Forward to New York!

Aug. 1-3:  Branchville, NJ to Warwick, NY – Mile 1367

Guest Poster – the Mom

 

OK, here’s the story as Adam gave it to me:  He stopped in Vernon, NJ on Aug. 2, headed into NY, and then missed NJ so much that he turned around, hiked back and spent another night in NJ!  

 

Even I know that’s not the whole story – Adam stayed at a hostel in NJ, then caught a ride to a trailhead in Warwick, NY, and hiked back 15 miles to the same hostel.   That meant he was able to “slack pack” or hike those miles without his tent, sleeping bag or extra food, which made it an easy 15-mile day.

 

The hostel in Vernon, NJ was a very thru-hiker friendly church, St. Thomas Episcopal Church.  The church opens its fellowship hall, showers, kitchen facilities and even internet service and a television to hikers, asking only for a donation as they are able. 

They also invite hikers to their Sunday morning worship services, so Adam woke up early on Sunday and went to the 8 a.m. service.  It was an unusual service – the church makes its early service a spoken one, no music, just the spoken liturgy.   He did say it made the service shorter!

 

He then had breakfast at Dunkin’ Donuts, and caught a shuttle to the Warwick trailhead, heading north this time instead of south.

 

So another state has passed!  New Jersey is behind him.