August is a time when the weather in the northern part of the United States becomes oppressive. You start to wonder how our fellow Americans in the South deal with the heat and humidity for 10 out of 12 months a year. As a resident Yankee, in the month of August, the weather confirms that Zach and I will NEVER live below the Mason Dixion line. Despite the heat, we kept hydrated and had many adventures during August 2018.
On August 4th, Zach hiked from Blue Hill Road, to Sheffield-Egremont Road in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. The hike was a total of about 9 miles, and included some spectacular views. The highlight of the day was on the way home, when we saw the L.L. Bean Bootmobile.
The following weekend, we went to Pennsylvania to my sister, Jenna’s, wedding reception. She had planned a destination wedding in Maui, Hawaii and had the reception at Blue Mountain ski resort in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. On our way to the reception, I missed the turn into the resort. There is an Appalachian trail entrance very close to the resort, and we ended up turning around in the parking lot. We were unaware that the trail was that close to the resort!
The following day we went on a AAA bus trip to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Zach and I hadn’t been to either since we were in middle school. Accompanying us was my sister Hailey and her boyfriend Francis. We climbed up to the base of the statue and also got to do the behind the scenes tour at Ellis Island. This tour took you to the unrenovated portion of the hospital. Spooky, and definitely worth the money!
Hallway to the downstairs area… apparently that is haunted. A dryer. A washer.
One of the rooms for patients. Hallway on second floor. Bricks that will be used to restore the hospital. I believe they were from the outside of the building.
An area where patients could get some air. Individual hospital room Another room for patients.
Spittoon sink for patients with tuberculosis. Back of the hospital looking out on the bay. During Hurricane Sandy, all of Ellis Island was under several feet of water. Courtyard with staircase that has grown in.
Staircase to the 3rd floor of the hospital. A real medicine cabinet. Old chairs stacked up.
The renovated museum of Ellis Island. Registry Room where new arrivals of immigrants sat for hours and sometimes days. My Great Grandfather’s name. He arrived through Ellis Island.
On Monday August 13, Rhode Island celebrated Victory day or VJ Day. This holiday commemorates the anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allies in 1945. Rhode Island is the only state in the Union that recognizes this day as a holiday. Zach had the day off, so we were able to extend our time in Pennsylvania to include a day of hiking on Sunday. We hiked the 2nd part of the section that I always wanted to hike. We got onto the trail from Route 191 in Bangor, Pennsylvania and hiked along the ridge to Delaware Water Gap. From there we walked across the bridge next to Route 80, and down into New Jersey to Kittatinny Point. This was my favorite of the two days that I hiked. The views were amazing, and the experiences we had along the way were extremely memorable. We finished early (in under 4 hours), and still got to enjoy the pool back at my parents’ house. The total mileage of the hike was 7.7, and concluded my journey on the Appalachian Trail.
Starting out. 
Trail markers (the white line on the tree). 
Looking South off the ridge.
A millipede. August is the time of year for molds and fungus. More fungus.
The tower that you could see in the distance in one of the previous pictures. 
Much of the trail was an ATV trail. This made it really easy to hike.
Delaware Water Gap and Route 80. Delaware Water Gap and Route 80. The Deerhead Inn. I spent a few nights in my youth here.
Zoe’s Ice Cream! Our reward for hiking 7 miles.
As a kid, I always wondered what was on the other side of the toll booths and how the employees got to them. Mystery solved! Route 80 Toll Plaza.
We made it to New Jersey!
