7/25/99: The Colorado Kid Hiker Hostel   Miles Today : 14.5 Miles to Katahdin : 750.4

First, a little unfinished business from yesterday. As we were whaling out of town, the trail actually goes through the Bear Mountain Zoo. Let me tell you that hiking the AT has made me realize how ridiculous and cruel that zoo's really are. Nothing like keeping a wild coyote in a 12 x 12 cage with styrofoam rocks. I never noticed it before, but the animals in captivity LOOK differently than those in the woods. Somehow, the red fox and coyote looked beaten and sad. Though they have probably never know a life outside a cage, they knew it wasn't where they belonged.

Well, enough soapboxing for now. We started early this morning from camp so that we could meet up with Mama and Papa Colorado. All day, I was the one dragging, always behind. My feet were giving me problems and I just didn't have any energy. We did get to see a copperhead today, which are even scarier than rattlesnakes since they are more deadly and don't make any kind of noise.

With just around 5 miles left for the day, I came upon an AT detour, which means that road construction has forced the re-routing of the AT. Well, Chomp doesn't do detours. So I bravely followed the white blazes until I reached the Taconic Parkway and the source of the detour. I hiked through a construction zone and UNDER the parkway using a series of three different tunnels. Very Cool!

I got to Stormville, NY and meet up with Colorado and his parents sometime before 3:00. They were extremely pleasant considering the noxious odors that they had to inhale for the hour and a half drive to West Hartford. They were also kind enough to pick up a few bottles of Gatoraide for the ride, thanks! Our stay in Hartford will be very interesting as Colorado's parents live in Florida now, so we will be staying where ever we happen to be when it gets late. Our first stop: Colorado's friend Adam's house, where Mama and Papa C are staying, and where we got a chance to shower. From here, we moved to Colorado's Aunts house for a barbacue. His cousins made up a hostel sign to help make us feel more welcome. The food was excellent, and over the course of the next few hours, we got a chance to meet many of Colorado's friends.

Kiarnan, his good friend who actually started the trail with him, will be playing host for the next 2 days. We dropped our gear at his parents house and made our way to a party. Little did I realize that I was going to a HIGH SCHOOL KEG PARTY. I should have guessed as much considering that Colorado is only 18 himself, but age means little on the trail and it never clicked.

Needless to say, I felt very old and very out of place. Not to mention, a keg party is not something that I want to come off the trail for. No worries though, within one hour the party was broken up by the cops ( yes, I felt real cool ) and we were on our way. Me, being the old man of the group, asked to be dropped off back at Kairnan's house since I didn't want to be party hopping the rest of the night.

That's about it. Tomorrow I am taking the day off to rest and let my feet heal. For now, all I want is sleep.

-Chomp

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