Jersey and a Break

Shower, Laundry, Climate-Controlled Sleeping, Non-Dehydrated Food.

It's not a thru-hiker dream (well actually, that's exactly what it is) but this dream is our reality this week!

We are so fortunate to be staying with Abbey's family this week in New Jersey.  Our trail Angels, Aunt Jane & Uncle Tony, and Cousin Bob (who picked us up just before a wicked storm came in) have helped make some much needed rest and relaxation become our experience for a little bit.

We have had a wonderful time since our last post, taking it fairly leisurely through New Jersey so we could time our arrival with the family, and have Really had a great time hiking.  New Jersey has been one of our favorite states by far, and for many good reasons.  We started New Jersey with a downpour, as we mentioned before, which proved to be essential for the balance of the environment.  We were re-introduced to Spring Water, which we've missed greatly (ALL of the Springs and most of the Streams were dry in New York).  Having become accustomed to Spring water for 60+ days, and then relying on tap water spigots for the last 15-20 days, we had forgotten just how good Ice-Cold Spring Water really is, both to the taste buds and to the soul.  It's nice to receive from Nature vs. a water spigot...  

On that note, a few people have asked us about water treatment, here's what we use: Katadyn Micropur Hiker (you can read about it there).  One of the benefits of filtering besides not getting nasty bacteria like Giardia, is it assures we spend 5-10 minutes a day, just sitting with a spring or stream listening to nature and taking a little break.

Back to New Jersey...We left the hostel in Vernon and immediately got to hike with some more cows.  This time we had to walk through a heard.  I'm assuming hikers have fed these cows because the Mama Cows would corral their babies, and push them towards us and the other hikers we saw, encouraging them to approach us.  We were having fun hanging out with them until a Bull got a little jealous of us talking to his ladies and he had no hesitation is letting us know it was time to move on.

We found a sweet little campsite that first night and called it early.  The next morning we awoke super early, much earlier than needed, but we had a feeling we needed to get moving.  It was lower 40's, much colder than we expected and everything was wet outside.  We walked about 15 minutes and then realized we were approaching a mile long Boardwalk.  And in perfect time.  The sun began to rise over the trees and lifted some fog as rays of sun bursted through the Marshy Flower Fields, while deer pranced silhouetted. (Pictures are currently downloading...)  Long story short, one of our favorite miles of the trail.

New Jersey had a few climbs, and some increasingly rocky terrain as we approached Pennsylvania, but we thoroughly enjoyed the scenic views, the terrain, the fire towers, the people on the trail, the atmosphere and attitude towards hikers in the State and a lovely relaxed 12-14 mile pace.

We also walked some super easy mostly flat terrain occasionally in the Delaware Water Gap area, though we had foggy weather a couple times where we couldn't see anything.  

Crossed the Delaware River via a pedestrian bridge on I-80 and received an enormous amount of honking and waving from cars driving the opposite way, and crossed into our 8th state, Pennsylvania in the process.  It was beginning to rain just as we arrived at 'Church of the Mountain Hiker Hostel' in Delaware Water Gap, PA.  Another sweet little hiker hostel that's been hosting hikers and holding weekly pot luck dinners for the hikers since the 1970's.

Had some wonderful food from a lady named Gayle at a little restaurant named Zen Safari, which specializes in cultural food, "if you serve people food, they should be able to feel your love in it" and we DID!

Ab's cousin Bob, picked us up and took us to Jane & Tony's, and thus began our relaxation that we're delving in right this moment.

So, that's all that.  As always our pictures are on Facebook, if you want to see what we're doing and where we've been, and they will be updated this week to catch us up with Mass, Conn, NY & NJ. 

900 miles behind us, we Love you All :) P & A