23 May.

23 May.
From: Telephone Pioneer shelter
To: Ten Mile River shelter
Mileage: 14
Weather: sunny, mild

I got up early and was out after Tenacious, but before others.
There were slippery, steep rocks just after leaving the shelter that slowed descent.
Crossed a swampy area boardwalk. The trail was nice but I was bitten by many mosquitoes.
Entered a nice marsh boardwalk that had Maine and Georgia deck chairs.
Passed the Appalachian Trail railway platform at Pawling NY.
Walked 0.6 mile down road to Tony's Deli for a big breakfast sandwich ("wedge") of sausage, egg, cheese. Also bought a 32oz Apple juice and Gummi worms.
Stopped at hiker-friendly Natural Landscapes Garden Center for phone power, quick rinse at outdoor shower, and stamp for AT Passport. Called Mom!
Hiked through fields, kept mowed along trail. Saw a few rabbits! Signed log in hiker box but did not take anything. Sun coming out, delivering heat and humidity.
Through woods of Pawling Nature Preserve, Nature Conservancy. Rolling landscape.
Stopped at Wiley shelter, ran into Cinnamon Girl and Wilderness Hawk finishing lunch. The pump there warns of contaminated water.
Crossed into Connecticut! Applied DEET, which worked well. Cooled feet and washed legs in stream.
Steep climb over Ten Mile Mountain.
Shelter at bottom. Beautiful spot along river, hand pump and bear box. Penguin stayed, Cinnamon Girl and Wilderness Hawk moved on. Northbound thruhiker Machine from Cologne Germany joined us at the shelter. Stuff Sacks and Uncle Sam tented nearby.