Rollin' the Dice

With 2pac's departure for Philadelphia, we wrote off the idea of going to New York City - too expensive and we need to be heroes and push on! ...right?

After our departure from RPH Shelter we hiked a relatively easy 5 miles to a deli just off trail to grab breakfast sandwiches and replenish on water (allegedly the water sources north of RPH are contaminated with E. coli - definitely not risking that one). As we sat outside of the deli we got to talking: we would be passing through a town with train service to New York City later in the day. We could still make it, couldn't we? After a half an hour and a few phone calls we had a place to stay (thank you dad!) and the determination to make it to the train station post-haste. 

We threw on our packs and took off on what we later called a death-sprint to Pawling. After an hour back on trail we had covered 4 miles, slamming through solid walls of mosquitos, leaving them smashed and bloodied in our wake. We quickly reevaluated to figure out that we could easily make the 4:45pm train (instead of the 6:45pm train) if we booked it. Let the death-sprints continue.

With 5.5 miles to town we passed a road where we briefly contemplated hitching in to catch an even earlier train but NY state law and unwilling motorists quickly squashed that plan. Butts out and heads down we barreled up the next climb and arrived at the road crossing by 4:00pm - record time - and were able to take photos with the biggest tree on the AT before Beetlejuice's little brother (I dubbed him Mini-juice) picked us up to take us to town. 

With less than 10 minutes to spare, we made it onto the train for a relaxing two hour ride to the city. We were able to have seats practically to ourselves with our exceptionally ripe aromas causing other passengers to take shelter in other cars of the train, often choosing to stand rather than sit next to us (sorry?). 

When we arrived in the city we had a brief touristy moment in Grand Central for Red Knees and Monk before catching the shuttle over to Times Square and our hotel. After a pity-upgrade to a room on the top floor with a city view (these poor homeless children, all alone in the woods for so long!) we quickly showered and Monk and I headed out to Columbus Circle while Red Knees waited for his friends. 

Once in the Time Warner Building we went to work finding outfits in H&M to make us slovenly hikers look presentable. We bought everything - down to the shoes - and changed in the public restroom before headed up to the 4th floor where I have spent so much of the past few years for a cocktail at Per Se. They styled us out, really outdoing themselves (a copper pot filled with Animal Farm butter and shaved black truffles just to shmear on our cornbread that was an accompaniment to corn and lobster chowder? Bravo, Chef Eli!). I even lucked out and was able to see nearly everyone that I knew from working there two years ago (and a few friends from Yountville as well). After 3 hours of incredible food and drink, we went back to say thank you to the kitchen before the clock struck midnight and Cinderella here had to change back into hiker attire and store her recent clothing purchases nicely to be returned the next day (one of the sketchier things I have done - ah well). 

Monk and I stopped for a completely unnecessary night cap before heading back to the hotel where I was asleep within minutes of my head hitting the pillow.

Apparently Red Knees came back at some point that evening because he was there in the morning when I woke up. We packed up our things leisurely and walked over to a nearby laundromat to hopefully rid ourselves of some of our hiker funk. While waiting for our laundry, Monk figured out how to get to his family reunion, allowing him to spend an extra night in NYC. With clean clothing in our bags, we walked back up to Columbus Circle and with surprising ease returned our outfits from the night before and grabbed a juice at Bouchon Bakery. 

From there we took the train down to Union Square to meet up with Red Knees' old college roommate, Josh, and his sister for lunch and a stroll through the Green Market. I was exhausted but managed to zombie through most of the meal. We then went down to REI to pick up a few supplies (more Deet! All the Deet you have!) before heading back to Josh's apartment (where we would be sleeping that evening) to drop off our things. 

Everyone opted to go out big New York City style last night but I was exhausted and in need of some good rest before heading back on the trail so I stayed behind - this was Red Knees and Monk's first time in the city so the allure of the Manhattan club scene had not become stale yet. When they finally stumbled in at 4:00am I knew I had made the right choice. 

We woke up early this morning and packed quickly to catch the 10:48am train back to the trail. We are hoping for an easy 12 miles today to get us officially into Connecticut. New York is an amazing place but - and I never thought I'd say this after just two days in the City - I am so glad to be getting back to the wilderness.