A Taste of Civilization and Giving a Little Back to the Great friends I've Made.

After a marvellous stay with Sherry and Brian, we lit out to walk across New Jersey. The trail in Jersey is not especially challenging, but it is crawling with bears. We saw three in the few days we were there. I was enjoying breakfast by a road and had my stuff spread out, and Stickshift looks at me with wide eyes and says "Dude!" I responded "What, a bear?" He said "Yeah!" I'm looking all around to see one off in the distance, and Stick says, " No, right there!" and leans back because I couldn't see the bear 10 feet away because it was behind him. I jumped up and started to bang my hiking poles and yell, but he wasn't going anywhere. We tried to reason with him and explain that if he didn't go away he was going to be euthanized as a nuisance bear, but he wasn't convinced so we started to throw rocks near him and he ran away.
On a serious note PLEASE DON'T FEED WILDLIFE - in the case of bears you'll get them killed!
The trail through Jersey was interesting and often beautiful, it was a welcome change from PA.
When we crossed the border my mom came and picked me up and agreed to drive us for a while so we could hike NY and CT without our packs, so we have spent the last week walking in the daytime and sleeping in a comfy RV at night.It makes for long mileage and some small amount of relaxation, though it is hectic at times. Most importantly it provides for a shower and a chance to look for ticks. One friend is already recovering from Lyme disease from NY.
My mom has also taken to trail magic like a duck to water. She set up a cooleron the trail and has now been hosting bands of my smelly hiker friends for a week now. There are tents strewn about the yard and a continual schedule of shuttles and feedings. Thanks Mom! It is nice to get a chance to organize some comfort and relaxation for the marvellous people who have made my experience on the trail that much more special.

Some recent pictures

Jersey reunion, Stickshift, Bear Blaze, Mad Mike and I when Mike came to visit.

The High Point Monument at night from the observation platform on which we definately did not sleep because that's against the rules.

New Jersey boardwalk. Hunh... I always pictured more casinos.

Finished another state, time for a nap!

Cool New York silo.

The Dover Oak - really BIG oak tree.

The Lemon Squeezer

View of Hudson near Bear Mountain.

Bear Mtn Bridge from Bear Mtn.

Nuthatch and Trail angel Mom

Nuthatch, Stickshift and I in a thru-hikers second mode - relaxing.

Into Connecticut.