I got up, packed my stuff, said my farewells, and walked to breakfast. I'm not a big fan of diner food, but for breakfast on the trail it's absolutely perfect! I wolfed down a corned beef hash omelette and slung my pack on my back to press on.
The trail goes along I-80 for a stretch before reaching NJ, since it has to cross the Delaware. It wasn't too hot in the sun, so the roadside walk wasn't as uncomfortable as it could have been.
As soon as I made it to the woods on the Jersey side, I was in an area I've hiked before with friends (you know who you are). There's something nice about hiking some place for the second time, because you know what to expect. I was quickly reminded that it's Saturday, because the parking lot was full and the moment I started climbing all I saw were weekend hikers.
It was an 11 mile day to the Mohican Outdoors Center, a small lakeside camping spot that I had been to once before. The weather was perfect, the terrain wasn't rocky, and the bugs were taking it easy (except the ticks, which were out in force). All in all it was a perfect day for hiking. On my way I passed by 2 places I had camped before, which was fun to see. The trail also went around Sunfish Pond, one of the 7 wonders of NJ. It's a glacial mountaintop pond that is quite beautiful, but too acidic for most fish to live in. Mostly the trail ridge lined along a beautiful stretch between PA and NJ, giving a sprawling 360 degree view of both states.
When I arrived at the MOC, I immediately ordered a sandwich and grabbed a couple beverages. It isn't really a restaurant, but they do make big homemade sandwiches that does the trick on a busy day outdoors. The proprietor showed me how to get to my cabin, and I made haste.
It was a dumpy little bunkhouse, but it was dirt cheap and I only had one other person to share the place with. For the evening I bought a bunch of snack foods and found a nice bench by the lake to watch the sun set. It's good to be home.
