July 25, 2004

I hiked from Bear Mountain Inn, today, through the Bear Mountain Zoo.  It seemed wrong for me to be hiking past caged species since we have lived in harmony in the woods.  I did get a sense of bravado though when I peered into the snake display.  Two or three less snakes in the wilderness is just fine with me.  Bear was particularly bothered by the caged hawk. "This is wrong," said Bear.

I suggested that perhaps the caged hawk was once injured and unable to survive in the wild.  Bear and I both felt a certain connectedness with the zoo animals and our hike began with a great discussion on this.  We hiked over Bear Mountain Bridge which was built during 1923 and1924.  When Earl Shaffer, the 1st thru-hiker of the Appalachian Trail, arrived at the bridge in 1948, he had to pay a nickel to cross.  Today, vehicles pay and pedestrians do not.

At midday, Bear and I took a side trip to the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center. We toured the monastery and I lit a candle for Cheryl.  The Friars feed thru-hikers, but we declined because we had eight miles left to complete our day's goal.  It's not easy to pass up a home-cooked meal.  We are camping in the middle of nowhere tonight.  The open, moonlit field is buzzing with insect melodies...a relaxing end to a full day.