Date: 2012-09-30
From: Williamstown, MA

To: Cooperstown, NY
Miles today: 0.0

After breakfast with Tom and Judy, they took us on a driving tour of their town including the Williams College campus where Tom worked for many years. We got back to the house and packed up to go on down the road. THANKS AGAIN FOR THE HOSPITALITY, TOM AND JUDY!! It was raining again but the weather did not spoil the view of the leaves which are gorgeous in some spots..very bright reds, oranges and yellows. We stopped at a country farm store for a little lunch and then discovered a Fall Festival on down the road. We felt sorry for the people who had obviously worked hard to set up displays, food and vendor booths, etc. and then had rain for two days. There were huge puddles to go around or through to get around the grounds. One interesting thing was a train engine which had been gutted inside and was now filled with vendors selling paintings, pottery and handcrafts. (see in photos) We bought a chicken dinner there to have later. While there we got a call from a hiker friend named Frenchy. She and Slingshot have not summitted yet because of weather but hope to on Tuesday. We talked a long time...it was so good to hear from her! GOOD LUCK on Tuesday, you two friends. We decided to detour off the road we were on to drive 10 miles to visit Cooperstown. It was too late when we got here to go anywhere so we just looked for a room...found a really nice one with a view of the big lake. The very nice lady at the desk upgraded us to this room and only charged us $55.00! This is one of the nicest rooms we have stayed in on this whole trip...sure beats the $190 B&B room we looked at first...no contest! We ate our chicken dinner while seated at our room table and looking out onto the lake. The evening was spent working on the journal (both of them...computer one and leather one) and writing postcards. SOS watched the US blow the Ryder Cup and is now watching football. We are going to spend another day and night here because there are several things in the town that we want to see and do. Sleep is next...SOS here:Having a great time driving back to the Fort. It is fantastic to be spending the day with Trail Mama day after day and knowing I have completed the thru hike. Yes, we have been hiking/driving and spent nearly every evening together over the last 200 days, but I came off the trail tired and was not exactly ready to do anything but sleep at the end of the day.As you have been reading, we have been having many experiences together since I descended Katahdin and finished the thru hike.(p)What has the thru hike meant to me and what have I learned.(p)1. It is one of the proudest accomplishments I will ever do in my life.2. I will join a very elite group to thru hike and/or section hike the AT.3. I can now proudly say I am in the thru hiking class of 2012.4. The thru hike is even more special because Trail Mama and I did it together.5. Hiking is what I did every day - day after day - but making new friends and sharing the hike with them was even more important than the miles.6. Hiking alone is not as fulfilling as hiking with others. It meant a lot to me to hike with Noisy Rod, Buck, Trail Mama, Surefoot, Nick Yarde, Pitchit, Anne (Red) Michel, Mini Mama, Josh, Jeff, Randy, Joe and Helping Hand (all family and friends) and other hikers Steamer, Runner, Roger St. Germaine, Big Sky, Brownie aka Snake Girl, Headnout and, especially because she hiked so long with me - Nice Lady.7. I learned that I can discipline myself to get up day after day and hike 14 miles - try it - it is not easy.8. I learned that thru hikers take care of each other and become close even with brief encounters.As I Hiked for HIM, I learned that relating to others and focusing on His call is more important than the demands of day to day - now I must go home and remember that valuable lesson. I plan to focus more on people than the demands of life.