I don’t like sleeping in Shelters. Even though we were the only ones in the shelter, I just couldn’t get to sleep. At midnight, C2T gets up and both me and Braveheart sit up. We all were awake, tossing and turning but nobody wanted to say anything. Once we realized we were all awake, I offered up my Lavender Essential Oil. My friend Blue turned me onto these wonderfully magical oils that help with all things last year, when she hiked with me. Right now, we all needed sleep. I rub it under my nose and on my temples and Braveheart said to place it on my wrists too. We all doused ourselves with Lavender and within minutes, we were sound asleep.

With only five hours of sleep, we were all moving pretty slow this morning. The best part of Shelters is there’s always a picnic table and a privy. Sitting on a proper table heating your water, drinking coffee or tea and eating oats, is pretty darn special. The second and only other good thing about shelters is there’s a privy. A place to do your business. I guess the one and last thing is there typically is a bear box so you can store your food properly. So Shelters can provide some sort of comfort but I do not like sleeping in shelters.

Our hiking today, after lack of sleep, was hands down, the “best day ever” on the trail. (I’m stealing this quote from my grandson Quin.) The terrain was perfect, the scenery was gorgeous, and the AQ was great. We walked through these wide open grassy fields that went on forever. There were a few ponds along the way with turtles and bullfrogs, cattails and lily pads. It was idyllic. Definitely the best part of my hike to this point.

By 11am, we had made our way into Unionville, NJ. Both Braveheart and myself had resupply boxes waiting for us. We made it to the USPO before they went to lunch. Hours at the PO really can dictate your day. We carried our boxes over to the General Store where C2T was waiting for us. We found some nice chairs to sit on, plugs to charge our electronics and we entered the store to order Deli Sandwiches. It was all around a perfect spot to eat and hang out.

We talked to the Store Manager as she was hanging up flags and getting ready for Fourth of July. She asked where we were from and then I asked her. She lives a couple of miles out of town. So you’re a local, I said. Nope, she told me unless you have bones in the graveyard, or you have family in the cemetery, you are not a local. That’s the way it is up here. The people that live here, were born and raised in these parts, and they have grave markers to prove it. I guess that’s what it takes to be from around here. Bones in the graveyard.

After a couple of hours, we packed our packs with five days of food, grabbed a scoop of ice cream and returned to the trail. It followed the creek in the woods for a bit of time and then took us onto the country roads. We passed a house that had a sign, Trail Magic and had to indulge. We grabbed some drinks and sat for a bit, then continued on.

We walked along Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge for about two miles, making a large circuit around the marshes and ponds within. The refuge was created in 1990, and is a habitat for migratory birds.with Cranes, Egrets and Hawks. It was flat as ever, no hills, no rocks, just smooth grass and a perfectly groomed trail underfoot. A gal who lives in the neighborhood started walking with us asking all sorts of questions. Where you going, where did you start, where do you live, where are you sleeping tonight? The typical questions that most people want to know. She was planning to run a 10K in NYC tomorrow. She walked with us for a few miles then headed back to her car.

Our last bit of business was filling ip on water and yes, climbing one rather steep hill to get to the shelter tonight. The water was a spigot attached to an abandoned house that the ATC has acquired. It’s the only water near the shelter and was nice to turn on a tap, without filtering. The simple pleasures that we take for granite.

Once we arrived at the shelter, I found a somewhat level spot to pitch my home for the night. Braveheart joined me as C2T was committed to sleeping in the shelter. We all met for dinner, shared stories and laughed quite a bit. I guess there is one other thing I like about shelters and that’s the community of people, the hikers you meet along the way. It was a fun evening of sharing.

Today was an extra special day. C2T passed 1,000 miles on the trail today. Couch to Trail (C2T as I call her) started in February and was determined to finish this endeavor. There were a few nay-sayers who didn’t believe she could do it. She’s in her late 50’s, never been athletic, didn’t train before coming out here, and literally came off the couch to the trail. She has lost close to twenty pounds, and this girl can climb a hill like no one’s business. She is a force on the trail, and nothing is going to stop her. I’m so glad that we have met and I plan to finish this trail with her by my side. C2T, we are climbing Mt. Katahdin!