Day 81 - Problem and lunch with friends

First photos are of the the most beautiful part of the day. I've googled around for the name of the falls but they just seem to be called Great Falls. Not a name that will help differentiate them from other falls that are also great, they need to work on their branding. Anyway they are east of Amesville, NY.

Spectacular looking falls. Would recommend (name aside). A lot of fun to walk out into the river area along the rocks. The whole Housatonic river is gorgeous and nice to walk along.

I was warned not to drink the river water though, even with the filter. Apparently there was some factory upstream that had released chemicals into the water and it is still polluted today. There are warning signs up telling people to not swim in the water or eat fish they catch from it. Puts a damper of it but the river still looks great.

Now for the problem. My tent bag has split and slowly regurgitates my tent as I walk along. I used my rope and wrapped it round tightly to keep it all together but I'll need a more permanent solution. Something to think about.

Had lunch at the Mountainside Cafe. Very nice food, and they didn't charge me for my second soda. So I was sitting there waiting for my food and in walked Porky and Monarch! Not sure if I'd mentioned them earlier but they are hikers I'd met previously on the trail. They were just finishing up their hike. Porky lives in Pennsylvania and will catch me on the trail when I get down there. Monarch had been attacked by Yellow Jackets (wasps) and had a very swollen ankle.

We had a very enjoyable lunch and they drove me down to the trail head later.

Staying the night at Pine Swamp Brook Shelter.Read more