11 States Down, 3 To Go!

Adam and Dori completed their 4th month on the trail yesterday, and also completed their 11th state on their 2,175 mile journey. Hiking through NJ, NY, CT and MA, a total of 302 miles in about 19 days, was a great accomplishment and as Adam mentioned in his June 14th post, the relatives took great care of both of them and of course Mosey too.

Here are a few pictures from northern NJ (Culver’s Lake) and a picture Adam and I there in July 2001.











Just near the NJ/NY border is a stile that goes over a barbed wire fence (typical along the trail, and Marion asked Adam to take a picture of himself at it because it is the same place she took a picture of Adam in the summer of 1993, 16 years ago - check it out.












The Washington Monument look-a-like is actually High Point Monument marking the highest point in NJ at 1,803 feet. It was build in 1930 to honor the war heroes of New Jersey, and is 6 miles from Bob and Marion’s home town of Port Jervis, NY.


Adam also saw a turtle laying some eggs near a pond, and took these pictures, pretty cool!




















Adam was able to visit with both of his grandmothers, Marion’s mom Marilyn, here with Adam and Dori,


and Bob’s mom Betty and step dad Claude here with Adam. Both Adam and Dori enjoyed time with the families, and of course, the food was awesome!


In NJ, Adam visited a doctor to have is tailbone checked out (which is much improved as of yesterday), and in MA, Dori and Adam took a two day rest compliments of Dori’s family as Dori was not feeling well, due to the flu, or possibly Lyme’s Disease. With some strong antibiotics, Dori is feeling much better and hiking some big days (21 miles on Sunday!). As most of you know, the Big Ol’ Mosey returned to Charlotte on Saturday, June 27th and he is resting quite comfortably and getting used to his new home (sorry Mosey).


Many thanks to Aunt Mindy and Uncle Ronnie for all their travels to pick Mosey up in MA and deliver him to Bob and Marion in Harrisburg, PA!












Over the next week, Adam and Dori will hike both the Appalachian Trail and Vermont’s famous Long Trail. The Long Trail goes from the MA/VT border northward to the VT/Canada border. Near the middle of the state, the Appalachian Trail turns right and heads due east into New Hampshire, and the Long Trail continues north. Once into New Hampshire, Adam and Dori will hike through the White Mountain Range and over the second highest peak on the AT, Mt. Washington (6,288 feet). Then it will be on to the final state – Maine – where Bob will meet Adam and Dori in Monson, Maine, and the three of them will hike the final 110 miles to Mt. Katahdin, where two hikes will be completed, Bob & Adam’s 18 year section hike of the AT and Adam and Dori’s 5 month thru-hike. Wow, how exciting!

Over the next several weeks, the trail transitions to a much more ‘wilderness’ environment, with limited trail towns, limited cell coverage, and limited people (except 4th of July weekend!). Please continue to pray for them over the next 4 weeks, for safety, sure footing, mental and physical strength, and sunny weather. Happy 4th of July!