Man, am I exhausted. It's tough being old and out of shape and having a young beagle like Joey dragging you through the Pine Barrens.
My packing, as usual, took forever. Around noon, JmBoh contacted me and said he would be joining me and Joey. I was lucky to hit the road by 2:30 pm, but it was doubtful I was going to get to the Atsion office to pick up my permit. JmBoh got there around 3:45 pm and picked up my permit for me. I got to Atsion right at 4 pm, and it drizzled off and on as we hiked in, but not enough for humans or dog to put on rain gear.
Since I am out of shape and having an issue with my right transverse arch, we took plenty of breaks and somehow stretched a 5.75 mile hike into 3.25 hours. I had to carry Joey across Quaker Bridge, since it's a metal grid bridge that he can't walk on. We got to camp around 7:15 pm, set up the hammocks, and it started drizzling again. JmBoh retired to under his tarp to cook up a dehydrated meal, while Joey and I each had a hamburger cooked on my Emberlit EL Mini titanium wood stove (4.5 ounces). After dinner the rain stopped so JmBoh made a nice fire - there was plenty of blown down wood from the wet snowstorm in April. We enjoyed a few libations, then hit the hay. Surprisingly, the Weather Channel actually got it right this time - they predicted overnight lows of 55* F and that's exactly what we got.
Man, did I sleep good with beagle Joey sleeping on my chest. At 40 lbs., he is the perfect hammock companion. He slept through the night, but at 5:45 am, he aroused and wanted to get out of the hammock. I had to take him for a walk, he relieved himself, and JmBoh was up and about by the time we got back to camp. At one point, I took my eye off Joey (who was not on his leash), and he took off. He laughed at me as he ran away. I finally caught him trying to enter a fellow camper's tent. Lesson learned (again): never let a young beagle off the leash!
Joey was looking forward to breakfast - I brought bacon, and two out of the three eggs I brought survived the hike in. I had cowboy coffee with fresh ground Booskerdoo coffee.
Here's Joey waiting for the bacon and eggs to be finished. This was about the only time he barked - the anticipation was killing him.
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Joey's egg cooking on the Emberlit EL Mini titanium stove, with bacon ready to be served alongside it.
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Joey about to feast on bacon and eggs. Finally!
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Joey had some dry food to top off the bacon and eggs.
We packed up and I persuaded JmBoh to head north to the railroad tracks on a trail that wasn't on any maps. I guess he's read a few of my trip reports and knew that I get lost on occasion, so he was not feeling very confident that we were going in the right direction. We stopped multiple times to check Google, but service was spotty. I assured him that going north, we had to hit the railroad tracks sometime and it would be just about impossible to get lost. At the railroad tracks, JmBoh even stopped some four-wheel drivers to ask "Where the heck are we?" They had a map app called maprika and assured us we were only a couple of miles from Atsion. However, by that time we had already called Ratdog, who said he would come get us. Ratdog picked us up a half hour later near the intersection of Tuckerton and High Crossing Road.
Ratdog brought his pint-sized rescue dog Radar, who always wants to prove to Joey he's the dominant dog. Joey was patient with the little runt at first, but eventually had to let Radar know: Hey, I'm a 40 lb. beagle and you're a pipsqueak!
Ratdog took us on a tour of the back roads in Wharton State Forest, and eventually we got back to Atsion. We decided to head to Christine's House of Kingfish Barbecue for lunch.
https://www.facebook.com/Christines-...C-61300031171/
I had a pulled pork sandwich and potato salad (very tangy with just the right amount of vinegar), and beagle Joey got his own little portion of pulled pork (no barbecue sauce). JmBoh and Ratdog had the beef brisket sandwich with potato salad and mac and cheese, and Ratdog also got some pork ribs (he even gave Joey a taste). JmBoh sprang for my meal, and free food always tastes better. Good eating! Leftovers were packed up and we all headed home. JmBoh even grabbed an order of potato salad for the road!
I was so bloated from lunch that I had a hard time staying awake on the drive home. Joey slept like a log, once again exhausted after his third hike in the Pine Barrens. I think he loves the Pine Barrens as much as I do!
Many thanks to JmBoh for the company, and Ratdog for the ride to Atsion. It was a nice little get-away to the Pine Barrens, before the weather gets hot. Joey is looking forward to his next adventure!
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