Off

     Yesterday was just an off day. Nothing seemed to work out after I left the beach. A 4 hour drive turned into 7 hours due to traffic. Clutch...first....brake....clutch....gas...gear...shift...*repeat for two hours*.

     When I finally arrived at pachug state forest, CT I couldn't find the map I downloaded from the night before showing a "lean to" near by, which is basically an overnight shelter in the woods. I looked for about a halfhour on slow service. I said screw it Ill just hike a few miles.

     When I got back to the car I figured I would just find a place to camp for the night and attempted to do so. Headed back out into the woods about a mile and found a cool spot. Set everything up, cooked, and then laid in the hammock as the darkness was setting. I couldn't find my phone...and believed I left it on top of the car (bad habit, lost the gas cap that way, haha. Almost lost sunglasses (Tony can vouch for that one)).

     Maybe it was the lack of sleep or maybe I was dehydrated but I just had a gut feeling that something wasn't right. I caved into the idea and headed back go my car to find my phone in the dark.

     Found the phone laying on top of the car and it was around 10pm. Glad I went back. After being at the car for a few minutes a couple groups of younger adults showed up and were drinking at the boat ramp. About 20 feet from where I was. Guess the plan to crash in the cI looked for a new spot to head too. MA,RI and CT have no national forests or parks. The closest is a "historic park" which isn't the same.

     I started driving North into the night. Another naturally protected land was nearby, but I couldnt find any areas to pull off into. Another dead end. About an hour later and I came to I 95. A small gas station was open and I ended up falling in and out of sleep for a few hours of rest total. I'd have to suck it up for another day and try to find a state forest or park instead of a nationally protected lands.

     At about 8am I arrived at Harold Parker State Forest, MA. I read a display, took a short hike, and then took a much needed nap.

     Going to keep heading North and try for Acadia National Park in ME. CT,MA, and RI have the most state parks/forests of any states from what it seems. Also people of MA like to use the shoulder on the highway as another lane (at least near construction zones) interestingly.