What a long strange trip it has been so far.

First off I apologize for not updating lately. I have been being completely lazy. I'm off trail in New York and have been since Wednesday. Here comes the story, get ready. Tuesday night i arrive in Pawling, New York, which has a memorial park that hikers are allowed to camp in. I get to the park a little after 9 and make camp, dinner,reading,bed. Around 2am Bella begins going ape-shit, total ape-shit, I open the fly to the tent to quiet her, and 15 yards away stands a huge black bear, blowing at her and I. commence tightening of the sphincter. I make every bit of noise I can, clicking sticks, hollering, etc. and the bear moves off into the woods, Back to sleep. An hour or so later same thing, except this time the bear is within 10 ft of me and my gear Time to call the rangers. Rangers don't show, instead a female Pawling police officer shows up and tells me her first issue is me camping in the park, I had to show her on the rules where it said I could be there. She says she'll take me somewhere for the night. After a 20 min ride in a cop car, I am dumped at The Pine Grove Motel (shit hole) not knowing where I am in relation to the trail or anything else for that matter. Its around 4:30 am.After every issue in the world with the manager, It takes an hour and a half to finally get into a room. Sleep.Sleep. Sleep. at 11:30 a pounding on the door from the manager to tell me I've missed check out and need to hurry and get out. I've been in this room less than 6 hours. Total shaft by the manager. 67 bucks for a room for 6 damn hours! I got shafted. I digress. After checking out, I realize the cop had brought me 20 miles back down the trail to Poughquag where I had been the day before! To make this long story shorter, I end up getting a hitch from a woman named Linda, who takes me to this legit Italian deli for lunch and ends up resupplying me with all sorts of Italian goodies. We exchange info and she drops me off back at the trail. That evening I receive an email from her asking me If I would be interested in getting off trail for a few days and doing some work for her and her partner. I quickly agree. I have been with Linda and Annie now since Wednesday, doing random handyman jobs (painting, rebuilding a deck, installing a gate), and basically having an entire downstairs apartment to my self.These women are great! They have taken great care of me, and have compensated me nicely for the work I've done. I think I'm going to get back on trail Monday, and yes it will be hard. I've let out some trivial details but you got the gist of it.
The trail provides. That is the best, and truest thing I have heard anyone say out here. The trail truly does provide. Thanks to the kindness of all of my old friends, family, and newly found friends, I have mail drops set up back through Virginia. I've been gone over a month now and life is great.

Big thanks to Linda and Annie, The crew at Eastern Mountain Sports, Vinny, Artie, Sonny,Sasquatch for the Mint Juleps, the 2 cute servers from Tiramisu, and everyone else that has helped me out along the way.

THE TRAIL PROVIDES.

-Fresh

(The Mafia is still alive and well in New York)