Day 230 – 72.6 “Concussion miles” remaining
😎 (SOBO Mile 747.3 to 819.9); 4.5 down; 68.1 remaining:
Woke up in D.C. (Thanks Sarah Borwell and Katie Dougherty and Thomas for letting me stay!), 6:45am bus to Union Station in D.C., 8:20am bus to Times Square in NYC, subway 7 to Grand Central, train from Grand Central to Pawling, NY, quick stop to get food and water at little grocery next to the station, hitched a ride to Nuclear Lake with Night Crawler Matt Hackett(he is very proud of his trail name as he is a fishing guide) who was working at Exon, picked up the trail where I left off last November and headed south! Stayed at Morgan Stewart Shelter
🌅
🏕😎!
What we are looking for at the end of this hike is a little sign that says “Village Vista Trail”. That leads into Greenwood Lake, NY and that will be THE END (finished and klaar) of my Appalachian Trail thru hike!
Day 231 – 18.5 down, 54.1 remaining:
Unplanned stop at the Canopus Lake Beach where the State Park lets hikers camp for free on AT designated sites!
Then there was trail angel, Joe, who roused us all up and brought us over to his tent site 16 and fed us egg, ham and cheese sandwiches and gave us sodas. He has been feeding hikers for 10 years here every second week for a few months every year! He even invited us back for coffee and sandwiches in the morning! Thank you Joe! (Yo Parakeet Uhleksus Rodand Honey Buns Miguel A. Rivera, this guy is originally from Peurto Rico and wanted to meet you!)
Day 231 – 18.5 down, 54.1 remaining:
Unplanned stop at the Canopus Lake Beach where the State Park lets hikers camp for free on AT designated sites!
Then there was trail angel, Joe, who roused us all up and brought us over to his tent site 16 and fed us egg, ham and cheese sandwiches and gave us sodas. He has been feeding hikers for 10 years here every second week for a few months every year! He even invited us back for coffee and sandwiches in the morning! Thank you Joe! (Yo Parakeet Uhleksus Rodand Honey Buns Miguel A. Rivera, this guy is originally from Peurto Rico and wanted to meet you!)
Day 233 – 42.4 down, 30.2 remaining: Found the crew! Merry, Pimpin’, Kendal, Ryder and Byou!! That was a great ending to a great day at the AT Deli, Bear Mountain Bridge over the Hudson River, Trailside Zoo, Bear Mountain and unplanned random sunsets and camping with the crew! 🌅😎 Oh, and only my selfie camera is working so my remaining pictures will be only low quality, selfies!
Day 234 – 55.0 down, 17.6 remaining: “Don’t cry because it’s over… smile because it happened!” Huge respect for these guys continuing north – Katahdin in calling🌅
Day 235 – Mile 2189.8, miles remaining 0!!!
And, just like that, the journey from Maine to Georgia is over…
My friend and fellow hiker, Doug, picked me up in Greenwood Lake, NY, had celebratory balloons waiting at the car, and him and his wife, Yolanda, had me to stay for the night in their home in Pennsylvania, made pancakes for breakfast this morning and dropped me at the Philadelphia bus station. Thank you Doug and Yolanda!
The generosity I have encountered on this trail is something I never expected nor could ever have imagined. There are more people to thank than I could ever list here, but to everyone who has generously helped in some way on this journey with a place to stay, a meal, a safety pin, a weekly phonecall to check in, a place for Thanksgiving, a care package sent in the mail, a slackpack, a ride, water, cash, contributing to the cause for which I was hiking, a place to store my worldly possessions, a place to park my car, medical advice, an address to send my mail, a smile, the inspiration to actually do it by leading the way and doing it, an encouraging word or comment, friendship and wisdom, I will be forever grateful. You are as much a part of the success of this journey as anyone and I have been humbled by your outpouring of kindness.
Thank you to the countless volunteers who maintain the trail, take care of the shelters, ridgerun, work at the ATC and make a way for a 4 foot-wide corridor of life-changing challenge and happiness to pass through this amazing country.
Thank you AT – what an incredible journey. Sleeping Beauty signing out: ME>WF<GA August 15, 2016 – August 12, 2017 🌅😎
✔️
Sleeping Beauty Hike 
You know…..I missed almost all of your WordPress entries! I just waited on FB for your videos. I have some catching up to do!!! I want to thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your fantastic journey! I have a feeling that I’m not the only one grateful to have met you. All the Best, Doug “Hammers” Gray
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P.S. You write really well. 😊
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I would so love to do this with my son . .
Congrats to you!! 🌱🎊
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