Date: 2009-08-12
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Well, I have been home for over a month now. I still feel like I have been hit by a truck. My knees are still killing me and my left foot is still numb. Based on the last big hike - it will be a while before I feel good again.On a bright side - I finally feel like I am not starving. For the first few weeks home I was so hungry. Couldn't stop eating. I have gained some weight back. This is good news. Still about 10 pounds lighter than when I started and I have leveled off. This is good news too.I spent a week doing trail magic about 8 miles before Dalton. It was really great. I ran into hikers a few times while I was restocking. Met some new people, but also ran into old friends - like Salty.   It was great to see so many friends come through the area and get to enjoy the goods.   It felt good to give back to people especially since I got so much trail magic while hiking.I was sad though because a few friends that I wanted to be able to do more for - came through while I was out of town - Rugged Shark, Ace, Desert Fox. I actually ran into Pudgie Pie and Mudslide while I was just about ready to get on the Mass Turnpike. It was great to talk to them, but I was bummed that I couldn't do more for them.We hosted the Garage Man, Ranger, and Bushman for a few days. They zeroed at 20 walnut. Poor Ranger was sick with some kind of stomach virus and had to spend 6+ hours in the local ER. He rested an extra day while Garage Man and Bushman headed to Mt. Greylock. I heard from his wife that he was still weak climbing Greylock, but is doing better.Next up were my buddies from Lookout Mountain. The Tag team and Mountain man opted to stay in Cheshire for the night, but we were able to go get them and bring them out to dinner. We took two cars so that we could get everyone in including Bill Jr and Bill Sr and a section hiker named First Pint. We had a great dinner at a local place.   It was great to see them again. I last saw them my first day in the Shenendoahs.Our final trail magic for the year was hosting my buddy Startrek. He wanted to slack pack a couple of days. So, I picked him up at the Cookie Ladies place in Washington/Becket. After eating at the local AYCE buffet - he settled in with the girls at 20 Walnut. Sassy the cat took a real liking to him. He slacked from the Cookie Ladie's house into Cheshire. He was trying to catch up with his hiking buddy (Bullet) who was trying to catch up with his brother (West) in Dalton. I invited them all back to the house.   Startrek finished first and we went back to Cheshire to pick up the guys about 1.5 hrs later.We had a great night and ate tons of food. Decided to cook instead of going out. It was fun to cook and they did a great job eating all the food.The next day they slacked from Cheshire - up and over Greylock - into North Adams. We met them on the side of Rt 2 about 3pm to give them back their full packs. My car still stinks and the day packs I gave them may never recover. It really was great to be able to pay it forward so to speak. I had so many nice things done for me while hiking this section that it was great to give back.   Can't wait until next year.I have posted all my pictures from this trip.   If it keeps raining - I may actually get the pictures posted from the NJ/NY sections last year.