Palisades. LOPS

 June 2nd Monday 

Yesterday I had a conversation with Stephanie about my tent and the condensation that it collects.  It is apparently a common complaint concerning the Lunar Solo tent and I said that it hadn't been a major problem for me.  Last night it rained a little and as is normal, my tent was wet.  I flicked the inside with my finger to splash away water on the outside (not expecting much) and I was instantly rained on by the condensation!  I laughed.  I wasn't expecting that much condensation!  💦

This helped motivate me to get up and going.  Unfortunately, that also means my tent is still “drying” in the trunk of the car.  My sleeping bag and air mattress were also damp.  They got the preferential treatment by being on the back seat to dry, and did.  

My first stop was to drive up Bear Mountain to the Perkins Memorial Tower.  The tower had history of the area and beginnings of Palisades Interstate Park as well as fantastic views.

Then I hiked down the mountain, through some parks, a zoo, and to the Bear Mountain Bridge.  Crossing the Hudson River is one of the things I wanted to do on this trip.  I was walking through the zoo, thinking that it was late enough that I should turn around and do the bridge later when I looked up, and the bridge was there!  Technically, I guess, the Appalachian Trail path is the sidewalk on the north side of the bridge and I stayed on the south side.  I'm not going to be picky.  The views were lovely.

Trail down:

A little boy stopped me, all excited, to let me know about this lizard.  Apparently it was busy eating a spider when his dad first saw it.  (According to Lens it is a five lined skink) I loved the child's enthusiasm.

Zoo:

Bear

Lizard... skink

The Bear Mountain Bridge:

Back through the zoo:

Back up to my car:

Lens says this is a flowering raspberry. 

There are many, many stairs.

Snake skin 

On the way down from Bear Mountain there were two people I stopped to talk with for a few minutes.  They were very encouraging about my hiking and ability to hike as much of the AT as I did.  They were my trail angels today.  I needed that encouraging encounter.

Sunsetting at a rest area.

☮

Currently listening to: Thriving With Anxiety, by David Rosmarin.

Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!