Date: 2005-07-03
From: Goodard Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: clear sky

The shelter did fill up last night. Inside were {1} Doug, a 64yo section hiker SOBO Long Trail {2} Me {3} Senator and Ohpa, who are thru hiking NOBO and putting in serious miles {4} Kat, who arrived late but in fine form {5} Thunder ¢ named after the size and sound of his BM¢s! ¢ out and back from VT9, who gave me some much appreciated summer sausage and {7} Chairman, who wears a kilt and is thru hiking the AT NOBO and needs to be done by late August in order to go back to his college criminology studies.   Outside were Tea Break, who is thru hiking the AT and was the #2 hiker who streaked past me on his way to establish a new speed record for the descent from Greylock to Dalton. He is from Cornwall in England, and therefore from a fellow race of Celts. Also outside were the Three Little Maids, the Two Wet Ladies, and another couple [? from Canada?]. Snail and his Mom, and Search and his Dad, went on to Kid Gore Shelter, where Searches brother, Rescue, was awaiting them. I got the distinct impression that Mr. S+R would have liked to stay at Goodard; he was enjoying it so much!   We had a great night talking and joking. Tea Break and I enjoying our Celtic background, much to the confusion of everybody who equated ¢British¢ with ¢English¢ and who don¢t make a distinction between the Anglo, Saxon, and Celtic races.   Great night for sleeping ¢ cool enough at last to sleep inside the sleeping bag, and I was treated to a great display of stars in the night sky as I looked out from the porch.   Did not hear my watch alarm go off ¢ if indeed it did ¢ but awoke early with Doug moving about. Had a long and leisurely breakfast, but was still underway at a reasonably early hour. A sharp 0.3 mile climb to the observation tower where a middle aged couple were proud to tell me about their first overnight campout, which they had spent on the summit. I didn¢t have the heart to tell them that camping is not permitted on the top!   Then it was up and down along the crest, much like the previous days, still a little rocky and muddy, but despite deliberately trying to slow down I was soon at Kid Gore Shelter ¢ great views- for a second breakfast. I think that there is a ¢minimum hiking speed¢ that every hiker has, and that it takes it takes a great deal of effort to go slower that the MHS.   When I returned to the trail from Kid Gore Shelter, I found Chairman sitting on a folding camp chair that he carries with him ¢ hence the name. Then ¢ after finally finding the trail beyond Caughnanga Shelter where it takes a very abrupt turn ¢ I was off again and ¢easy hiking¢ i.e. at my MHS.   It was a pleasant days hiking in a cool but sunny day. Gone now is the oppressive humidity of early June, and good riddance to it. Passed two very nice ponds/swamps. Both with beaver lodges.    Arrived here in the early afternoon and have had a lot of visitors. Chairman was in residence when I arrived, drying out his gear and tent. Tea Break has arrived, and is talking seriously of going as far as Manchester Center today to ¢see a film tonight¢ and be in time for the big 4th of July party that is scheduled there, according to the trail register here.   A number of section hikers, out for a long weekend, have passed through SOBO, each giving glowing tails of life at Stratton Pond, and all agreeing that the water there is the perfect temp. for swimming.   Kat has arrived in her usual fine and happy form. She is talking of going on to Stratton Pond tomorrow, as I am. Got a signal, but cant get a connection here. Will try again later.   Again today I thought of all of the ¢good things¢ to which I should ¢hold fast¢ that I have left at home in Oak Park ¢ my wife and children, who will be celebrating the 4th of July without me this year once again. It is only by being away from them on this journey that I realize how much I love them all, and my life and times in Oak Park, and how much I miss it and them. Which leads me to this original thought:Thought for today ¢    I went on a journey and found the key to my home!