August 8 Mile 1438

Always get up a little earlier when on the trail itself. Packed up and decided to go to a deli that is near the AT. Again, it's a wonder having motorized transportation. Get started hiking and pass NY 52, near Stormville and actually have a long morning of a pretty pleasant trail, elevation wise. Noticed yesterday that my new KEEN ankle high hiking boot, which I have been slowly breaking in since my Sweety came, seemed for some reason to be rubbing on my right ankle bone and causing a bit of an irritation. No big problem, so today I switched to my low slip on Keen hiking shoes, which I bought in Port Clinton and are quite comfortable by the way. In fact, since I got these low hiking slip-ons, Rite Aid shoe pads, "orthosoles" for my ankle high boots, as well as my ankle high Keen boots, my bottom foot problems are basically vanished. Still have numbness, but under the toes next to the big toes, but I am condemned to this til the end. And it not a real problem anymore. But today, noticed an ache in my ankle, like it spread from the rubbing I felt yesterday. Whatever. What's that about. Along this whole hike it seems as though when I solve one medical or pain problem, a new one pops up. Whether its knees, bursitis, blisters, back pain, thigh pain, foot pains, toe numbness-I don't get it. At least I have been able to resolve them and have gone on.
So on we go. Past Nuclear Lake, where there was once a nuclear power plant-very pretty restored site-over West Mountain, down by the Telephone Pioneers Shelter, and across West Dover Road, where we come up to the Largest Oak on the AT-20 feet, 4 inches and over 300 years old. I marvel that the whole country used to have trees like this one-and chestnut trees as well! Wish I could get in a time machine and go about 300 years in the future to see what this protected area will look like then. Thank goodness 80 years ago people began preserving our eastern forests from GA to Maine.
A couple of miles after the oak, finished up at one of the more unique features of the trail-the Appalachian Trail Railroad Station-a real train platform that from time to time a train will stop and take you into NYC-about 40 or so miles away. The schedule is somewhat sketchy tp me, but does exist. And thru-hikers have been known to take the train to the big city-pack and all. Must look strange in the Big Apple. A train did come by and not stop while we were there-whoosed thru real fast blowing anything and everything over. I think I'd rather stay out here.
This was the end of the slack-packing extravaganza and my Sweety's help, though she and MGOTU are staying another day for a zero day! Hurray!
So, we drove from here near Pawling, NY, very close to the Conn border to Danbury, Conn to find a motel room for the next two nights.
At the end of the day my ankle was hurting more, right where you bend it. Maybe it was a bug bite. Be glad when it heals up.
To motel and dinner at Outback Steakhouse-how civilized can you get.