Date: 2009-07-22
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Manchester Village 
Miles today: 9.9

It was so nice to be able to spend more time with TMax on the trail. After a short day out of Dalton, a night in a bed with Terri near me was well deserved. Although we went a little slower over Greylock (her hometown mountain) than I would have thought, I must admit that I was whooped and readily agreed to make the 18 mile day a 13 mile one. All the running around Saturday morning and trudging through a hundred feet of swamp with the food and coolers made the relaxing afternoon well appreciated. Some other thru-hikers I knew showed up, and the steaks Terri's dad brought for us for that nights dinner were fantastic. I could get used to this, thought Terri constantly reminds me that when I reach the end of the trail, people will not be bringing me free food anymore or opening their doors so I can afford myself a good nights rest. Hmmmmm, we will have to see about that. When we took the rest of the Trail Magic food to the road Sunday, it was almost as if the smelly hikers were laying in wait, and within fifteen minutes, sixteen people with packs on their backs were sitting around and enjoying the remainder of the sodas, sandwiches, and the box of sugar! It was a bit disappointing that two fire towers on Monday offered no views but the usual whiteout, but with the X-Travaganza looming hours away, it was all good. The Stratton Pond shelter was full to the max and beyond on Tuesday, with Fiddler sleeping on the floor after entertaining us all night long with his playing. If the weather would have been just a tad bit better, a dip in the pond would have been fantastic. As it was, I slept in on Wednesday (till eight), and with a muddy but level walk to the road, a van picked up a number of us to transport us (a little like cattle) to one the best hiker parties ever. Rainman's parents opened their home (with help form Ahab's mom)-(did they know what they were getting into?) to over sixty smellies, offering showers and food and entertainment (videos, internet, live performances (me included)) and above all, graciousness that proves to me that there are still wonderful people out there in this world. A dozen tents filled the yard and every space of floor was taken up. Even the imbibing was kept to a minimum. A group picture was taken, and will be posted before too long. It is getting harder and harder to leave this, and others homes like it, and hardest yet to say goodbye to Terri over and over again. There are just over five hundred miles to go, the toughest section yet. I look forward to enjoying fantastic views and bagging peak after peak of the Northeast 115. I know the weather will cooperate, since I plan to cash in all the chits I can from here on in. If only I could have someone drop me food from the sky every day so I can minimize my pack weight. What I have looked for out here, and what I have found are two entirely different things. I would love to have had the better weather that other years have offered, but the friendships I have made and the experiences gathered make up for all the WET. Almost. Forward we go, in a straight line unto the end. See you all soon....topofgothics`