleep on his air mattress bed rather than a hotel room bed. He has a better sleep. However, he misses his pillow. In his words, "I can take the bed or leave it. But pillows are nice. I miss pillows so much."
Brett recently had a nice meeting with some of his extended Wendel family.
I asked Brett about how it felt to sleep on a mattress either in a hotel room or in a house with a family. Brett said he actually preferred to sleep on his air mattress bed rather than a hotel room bed. He has a better sleep. However, he misses his pillow. In his words, "I can take the bed or leave it. But pillows are nice. I miss pillows so much."
Sunday, June 3, 2012
(Tue. 5/29/12) Duncannon, PA - E-mail From Brett
I am past Duncannon in another shelter as a big thunderstorm is in for the evening. I have poison ivy on my arm. The weather is the hottest that it has been so far for the last few days. It is hot even for the Florida boy. Water has been scarce. I am carrying a lot of extra weight, because I do not want to run out. I miss you, it seems like more each day. It feels like it has been so long since I have seen you--much longer than it has felt for you, because time goes by slower on the trail. I know your birthday is coming up. I never know if I will have service the next day, so happy birthday if I do not have service. I do not know what town I will be in next, but I will figure it out in a day or two and let you know my plan.
(Sat./Sun. 6/2-6/3/12) Port Clinton, PA - Phone Update From Brett
I got two calls from this weekend. He called Saturday, and first thing Sunday morning. I don't have much to report. Brett didn't have a lot to say from his end, and we spent more time talking about things from home.
Brett came into the town of Port Clinton on Saturday. He planned on going to a Cabela's store there as soon as it opened on Sunday, and then would get back on the trail. He has had a gift certificate sitting on the desk for quite a while, and this was a perfect opportunity for him to use. Brett's dad said he thought Brett needed to buy new shoes (again?), but I had not heard that. I wonder how many pairs of shoes Brett will end up going through before it's all over.
Brett had been able to meet up with his dad's cousins a few weeks ago. He expects to be able to meet up with his dad's cousin's daughter on Monday afternoon. (That would be Wendell's daughter Kristin, i.e. Brett's second cousin.)
Brett came into the town of Port Clinton on Saturday. He planned on going to a Cabela's store there as soon as it opened on Sunday, and then would get back on the trail. He has had a gift certificate sitting on the desk for quite a while, and this was a perfect opportunity for him to use. Brett's dad said he thought Brett needed to buy new shoes (again?), but I had not heard that. I wonder how many pairs of shoes Brett will end up going through before it's all over.
Brett had been able to meet up with his dad's cousins a few weeks ago. He expects to be able to meet up with his dad's cousin's daughter on Monday afternoon. (That would be Wendell's daughter Kristin, i.e. Brett's second cousin.)
(Fri. 6/1/12) 501 Shelter, PA - Phone Update from Brett
I was able to talk to Brett twice today. It was my birthday, so he called me first thing in the morning. He called me again in the middle of the day when we had more time to talk.
Brett chose to take a zero day at the shelter. It is a pretty decent shelter. He was able to order to pizza the night before and said he would order it again that evening. There was supposed to be some pretty bad weather coming in at 1:00pm that day. Brett didn't think he would be able to reach the next shelter before it got bad, so he decided to enjoy the Zero. However, by lunch the weather didn't look like it was really going to get that bad.
Brett had been able to meet up with two of his dad's cousins when he was in Harper's Ferry. In the next few days Brett will be able to meet up with his second cousin. Brett has never met any of them before, though his dad keeps in touch. I think it's really neat that they are interested in Brett and want to show their support for him, just based on the contact Brett's dad has had with them. Without this experience, I doubt Brett would ever have had an opportunity to meet them.
Brett had a cool nature-encounter. He was walking over a bridge going over a pretty big river. While he crossing he was dive-bombed by a pair of peregrine falcons. The falcons had nested under the bridge and there were two fledgelings in the nest. Apparently, the parents felt like Brett was getting too close to the nest and they swooped down at him. The birds flew pretty close to Brett, obviously. Of course, Brett would likely never have noticed the nest if they hadn't drawn attention to themselves.
Brett chose to take a zero day at the shelter. It is a pretty decent shelter. He was able to order to pizza the night before and said he would order it again that evening. There was supposed to be some pretty bad weather coming in at 1:00pm that day. Brett didn't think he would be able to reach the next shelter before it got bad, so he decided to enjoy the Zero. However, by lunch the weather didn't look like it was really going to get that bad.
Brett had been able to meet up with two of his dad's cousins when he was in Harper's Ferry. In the next few days Brett will be able to meet up with his second cousin. Brett has never met any of them before, though his dad keeps in touch. I think it's really neat that they are interested in Brett and want to show their support for him, just based on the contact Brett's dad has had with them. Without this experience, I doubt Brett would ever have had an opportunity to meet them.
Brett had a cool nature-encounter. He was walking over a bridge going over a pretty big river. While he crossing he was dive-bombed by a pair of peregrine falcons. The falcons had nested under the bridge and there were two fledgelings in the nest. Apparently, the parents felt like Brett was getting too close to the nest and they swooped down at him. The birds flew pretty close to Brett, obviously. Of course, Brett would likely never have noticed the nest if they hadn't drawn attention to themselves.
(Thu. 5/31/12) Shy of the 501 Shelter, PA - Phone Update From Brett
Brett called me while eating his lunch on the top of a mountain. He had good cell phone reception and wanted to call me while he had a chance (didn't want to miss my birthday). Lunch was a tortilla with tuna fish and hot sauce.
Brett said that is was a nice day, the first nice day he had in over a week. He was enjoying an absolutely clear sky. It had cooled down to 60 degrees the previous night and was supposed to go down to the 50's that night. With a light breeze on the mountain, dry air, and a slightly wet shirt, Brett was almost chilly. He said he was looking forward to snuggling up in his sleeping bag instead of laying naked on top. The weather in Penn. has been unseasonably hot with high humidity. He said he was hearing locals complain about the weather, and didn't think they were used to is.
Brett said they got some of the tail winds of Albert, a tropical storm that came through. It rained for about a day and a half.
Brett woke up to a clear, bright sunny morning and started hiking early. He finished 10 miles by lunch and only had 6 more miles to go before his goal of reaching the 501 Shelter. The 501 Shelter is close to the road. You can order pizza there, and there is also a place to charge cell phones.
Brett said people easily recognize him as "The Dude". While I was on the phone with Brett another hiker said, "Oh, you must be 'The Dude'." I asked Brett how this hiker would know that if they had never met before. Brett said if the hiker had seen his name in a log, it would be easy for him to match the name with the right person. Recently another hiker said to Brett, "I sure hope your name is 'Lebowski' or something like that." When Brett told him that it was "The Dude", this hiker replied that Brett had one of the most fitting names. I have never seen the movie this is from, but apparently the resemblance is striking.
Brett had complained about his knee hurting. When I asked him about it again, Brett said that it is not bothering him anymore, but that it did take about a week for the pain to go away. Now his has a cramp in the bottom of the foot. He's not the only one who is feeling the aches and pains. He said everyone walks with the Hiker Hobble. Your body stiffens up after any kind of break. Brett did say that the hills are almost getting easier. Brett has consistently complaining about going uphill, so this was good new to hear.
Brett got some poison ivy. He said that is bothering him. When treated, it heals faster. But Brett said it would probably take a couple of weeks for the rash to completely clear up.
Brett said that he had a nice visit with his friend Don. Brett could have stayed longer, but he felt like he needed to get going. He didn't want to sit around too much. Brett and Don worked together on an out-of-town project in GA some years ago, but Don is friends with a dentist her in Niceville. Another case of It's a Small World.
Brett said that is was a nice day, the first nice day he had in over a week. He was enjoying an absolutely clear sky. It had cooled down to 60 degrees the previous night and was supposed to go down to the 50's that night. With a light breeze on the mountain, dry air, and a slightly wet shirt, Brett was almost chilly. He said he was looking forward to snuggling up in his sleeping bag instead of laying naked on top. The weather in Penn. has been unseasonably hot with high humidity. He said he was hearing locals complain about the weather, and didn't think they were used to is.
Brett said they got some of the tail winds of Albert, a tropical storm that came through. It rained for about a day and a half.
Brett woke up to a clear, bright sunny morning and started hiking early. He finished 10 miles by lunch and only had 6 more miles to go before his goal of reaching the 501 Shelter. The 501 Shelter is close to the road. You can order pizza there, and there is also a place to charge cell phones.
Brett said people easily recognize him as "The Dude". While I was on the phone with Brett another hiker said, "Oh, you must be 'The Dude'." I asked Brett how this hiker would know that if they had never met before. Brett said if the hiker had seen his name in a log, it would be easy for him to match the name with the right person. Recently another hiker said to Brett, "I sure hope your name is 'Lebowski' or something like that." When Brett told him that it was "The Dude", this hiker replied that Brett had one of the most fitting names. I have never seen the movie this is from, but apparently the resemblance is striking.
Brett had complained about his knee hurting. When I asked him about it again, Brett said that it is not bothering him anymore, but that it did take about a week for the pain to go away. Now his has a cramp in the bottom of the foot. He's not the only one who is feeling the aches and pains. He said everyone walks with the Hiker Hobble. Your body stiffens up after any kind of break. Brett did say that the hills are almost getting easier. Brett has consistently complaining about going uphill, so this was good new to hear.
Brett got some poison ivy. He said that is bothering him. When treated, it heals faster. But Brett said it would probably take a couple of weeks for the rash to completely clear up.
Brett said that he had a nice visit with his friend Don. Brett could have stayed longer, but he felt like he needed to get going. He didn't want to sit around too much. Brett and Don worked together on an out-of-town project in GA some years ago, but Don is friends with a dentist her in Niceville. Another case of It's a Small World.
(Sun. 5/27/12) Carlisle, PA - Phone Update from Brett
Brett arrived in Carlisle, PA on Friday. Brett's friend Don, a former coworker who lives just a few miles from the trail, had invited Brett to stay with him a few days when he passed through. Brett stayed at the house with Don and his family. He was able to do laundry and get clean again.
On Saturday Brett helped Don do yard work. They worked hard outside, but Brett said it was nice to do something different with his muscles. He said it also felt like a weekend. At home Brett would be very likely to help out a friend with a weekend project. They also watched a movie ("We Bought a Zoo"), which he enjoyed.
I had made a dentist appointment for Brett in Carlisle, but the earliest time I could get for him was Wednesday. I thought that was pretty good, considering that it was Memorial Day weekend. However, in the end, Brett decided to cancel. His tooth has not been bothering him as much, and he didn't want to wait that long. One of two Zero Days is okay, but then the thru-hiker feels the itch to get back on the trail and keep moving.
Brett ended up leaving Don's on Monday.
On Saturday Brett helped Don do yard work. They worked hard outside, but Brett said it was nice to do something different with his muscles. He said it also felt like a weekend. At home Brett would be very likely to help out a friend with a weekend project. They also watched a movie ("We Bought a Zoo"), which he enjoyed.
I had made a dentist appointment for Brett in Carlisle, but the earliest time I could get for him was Wednesday. I thought that was pretty good, considering that it was Memorial Day weekend. However, in the end, Brett decided to cancel. His tooth has not been bothering him as much, and he didn't want to wait that long. One of two Zero Days is okay, but then the thru-hiker feels the itch to get back on the trail and keep moving.
Brett ended up leaving Don's on Monday.
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