Date: 2003-08-06
From: Kent, CT - Salisbury, CT

To: Kent, CT - Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 32.7
Weather: broken clouds

Kent, CT - Salisbury, CT32.7 miles (1483.1 total miles)It has been a crazy stretch through Connecticut. It has been raining for the first time since Harpers Ferry, and it won't stop. We have met relatives all over, and gotten some amazing trail magic. We are gearing up for the tough mountains of northern New England.We spent most of day 124 in Kent. We were soaked, and were hoping to dry out. Almost everything we needed was adjacent to the town green. I did food shopping, got my mail drops (thanks Mom and Carolyn!), did laundry, and got a haircut for the first time in 1000 miles. I got a solar shower from a local store, but it had been raining, so it was rather cold. We had lunch, and decided it was time to move on.We walked down to the gas station, to fill our water bottles. A past thru-hiker named Jif pulled up and offered us a ride back to the trailhead. Her advice to us was to enjoy the hike and take as long as possible. We set out at about 5:00. We did 4 miles up and over some hills. It was dusk as we climbed down some steep boulders. Finally we came to the river, and night hiked 3 flat miles. We decided to camp at some tentsites, not knowing we were on the shelter trail. It took me a half hour to hang our bear bags in the dark. I also got a nice rash of poison ivy from the night.I was up early on day 125. I rushed 2 more flat miles, 2 mountainous miles, and 1 road mile to get to Cornwall Bridge. I was supposed to meet my brother's family there. We met at the general store, and they brought us fudge. There was no place for lunch, so they drove the 4 of us smelly hikers (in 2 trips) to a nearby town. They treated us all to an excellent lunch at the Wandering Moose Cafe. As we were driving back, my 5 year old niece Becky told me, "It is raining very hard out. Be careful, Uncle Kurt!" I was very glad to see my brother and his whole family. Thanks so much for visiting, and for lunch for me and all my friends!We waited until the rain tapered off, and walked to the nearest gas station to fill our water bottles before we got back out there. As we were reluctantly getting ready to leave, a familar blue truck pulled up. It was Willow's parents Henry and Linda, and her Aunt Alice. They had been drivng around town looking for us, and did some clever detective work to track us down. What amazing timing! They drove us to a motel in nearby Torrington, where Alice bought us a room! (That was too nice of you, Freezer Pants!) We had hot showers, pizza, and soda. It was such a treat on what would have been a miserable hiking day.I slept so well in the air conditioned motel room. I woke up on day 126 and walked to Dunkin Donuts with Willow. Then we met Linda and Alice at Friendly's for breakfast. Then once again they gave us a 5 mile slackpack. It was so hot and humid that I couldn't imagine hiking that section with a pack. We went out for lunch, and said goodbye to Bubble. Once again, she joined us for a wonderful week of hiking. And thank you so much to our trail angels Henry, Linda, and Alice for all you did for us!   We waited at the trailhead for about an hour, letting lunch digest. We heard thunder overhead, so we headed up 1 mile to the shelter. The thunder kept threatening, but nothing came of it, so we pressed on. We got rained on a little, but found a nice campsite by the brook. The horseflies were all over us. We set up tents and managed to stay dry for most of the night.It was overcast and humid again on day 127. The horseflies drove me nuts. We wandered on down the mountain, and found a spot for breakfast. The sun came out and baked us. It was a hard day. We eventually walked up to a hydroelectric plant, which had a water and shower spigot. We washed off and hid from the sun.We moved on in the oppressive heat, up into the hills. We met a few southbounders. The terrain got easier, and the rain reappeared. By the time we got to the Salisbury road crossing it was pouring. We walked into town and took cover under the town hall porch. We tried to wait out the rain, but it never let up. Finally Pipes, who had a car nearby, gave us a ride to the trailhead. From there it was only .2 miles to set up a tent in the rain. It was a very wet night. We woke up to find slugs, worms, spiders, and other mystery bugs in all our stuff.We met one southbounder that said the weather is less oppressive in the mountains a few days north. I hope so. This section is very beautiful, but hard mentally. 689.5 miles to Katahdin!