TheBanyanTree: One Day I'd Like to . . .

[B Drummond]

On a visit to New York City one day I want to extend the trip and do  
something that caught my fancy.  On my recent trip to the New York  
City area this week I became aware of some possibilities that I  
previously was not aware of and I let my imagination delve into the  
other day.  Once the idea hit I was hooked.

After fiddling around and following links on the WWW, I think it  
would be grand to take the Long Island Railroad train for a 120 mile  
train ride from the LIRR terminal at Pennsylvania Station in  
Manhattan, cross the East River and continue all the way down the  
south shore of Long Island to Montauk and spend a few days at Hither  
Hills State Park.  This is a three hour train ride that I could use  
the time to surf the Internet, catch a nap, chat with other train  
riders, and psyche myself up for the coming days stay out at the end  
of the island.

 From there I could fish in the surf, camp using a backpacker tent,  
hike some unique locales, and visit the other state parks in the area  
(Camp Hero State Park & Shadmoor State Park, for instance)

Here's a link to the state parks mentioned above:   http:// 
nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=48

It would be a challenge to properly pack and carry the items I would  
need for such a trip and transport them by train but I think well  
worth it.  Due to restrictions I would only be able to carry the  
barest of minimums.

To stay out way near the tip -- the furthermost end  -- of Long  
Island, to me at least,  would be a thrill and an adventure.  How  
could it not be memorable!

And to start from the crowded underground chaos that is Penn Station  
in the heart of New York City, taking the Long Island Railroad train  
all the way to tip of Long Island, soaking in all that is the  
outdoors available there in the furthermost eastern reaches of New  
York state is the kinda' thing that I like to dream about and want to  
do someday.

I want to see the sunrise over the ocean from there, spend nights  
under the stars there, feel the ocean breezes and salt spray on my  
face, feel the tug of hard fighting fish on my line, watch the  
moonrise above the deep blue waters of the Atlantic and fall into a  
deep slumber in my tent after a hard day's hike.

It's just a little adventure I want to make happen.