Mountains Under Foot

From Hazard’s notes:
Day 81: July 29, 2009
Travel:
From: Long Hill Road, NY (Via NYC, NY – Grand Central Station)
To: Morgan Stewart Shelter, NY
Beginning: 3:30pm
Ending: 8:30pm
Number of miles hiked:
a) Trail – 11.4
b) other – .4 into Beacon
c) AT Mile Marker – 1426.7 cumulative
Weather:
AM: Rainy and gross.
PM: Lots more rain.
People: Said goodbye to Sara and Jason. Our cabbie. Fancypants and Gozer in the shelter tonight.
Animals: Not really
Money: $13 train ticket, $10 for breakfast, $5 foot long, $10 for cab ride. $1479 cumulative.
Notes of the day:
AM: Another early day, but this time we had to gather all of our gear up to get ready to leave. Sara had an interview in the city later so she went with us to Grand Central Station. On the way we got a whole lot of weird looks with our packs on while cruising down the subway during rush hour. We bought our ticket and figured out when the train was leaving (9:55am) and then hunted down food. I was craving a panini and happened to find a place called Panotech, I think. Either way a ham and Brie sandwich was purchased and it was good. I also got a bagel and a Gatorade. Spoon bought a yogurt cake with black and white icing that was also amazing. We jumped on the train heading to Beacon, NY, the closest town to where we left the trail. On the train I worked on journals and ate my breakfast then got up to use the restroom and when I emerged the guys were gone and so was my stuff. Apparently the train was pulling out of the station where I needed to get off and I scrambled to find someone to confirm that fact. An attendant pretty much told me I screwed up and would have to get off at the next stop and wait for a train going the opposite direction. Thankfully I didn’t have to wait long and was on my way back to Beacon. All in all I wasted everyone about 30-40 minutes. I’m really feeling completely out of my head and dragging everyone else down with my condition.

PM: We walked into town and to the post office first so I could send my shirts off to Raleigh. Then back the way we came towards the outfitter, but not before a $5 foot long at subway where they also had WiFi so I could send a couple emails and the guys could check their mail. Once at the outfitter we asked if they offered a shuttle back to the trail. They did not, so we had to resort to calling a taxi. Since we had some time to kill I figured I’d work on my journal, but when I go to turn on my iPod it doesn’t turn on. It doesn’t do anything. Then the sky opens up and it starts pouring rain. At this point, sitting outside the outfitter, is my lowest point on the trail so far. With things not working or broken, my hand in disarray, and my latest screw up, I just felt like I didn’t want to be out here anymore. When the cab arrived we piled in and cruised off to pick up another guy who ended up being dropped off at the local correctional facility as a visitor. I tried to take a nap while Spoon struggled to get the driver to where we needed to be. We finally got to the trailhead and the rain was still coming down so we paid our driver 30 bucks and hiked on. Only hiking with one pole and a gimp hand makes for a slow Hazard. I got to the nights shelter well after the other guys and right as it got dark. I made dinner under the roof of the shelter while I was completely soaked. This was not a great way to get things rolling after a nice break.

From Hazard’s notes:
Day 79-80: July 27-28, 2009
Travel: Zero days in New York City
People: Sara, Jason her gay roommate (aka Poodle), the two girls who asked us to come down to the show (Jenna & ?), the hosts of the Early Show, and the thousands of people we saw giving us weird looks. A naked cowboy.
Animals: Pigeons, turtles in central park.
Money: $7 breakfast, $16 for metro, $35 for Superfeet, $15 dinner, $20 resupply. $1441 cumulative
Notes of the day: July 27th -
- L train to Manhattan where we walked up to Times Square where we saw the naked cowboy and were asked to come to the taping of the Early Show.
- Walked along Broadway and became lost in the lights.
- Saw the Empire State building.
- Walked past Madison Square Garden
- Headed to Central Park and walked past the Dakota Hotel where John Lennon was shot and then walked to Strawberry Fields where his memorial is. There were a ton of people gathered. The impact of John Lennon is very clear standing in that park.
– Took a stroll through Central Park.
- Headed toward Lincoln Center but got washed out by the rain so we took refuge at the Juilliard School but ended up heading back to the apartment.
- Found out the first pizza place ever (Lombardi’s Pizza) is right near East Mountain Sports Outfitters so we got back on the L to the city.
- Croc got new Vasque boots, Spoon and I got some Superfeet insoles.
- Lombardi’s pizza is hands down the best pizza on earth. It blew my taste buds away and all other pizza will taste like garbage now. We had a homemade meatball and prosciutto pizza that didn’t drip grease, it dripped olive oil.
- Attempted to go to the top of the Empire State building but it cost $20 so we bailed.

Notes of the Day: July 28-
- Woke up really early to get down to CBS studios. Sara gave us metro directions to where we needed to be.
- We stood outside and clapped when the anchors came out. The girls that invited us to come tried their hardest to get them to talk to us. The best we got was one of the hosts pointing out how I couldn’t clap like everyone else, calling me a “trooper”.
- Asked Jenna for a breakfast recommendation and when we got there and saw the outrageous prices ($7 for oatmeal) we asked a cop for a cheapo place and he pointed around the corner to a deli that was perfect.
- Walked down the street for no particular reason and ran into Steinway & Sons Pianos and then across the street was Carnegie Hall.
- In that same area was an Italian designer men’s store that was remodeling and cleaning out inventory. Spoon got a $1,250 suit for $500 and a $225 tie for $80. I picked up a pair of $300 dress shirts for $60 each. Not a bad discount.
- We headed back to Brooklyn to relax.
- Came back to the men’s store because Spoon’s suit was finished being tailored and he wanted to try it on. It fit and looked awesome.
- Looked for food nearby and landed at Rumors, a bar that looked like it used to be a church. Afterwards, I walked next door and bought a Black & White cookie from the bakery. Mmmm. Spoon then went and bought two.
- Walked down to Radio City Music Hall and then over to Rockefeller center before returning back to Brooklyn.
- Resupply at C-town grocery just before it closed.
- Laundry/sleep