The Score So Far (Health & Fitness)

[_Jersey Girl]

Did you guys ever see Animal again?

We did! He caught us in Unionville, NY. We're totes besties nau.

- Doc

Totally fab! I can only imagine getting to the place where you're hitting the wall and thinking you know, there's no way in hell I can do this--I can't keep going.

But he did! Go Animal!

:-D

[_Jersey Girl]

So Unionville, NY. Did you guys walk the boardwalk in Jersey?

Also...I don't know if you'd like this or not but food--if you go into a place and see Taylor Ham and Eggs (fried--sandwich or plated) you might like to try it. Some places also call it Pork Roll. If you've never had it...maybe give that a try. If you get a sandwich, ask them to put it on a Hard Roll. People put ketchup on the sandwiches. Do whatever you want with it, it's not a rule.

If you get it plated with eggs, ask for home fries and maybe some rye toast. Yeah, that'll work. Ketchup again...do whatever.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

We did hike the boardwalk!







We stopped short of the "stairway to heaven" since it would've forced us to go 17 or 18 miles instead of the 12 we just hiked in order to get to the next shelter. So, we're resting up at a hotel to get ready for the ascent and follow-on big hike.

New Jersey is beautiful. I've been fantasizing about owning a home in this area because it's so pretty.

- Doc

[_Jersey Girl]

We did hike the boardwalk!

[snip pics]

We stopped short of the "stairway to heaven" since it would've forced us to go 17 or 18 miles instead of the 12 we just hiked in order to get to the next shelter. So, we're resting up at a hotel to get ready for the ascent and follow-on big hike.

New Jersey is beautiful. I've been fantasizing about owning a home in this area because it's so pretty.

- Doc

Boardwalk--Jersey has a sense of humor. That's the Jersey version of rolling out the red carpet for you guys.

The places I joke about on MDB are joke-worthy because they're urban concrete and asphalt crap holes. You can smell Newark as you de-board the plane. I friggin hate Newark but it's my only way home.

Where you are is really is beautiful. Even prettier in Fall. I was born in the Catskills to Jersey parents from Newark. After we moved back down to the Shore we spent summers driving up where you are--High Point, Port Jervis, The Hawk's Nest, etc., to stay a couple of weeks on the dairy farm that was next to our "pleasure" farm.*

The air itself smells like life. There are rivers, lakes, creeks and streams. I wouldn't blame you for thinking about relocating to that area.

The Shore has a flavor and beauty of it's own. Best thing--get up early, eat breakfast on the beach, boardwalk pizza for lunch (omg) and pick up a couple of subs on the way home. That's my version of heaven. Do it all the next day. And the next. Keep going. I could do it forever. I'm basically a total beach bum who lives in the mountains.

Jersey is known for it's produce. There are roadside stands on the highways where you can pick up Jersey tomatoes--heaven in your mouth I so swear. They also sell incredible hanging baskets of flowers. If anyone offers you Jersey tomatoes--take them. You won't be sorry.

(Getting homesick while I write this)

Love that little grill place in your pic. Sometimes the best food comes from little places like that. It makes me happy to know you experienced part of Jersey and that you liked it. That's nice.


*Pleasure farm=my father spending money he didn't have on stuff we didn't need like 108 acres in the Catskills.

[_Jersey Girl]

A few comments on the movie, A Walk In The Woods. I don't know how many times I've watched it. The views/vistas are incredible, great storyline and music. A favorite is Nolte's portrayal of Katz. Slight dings: They never use their hiking poles and their beards don't grow.

I ended up ordering the book and it arrived today. Pretty sure the only way I'll ever visit the AT is in my head through this story and the story you are writing here for us.

:-)

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Well, you'll be pleased to know the last bit of New Jersey trail sent us out with a big f-you! And then NY was like, "Welcome ta Noo Yohrk!" while punching us in the teeth. This section has been absolutely demoralizing. I bit it twice today, and my wife took a nasty tumble kneecap-on-slate that was so bad we had to pull off today.

The trail taketh, but it also giveth. She hobbled .8 miles down a mountainside and another .25 into the Village of Greenwood Lake. The lady at coffee shop we just happened to visit hiked the entire trail in '94 and LOVES hikers. She wouldn't accept our money, even after I tried stuffing a twenty into her tip jar (she gave us coffee, juice, two cookies, and arranged a ride to a hotel so we could recover). The hotel she got us into? LAKESIDE ROOMS. Literally. It's so beautiful. Yesterday and today we were staring down at this beautiful and perfect lake, and now we sitting a few feet from the water.

I don't know. I've spent so much time feeling spiteful toward others, and here I am in supposedly the most asshole'ish part of the country and we've been treated so kindly I'm forced to start believing in the goodness of people again...









Just so we're clear. I'm not enjoying this. At all. Lol.

- Doc

eta: My daughter just posted her own hiking pics to her Instagram account! It's working! She's been reading my wife's updates, and I think she got motivated. This is the same girl who just a mont and a half ago told me she'd NEVER hike on purpose.

HA!

[_Res Ipsa]

That is one gruesome trail. Hope Mrs. Cam’s knee is okay.

Wasn’t that supposed to be crossing the road?

[_Jersey Girl]

I think there's a revelation in this post. I'll note that.

Well, you'll be pleased to know the last bit of New Jersey trail sent us out with a big f-you! And then NY was like, "Welcome ta Noo Yohrk!" while punching us in the teeth. This section has been absolutely demoralizing. I bit it twice today, and my wife took a nasty tumble kneecap-on-slate that was so bad we had to pull off today.

Sorry you guys got beat up. Don't like the sound of Mrs. Cam's injury. At all.

The trail taketh, but it also giveth. She hobbled .8 miles down a mountainside and another .25 into the Village of Greenwood Lake. The lady at coffee shop we just happened to visit hiked the entire trail in '94 and LOVES hikers. She wouldn't accept our money, even after I tried stuffing a twenty into her tip jar (she gave us coffee, juice, two cookies, and arranged a ride to a hotel so we could recover). The hotel she got us into? LAKESIDE ROOMS. Literally. It's so beautiful. Yesterday and today we were staring down at this beautiful and perfect lake, and now we sitting a few feet from the water.

Lawd, sounds like you met your reward.

I don't know. I've spent so much time feeling spiteful toward others, and here I am in supposedly the most asshole'ish part of the country and we've been treated so kindly I'm forced to start believing in the goodness of people again...

There's your revelation. You busted through a stereotype! Now you know something about what I mean when I use the phrase "East Coast Heart". I'm happy to read this epiphany.

Gorgeous pics!

Just so we're clear. I'm not enjoying this. At all. Lol.

- Doc

eta: My daughter just posted her own hiking pics to her Instagram account! It's working! She's been reading my wife's updates, and I think she got motivated. This is the same girl who just a mont and a half ago told me she'd NEVER hike on purpose.

HA!

That's amazing! I think both of you guys are modeling traits/characteristic/practices (channeling MG) that your kids will be strongly influenced by. Well, obviously your daughter already is. I think that you're influencing us here on MDB who are reading your posts.

I imagined that the journey would be sweaty and grueling. I don't think I appreciated just how tough it was until I read your posts. I don't think anyone can fully appreciate the challenge unless they're out there doing it.

Looked up Greenwood Lake. Yeah, that's pretty. I wish you could see those places in fall. There's nothing like the fall color back East!

Be safe!

[_Jersey Girl]

I wanted to mention a little something. When I was a kid (6-8 years?) we camped all up through there and into Canada twice. Maine, NH. White Mountains, Old Man of the Mountain, Niagra Falls. I remember some of it and parts of Canada, and going through the border. I still have a bit of the Native American stuff that I bought going through there and my little pocket knife. We tent camped and often in primitive sites. Built our own outdoor kitchen and that sort of thing.

I've hiked a lot in my life but NOTHING like you are doing! I'll be happy to see pics you share of the area when you get there!

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

We is taking the day off. My wife's knee is giving her difficulty. She doesn't have range of motion back and it's a problem getting around out here.

I don't really have anything to update. It's hot. We're tenting. NY pizza is delicious. Bear Mountain state park was packed with every kind of human imaginable, all of them playing crap ty music. We took a sidebar trip to West Point which was neat. We're losing weight*.

- Doc

* Protip: If you want to lose weight just eat less. Hiking is a ridiculous way to go about it. When we get off the trail I'mma do that so I don't have to do this anymore.