Even with Greylock menacing us we managed to have a brilliant past few days. The weather cooperated and we continued to catch up to friends from Pennsylvania like Sconnie and Gummi Bear.
Probably the best things that have happened to us since I last updated you in Connecticut are upper goose pond cabin and Tom the the trail angel here in Dalton MA.
Upper Goose Pond is an Appalachian Mountain Club cabin run on donations and by weekly caretakers. Hikers stay free on mattresses upstairs, eat pancakes in the morning, and can swim and use the canoes. Small wonder a dozen hikers showed up there that night. We got there for lunch and then canoed around the pond. The pond was pristine (of course) and Garfunkel showed off his construction knowledge while we observed the lake houses dotting the banks (his ability to classify shingles at 100 yards is impressive). We got a little burnt on our voyage but given the persistent mud and bugs (my skin is 1/3 sweat, 1/3 squashed mosquito, and 1/3 deet) it was a nice change of sensation.
Once we arrived in Dalton and checked into our hotel we were bombarded by trail magic from trail angel Tom whose house is literally on the AT (the trail runs on the sidewalk for a bit here). Not only did Tom shuttle us back from Walmart and do our laundry, he put out an amazing spread for 7 hungry hikers on the first day of summer.
Oh, and I walked about 8 inches next to a very agitated copperhead the other day. When me and Passin' Thru (a hiker from Pittsburgh with a wicked accent) tried moving him from the trail with sticks he bit the sticks before taking off.
Next stop Manchester Center Vermont.
Yay Manchester! You should eat at Christos' (pizza and pasta) if you get the chance. It's right on Main St and it's awesome.
ReplyDeleteDudes. I'm in Gorham today.
ReplyDelete