Day 122

06/30/12 - Schaghticoke Mountain campsite - 1,458 miles

First off, best name of a mountain so far.  "Shag-ta-coke."  Awesome.  And what else is awesome is that we are in NEW ENGLAND!  Connecticut has proven to be beautiful so far, and I think the best is yet to come.  Today was another hot day.  I'm glad we are moving further north everyday.  I am so sleepy.

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New. England.

Day 121

06/29/12 - [NY 22] - 1,442.8 miles

I'm glad we weren't hiking today.  HOT.  We slept in.  Ate some breakfast.  Slept some more and lazed about.  Read.  iPhoned.  Got some snacks.  Got some 50¢ snow cones from some little girls.  Long walk to the "grocery store."  Huge, overpriced disappointment.  Lunch at a neat deli/diner.  Walked past an old abandoned mental institution.  Very interesting/creepy.  Hittin' the Trail tomorrow again full force.  New England, here we come!

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The Harlem Valley State Hospital 1924-1994

Day 120

06/28/12 - [NY 22] - 1,442.8 miles

Zero!  Temptation won out this go around.  We cut our 27 mile day 7 miles short and hitched into the motel a night early.  Full zero in effect, and I think we both were needing it.  It's been about 8 days since I had a shower.  Not so fresh.  Took an hour nap by Nuclear Lake today.  Beautiful.  We found a nice, cool, shady spot by the water.  We also found a few ticks on us, but it was still a nice relaxing spot.  Today was a long day.

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Day 119

06/27/12 - Shenandoah Tenting Area - 1,421.6 miles

We are basically camped on a front lawn.  Fresh cut, flat grass.  Abandoned old building with what looks like an old bread oven.  Neat.  Several snakes nearby.  Tomorrow we're pushing for a longer day, then town the next day (yay!), then we will be out of New York and into New England!  I am ready to be out of New York.  We are getting closer to Maine and Katahdin.  We have already come so far.

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Day 118

06/26/12 - near South Highland Road - ≈1,410 miles

Sometimes when I'm hiking, the sound of my breathing blocks everything else out.  This seems to be happening a lot here in New York.  We have experienced the most frequent ups and downs than in any other state.  I feel like we are always either climbing a mountainside or falling down one.  Constantly.  Up.  Down.  Up.  Down.  Climbed Bear Mountain today which was one really well maintained trail.  Went through the zoo and saw some pretty sad creatures.  Foxes, coyotes, porcupine, bears.  Much too small cages.  Sad.  Then crossed the Hudson.  Acrophobia slightly and the fear of a falcon attacking.  Saw Uncle Spider (not since TN), Whoop and Resource today.  Also talked with U-haul as we ate some pizza at this awesome Shell station.  Much nom was nommed.  We are doing longer miles now.  Wolfsnake and Tigerlilly.  Happy birthday to seester Sarah today!

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Honoring Walt Whitman.

Day 117

06/25/12 - near West Mountain Shelter - 1,390.2 miles

Today was kind of an on-trail nero.  Slept in.  Walked to the lake with vending machines.  Hiked out in the pouring rain.  Soaked.  Then dried out in the sun.  Scary thunderstorms.  Tomorrow we start a more rigorous schedule of hiking.  Tomorrow we climb Bear Mountain and see the Bear Mountain Zoo!  Rawr.

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Hiking with Mom & Dad

Recently, my dad came out to visit the park.
More recently, both my parents came out to visit.
This is basically what happened.