Fishkill, NY (USA)

The requirements and design review was in Gaithersburg and my bags were still packed from last week - hmmm: should I go hiking again? (Rhetorical question of course!)  Left the house early and got a gas fillup in Alexandria (0620).  Worked in Maryland until around 1400 and then drove north.  Dinner at McDonalds (1550) and gas fillup (1600) in Montague, NJ.  Crossed Hudson River on I-84 (1635) and checked into Quality Inn in Fishkill, NY (1645).  After getting ready for my hike, I made it to the AT trailhead at the intersection of the Taconic Parkway and Miller Hill Road (near Hopewell Junction) by 1745 and took off SOBO. Rain was forecasted by 2100 and the sun was going to set by 1941 so I knew I was cutting it close... Still, I wasn't going to let those things keep me from getting some miles! Within the first mile, I encountered a pretty privy right next to the trail (unusual). Then I saw a fancy hikers cabin (wow!) on the other side of the trail. Free accommodations and no one staying there - the caretaker was even visiting to clean the place up. Had I not promised a colleague that I'd run a telcon the next morning, I would have just stayed there for the night. Oh well: next time! I continued uphill, toward the summit of Shenandoah "Mountain" (sorry, just being snobby after Clingman's Dome). Temperature was great - some bugs but they disappeared when I reached the first ridge. Birds were singing loudly and I could hear the peepers in the valley below (almost as loud as the Parkway). I didn't see anyone at all (NOBO bubbles are still in TN, NC and VA). Made it to the 9/11 Memorial painting (my turnaround point) and was treated to a great view for miles - it was well worth the climb. Headed back to my car and navigated for the last 30 minutes in near-darkness (didn't use headlamp, though). Finished roughly 6 miles by 2015 and headed into Fishkill for the night. Don't have much AT in NY left, so planning to tackle as much as I can (dodging rain) for the next three days. AT Today = 2.80 miles / Grand Total AT = 904.76 miles (>300 miles per year for three years!)