#169 Fox Gap to Camp Mohican Road - Day 94: MM1289.0 - MM1106.9
Two places at one time.
4-20-2023
Eggs, bacon, biscuits, grape juice, and yogurt followed by eggs, bacon, biscuits, grape juice, and yogurt.
Allen drops me off me off at the Fox Run trailhead before heading into work. I make sure I have his address written down correctly because my wife will want to send a thank you card to him and Georgetta for the trail magic. “My wife is like that too,” he says, “the interaction isn’t final until there’s a receipt.”
Playing off the conversation that Allen and I had a couple of weeks ago that lead to me spending a night in his home, I ask my wife to slide a gift Dunkin’ Donut gift card into the envelope with the thank-you receipt.
Shortly after the hike begins, I see Kirkridge Shelter just off trail. Wondering if my snoring friends Phillip and Joan from the other night are there, I drop in. I tell them about my night in town and sleeping in a real bedroom. They tell me how cold it was last night sleeping in the real wilderness.
On Mt. Minsi overlooking the Delaware Water Gap I meet James, a construction worker and marathon runner who is well into his sixties. He runs the national races that are held in big cities, like New York City.
He says he has a brother in New York, a police officer, that looks just like me. He shows me a picture of his brother. He could be my twin - handsome devil!
We fall into a long conversation about life and travel.
When James and I first began talking, I was about to take the iconic photo overlooking the Delaware Water Gap. I forgot to get the photo. No worries, everyone’s photos look about the same - my conversation with James is one of a kind.
Cascading streams parallelling the trail accompany my thousand-foot descent off the mountain.
At Mt Minsi Trail Head, next to Lake Lenape (fishing pond), I drop my pack to take a short break. James walks past waving to me on his way to his vehicle in the parking lot a little farther up Lake Road.
Lake Road dumps out onto Mountain Road, which runs past a few large historic houses, then onto Delaware Avenue. White blazes painted on poles lead me along the edge of town.
I’m craving a cup of coffee, but all the shops on this corner and down the street seem to be closed.
Soft from last night’s cushy bed and warm shower, I wonder if I should stop for the day and stay in a hostel. Ludicrous! The remaining hours of daylight are too many and the remaining number of dollars are too few.
I can’t believe I even entertained the thought of stopping for a second night of comfort. Softness begets softness. I need to scrape off the urge. Plus, I’m about to walk over the Delaware River into a new state.
Subscribe here to continue reading this post.
Paid subscribers can read each story in full.
Your paid subscription supports future hikes & future stories.
Ony $5.00 Monthly or $50.00 Yearly.