Here is to the start to week two as we do our hike challenge. To recap if you didn’t read the first blog post, you should go back and get caught up! I published a full short film too of week 1 on You-tube. That will give you a good idea of what we are up to now. click here

Monday-

Depot Hill Multi-Use Area-

Monday we went to Depot Hill Multi-Use Area. and parked across from some giant tower. We then followed the Blue Blaze Trail down to the Appalachian Trail. Then we turned right to head toward Georgia. We didn’t make it that far today. Just to the view point on Egbert Mountain. I keep calling it Eggbert Mountain. But, it should be called Buggy Mountain. Swarms even with bug spray. Abby girl sprayed my back and got a little over zealous and soaked my shirt with bug spray. Yep, still swarmed around me. But luckily they were more of an annoyance than anything.

This trail had a lot of ups and downs. Some small scrambles and a nice little black water pond from too much water that looked as if Swamp Thang should boogy on out of it. The view was good too. It was a fairly clear day which helped to see really far into the horizon.

We also made a stop at the Morgan Stuart Shelter just before the summit. Abby decided to sweep the lean-to and we signed the book. There was also a lovely picture of a penis with hairy balls on the shelter wall. Luckily, Abby just saw the weird cartoon guy next to it and I didn’t have to explain what was pointing at it.

We played many games along the trail including, “mine” which is where Abby holds onto one side of the stick and mom the other and we scream “mine” back and forth as we engage in tug of war. This is an Abby original game.

Abby also enjoyed standing by logs with holes and yelling, “wake up bugs.” I told her the bugs were in there taking a nap.

She spent maybe a quarter of a mile in the pack. Sadly, our pack is very uncomfortable for her at this point and hurts her legs. It’s duct taped and dinged up. We can’t afford a new one, so it’s this or hike on little one. When she was on my back, it was helpful because she’s a tiny monkey and picks bugs and crap off me that I can’t reach.

Overall, good hike. Just very buggy and I got a really random sunburn on the top of my left boob and my right shoulder. No clue how that happened. Also, don’t take a bath and wash your hair before going on a hike. Especially this time of year. The bugs were loving it. Oh and I got a new hiking stick and didn’t leave this one behind. Abby girl picked it out for me. It’s all twisted and weird like me. Onto next hike.

Tuesday-

Dover Stone Church-
Hike was quick one. We drove up to spot and were welcomed by a bunch of no trespassing, no parking signs around the parking lot. A tow sign too. Only the trail was open. So we parked down the Rd at the elementary school. There were no spots so I parked on end and prayed for no ticket. we then walked back to the trail head and began.

We hiked down the stairs, through the trees, passed the rushing water, over the bridge and to the spot with the trail maps. I really wanted to do loop. However, we didn’t have time as my tiny one slept in. Hiked to cave. She leaped over rocks with ninja like skills. The water was flowing hard and very noisy. We both have noise sensitivity issues. So after a couple minutes of screaming at each other over the roaring water, we retreated.

We headed up and explored the ponds. We tossed some sticks and dandelions into the pond and watched them float around. On way back, Abby spotted an animal first. I thought it was a ground hog. Abby thought it was something furry too. We were both very wrong. We flushed out a big, fat turkey. She was on my back at this point and encouraged me as I hiked up about 41 stone steps. Yes, I went full on Rain Man and counted them out loud … ever single set.

We went down to road and walked to car parked at elementary school. I was glad to see no ticket. So thumbs up as good spot to park the car.

Wednesday-

Ferncliff Forest, Rhinebeck, NY-

After dance today, we went up Ferncliff Forest in Rhinebeck. I was hesitant to go to this hiking spot because last time I was here with Abby, my GPS went nuts multiple times. Abby also said she saw ghosts. We both had a weird feeling last time we hiked this location. In fact, we wrote about it here and here is a video. But, here we were again.

This time around, was fairly uneventful. We played at the pond and I found a huge toad. Abby got stuck in the mud and her dance tights got nasty. She insisted on hiking in dance clothes and her Keens. 

After I got her changed, she wanted to head to the fire tower. She stick shopped on the way up and it was like a weird version of Goldie Locks. “This stick is too big, this stick is too small, this stick is just right.” She even found me one so we could gallop up the hill on our sticks.

At the fire tower, I was so relieved that I was able to convince her to wait for Daddy. I’m very afraid of heights and didn’t have a change of underwear. No seriously, I will get paralyzed with fear.

We had a snack and decided to catch a different trail down. She got on my back shortly on way down. She was afraid of the mountain bicycles. One made her jump a mile in air on way to fire tower. She became very obsessed with following a particular mountain bike because supposedly it would lead us out and back to car. Not the case.

We ended up passing a lovely sign that said, now leaving ferncliff forest. I walked down for a bit because it said follow the circle trail back into forest. I never found it and ended up back tracking.

After drinking the last sip of water, I trudged on. Thanks Abby.

Eventually we found our way back to car and even passed two random gnomes on the side of trail. One had a sign that said “beer garden this way.” I wish. 

The orange trail and a couple others were not too clear. At one point, the orange trail went three directions. I was so hot, thirsty and sore I almost stepped on two snakes. But, luckily, thanks to GPS and the map I took a pic of on way in, I got back to car.

Burger Hill Rhinebeck, NY-

I wish there were burgers on this hill. We were driving by and I told Abby that this is our next location. Since she rode a good chunk of last hike on my back, she insisted on doing this trail too. I told her no carrier. She had to walk. I was so happy we stopped for drinks and pretzels.

We played freeze dance and Abby kept making herself fall in grass on way up. We also flushed out some awesome looking birds. 

At the summit, she jumped from rock to rock. Each rock has a guide to what mountain peaks are in the horizon. We then played a rousing game of hide and go seek before trail running down the backside.

Abby picked dandelions for Fre and Fre the hermit crabs. Then we stopped at pond where she intentionally stuck her foot in the pond scum.

After a short while, we were in car and on way back home. She asked to go on a third hike and I had to turn her down. Tomorrow is another day.

Thursday-

Peach Hill Park, Poughkeepsie, NY-

We pulled into our house and I just honestly wanted to go in and relax before driving her to pony school. Abby had other plans. She wanted to hike with Noodles.
So I picked a spot nearby called Peach hill Park
She didn’t use the pack at all and walked the dog most of way. The highlight of trip was her getting climb in the trees in the old apple orchard. 

Friday-

Winnakee Preserve, Hyde Park, NY-

There was a call for rain. But, Abby again was the cheerleader and wanted to get some of a hike in. We went to Winnakee Preserve, in Hyde Park NY.
We did the red loop which was just under a mile and we got attacked by bugs and played a big game of bear hunt. She also had me rescue all the red salamanders off the trail.

Towards the end, we got caught in a pretty good rain and Abby tried to convince me that was her bath.

We got back to the car and she asked to go on a second hike. Instead, we went to the grocery store.

Saturday-

Mary Moore Preserve, Sharon, CT-

I got my extra pack already for a bigger adventure. We leave shockingly early and head to Mary Moore Preserve in Sharon CT. I opened the door and Abby and car seat was covered in yogurt. After a quick change, we got out and situated.
We were greeted by cows and an electric fence.

It was very windy outside making it cold. We started climbing this big hill following the blazes. She was just not feeling it. We got into the woods and I had to put her on my back. It just was climbing and climbing and more climbing. We made it to the lookout and despite the wicked wind, the sky was so clear, we could see all the peaks off in the distance.
I wanted to hike on but she was just not happy. So we called it a day and headed back. Besides, both of my calves ceased up on way up and I really was having issues with them on uphill climbing.

I stopped at a sign to a random tree on way down. Never found the tree on the offshoot trail. So we went back on main trail and followed it back to car. FYI I googled this and I guess it is special type of Oak Tree. The land trust removed other trees that were crowding it. I honestly, only read the blurp on google.

We said goodbye to the cows and Abby was upset because they didn’t say goodbye back. Not five minutes down road and she was out cold. I was going to go for a second hike but she was catching flies. 

Last Thoughts and Video Link-

I didn’t think a hundred miles would be difficult to achieve in six weeks. However, I’m on around our 23rd mile. Between the weird weather and that now has us hiking in light rain and the challenges of being a mom, business owner and proud owner of a 3.5 year old; adds a whole other layer of challenge to this. Determined, we hike on into week 3. Video link

General Stuff-

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Hike on. Over the next six weeks in conjunction with the Get Fit Challenge, Abby girl (age 3) and I are going to attempt one hundred hiking miles along specific trails listed for the Get Fit Challenge. This is a challenge that we have done for several years and are proud ambassadors for encouraging people to get fit. This time around, Abby and I decided to try something new and also up our game.

Monday-

Monday-my legs were still so sore from Saturday working in the cold at a volunteer event crawling on ground photographing dogs. But, my husband said it would be good to get them moving. The Get Fit Challenge was already two days in and I needed to start getting my hikes in with Abby girl.

First lesson learned. Don’t buy your lunch at a random gas station. Pack your snacks, water, lunch. Almost thirteen dollars later and the sandwhich had no flavor, we headed down the road. FYI they gave mustard and mayo packets. Mayo and hiking don’t mix … You might end up with your butt over a log. Mustard is just the devils condiment. Disgusting.

We arrived at the trail head and I discovered that an old chocolate milk had dumped in bucket (thank God) and all I smelled is stale milk in my trunk. But, dealing with it had to wait because Abby was off and running before I could even get completely together and we were heading to the Appalachian Trail.

Abby decided to trail run a big section of it and I don’t run, for the record. We traversed over flowing streams, through wetlands, over rocks, through rocks. We took a couple breaks and loved the view at Nuclear Lake. After that, we turned around and started heading back. We kept a good pace and got back to car. Not, five minutes from car, Abby insisted on going into the pack. I couldn’t believe it because I could hear the main road. So, I got her in pack and my legs ceased up and I almost landed on my head. Abby laughed. I managed to get up and hike on. At the car, got re-situated and off I drove right into a ditch. I managed to get out and on the road as people honked. Our first 2.68 Miles

Interesting fact of the day. Abby trail ran a lot. She kept yelling at me in her mouse voice “are you tough?” Then she would announce she is “tiny big tiny.” This surely is going to get interesting.

Tuesday-

B is for Baxtertown Woods and Bowdoin Park. In addition, B is also for GPS is a Biatch, booger, butthead, buttcheese (Abby’s choice), butt etc. GPS took me to a random neighborhood cul-de-sac in the middle of nowhere and says ” you are here.” Yes, here where there is no trail head. No parking signs and a giant neighborhood watch sign. Tried again and got to power-lines with a sign that read Baxtertown Woods. No clear trail and lots of information for hunters. I really didn’t want to be shot with a bow and arrow and left our hunter orange at home. Turkey hunting before noon. Seriously, I’m not dying because someone thinks I’m a turkey.

I decide to key in GPS again as Abby yelled she wanted out of the car and GPS takes me to an even more random spot with zero trail and just roadside trash. So we back track around I decide to go for it despite our lack of orange.

Our first highlight and an exciting one, we saw ducks. Don’t worry, we don’t hunt. After that, we slop through prickers, overgrowth and flooded tire tracks even though no vehicles are allowed back there. Abby started to complain so we kept trying different directions and they all dead-ended. One even dropped off at a random trash dump. My husband aeeked later if it is an old trash dump. I said no, new trash. Old trash, I would be looking through it. However, it did remind me of the talking trash heap from Fraggle Rock.

We got back to car and went around the lake and blazed our own trail into woods. Abby tried peeing in woods and failed, peeing all over her clothes and into her muck boots. So we ended the hike at .25 miles and went back to car. I changed her and off we went to hike number 2.

Our Second hike of the day was at Bowdoin Park which is nearby the first location. We played for awhile on the playground before Abby decided to run barefoot down the trail into the woods. She literally could pet two random ducks swimming in a little overflow area. Then we hiked on until she decided she wanted to ride on my shoulders. We followed the trail up and around and listened for sounds. Saw a fat ground hog and headed back to the playground.

We made buildings and roads in the sand. Played on swings. Abby practiced her cat like reflex skills. We stayed for a bit before heading to the grocery store. Two short hikes today totaling about a mile.

Wednesday-

Today we did 5.3 miles. It was damp and cool outside. The coolness actually worked in our favor. We arrived at the parking spot on Dennytown Rd and after Abby mooned traffic after a quick potty break in woods, we were off down the Appalachian Trail. She insisted on being hike leader.

This trail had a lot of ups, downs, scrambles and water crossings. It took a lot of trust and relying on each other or our cat-like reflexes to navigate. At one point, Abby was climbing up a scramble and she looks at me shocked and yells “I’m peeing myself!” Luckily I had an extra pair of pants. Sadly, though the extra pair of pants that were holding her sweatshirt closed (needs zipper), needed to be used. I put her pants and underwear off my pack. Unfortunately, I had to smell pee while I hiked and they slapped me in my yoga pants making them damp right in butt area and back of thighs. However, after some adjusting, all was good.

Abby only rode on my back for two short spurts. While she slept, and I pressed on in the very quiet forest that damn clean-up song the Puppy Dog Pals sing got stuck in my head. However, I could remember bits and pieces and I could not get it out of my head. It seriously was horrible.

Abby also enjoys getting pumped up before a climb by doing this whole routine with me.It is kind of hilarious and yes, it is on Instagram and in the video.

Learning Lessons-

We hands down needed more snacks. I gave her all my snacks because she eats like a bear. So I had to deal with hungry stomach. Luckily we had plenty of water. Water is more important than food. No water and you can find yourself in a very serious situation. I also learned to not trust my All Trails App. It told me we were on the wrong trail. Lies … all lies. Stay on the blue trail. It is very easy to get lost in Fahnestock. We cut through some thicket and I am so glad we didn’t bushwhack and head toward the trail down the ravine. I got back to blue and stayed on blue. The third thing Abby learned is sometimes it is key to be still and quiet. A goose swam very close to her and made for a wonderful experience.

all in all it was a nice loop hike. We really had to listen and rely on each other. We ended up burning around 2700 calories.

Friday-

Friday afternoon, the weather cleared enough for a local hike. So we went to the Cary Institute. Abby was the hike leader for a lot of the hike and we did almost 2.5 miles. No pack carrying necessary. She only complained she was tired at very end of hike. We remedied that by playing a fun game of hide and go seek. Abby tried to get me to hide behind a tree covered in poison ivy.

We were hoping she could wear her new Keens she got from a rummage sale … However, I was unable to get the thick zip-tie off and I left my knife at home. Always carry a knife when hiking. She managed fine in her Minnie Sneakers.

Some of the other things we did on this trip were following the creek. She loves climbing down to the water. There are numbers that indented on posts along the trail. I had her trace them with her finger and tell me what they were. She made me trace it on other side and make it a competition of who could finish first. She is very competitive.

Abby enjoyed pretending she was a dog after learning dogs weren’t allowed at this location. She also liked sprinting down the trails and I have no clue where she learned to do the whole runner stance and take off in burst after a ready, set go.

All in all, it was a fairly easy hike and a nice end of the week hike. We would do no more this week.

Conclusion Week 1-

We fell seven miles short of our goal this week with just around eleven miles. Here’s to week #2. Time to step it up. To watch our short film of week one, please click here

General Stuff-

Please remember to subscribe if you liked what you read and you can also follow us on many different social media platforms.  We are also on YouTube. All links to the side. There is all cool non-blog stuff throughout the website. Have a look!

Want us to come to you? Please send an email to discuss options or receive a media kit. We are also looking to start highlighting adventurous mamas again. Check it out on this page! https://adventuresofabbygirl.com/adventurous-mama-and-me-of-the-month/

We will never Spam you because Spam even in food form isn’t cool.