Date: 2007-07-10
From: Kay Wood Lean-to

To: Mark Noepel Lean-to
Miles today: 16.7

Today I was the first one to leave the shelter. Most of the other hikers were up and moving about before me, but I got up and quickly packed up my gear. Maybe it was the bugs buzzing in my ears that motivated me. I left the shelter at 6:30. Dalton, MA was only three miles away. I reached the center of town by 8:00. The post office didn't open until 8:30 and the laundromat didn't open until 9:00. I decided to go to a convenience store to get some breakfast. I got a quart of orange juice, a banana, and a half dozen full size glazed donuts. I went outside and sat on the curb and ate. Slow Barbara was also at the store. I had not met her before. We talked and she asked about my trail name. I explained the diesel cars and biodiesel link. She said her sister was excited because she had just bought a diesel Beetle and could now use biodiesel. I asked where her sister was. She said North Carolina! I said where in NC? She said her sister lives in Pittsboro and she lives in Sanford. I said I live in Sanford! Small world. Slow Barbara is doing a section hike this year and may thru-hike next year.Slow Barbara hit the trail and I walked up to the general store next to the laundromat. I got a pint of black raspberry ice cream to eat while I washed clothes. I sorted out my hiking and resupply schedule while at the laundromat and washed up in the sink in the restroom. They give hikers towels and wash clothes to use there, but I just used my pack towels. It felt good to be some what clean with clean clothes on. I have been sweating an awful lot in the hot humid weather.I left the laundromat and stopped at the general store again. This time I got a energy drink and a package of Hostess chocolate cup cakes. I headed to the post office after eating these items. I really didn't need any food out of my bounce box. By eating in town today I would have enough food to get to North Adams tomorrow. I pulled a few things out anyway. This means I won't have to buy as much in North Adams, but I have to carry an extra 2 lbs for 23 miles. Route 66 showed up at the post office. He had taken a room at the Shamrock Inn and wasn't going any farther today.I left the post office and stopped at Angelina's Subs. I ordered a foot long ham and swiss cheese sub and got a Vault soda. I drank the soda and ate 1/4 of the sub while I was there. I put the rest of the sub in my pack and headed out of town at 12:30. I passed the home in the picture above on my way out of town and was happy to see the solar hot water panels on the roof so I took the picture.It was only 9.3 miles to the next town, Cheshire. There was about a thousand foot climb up over about 4 miles to reach Crystal Mtn Campsite. I breezed through this section powered by all the calories I had consumed. I stopped at the campsite to eat my ham and swiss sub then headed down the other side of the mountain to Cheshire.The bugs were bad in the morning and evening, but not so bad in the heat of the middle of the day. I where my mapdanna most of the time now. It keeps the flies from burrowing into my hair and the gnats out of my ears. It also keeps the sun off my head and stops the sweat from dripping in my eyes. I hike without a shirt on these hot humid days and put the dry shirt on when I get to town.I stopped at Diane's Twist when I reached Cheshire. I ordered a large strawberry milkshake and drank a Mountain Dew while the milkshake was being made. After finishing the milkshake, I ordered a turkey sandwich and chips to carry with me to the shelter. I also drank another Mountain Dew. The Mark Noepel Lean-to was 4.4 miles and 1800 feet up from Cheshire. This is the biggest climb I have had to do in a while, but I had plenty of energy today and covered the trail in about an hour and a half.Breadless Horseman and Early Bird were the only hikers from last night to make it this far. Lily was also at the shelter. She is hiking a flip-flop thru-hike. She started in Delaware Water Gap and is hiking to Mt Katahdin, ME. Then she will hike from Delaware Water Gap to Springer Mtn, GA finishing around November. She is taking a couple days off when she gets to North Adams tomorrow. Breadless Horseman is also taking a couple days off because he has to get his pack repaired or replaced and his Steripen (used for water purification) quit working today. Just when I was getting back into a group of hikers they all drop back. Hmmm.....maybe its my odor.....but I cleaned up today!Today was a great day for eating in case you didn't catch that above. I have gone about 4 weeks now without taking a zero day. I may take a zero in Manchester Center, VT. I should be there in about 5 days. I need to make sure I am ready for the White Mountains in New Hampshire.Oh, I forgot to mention I saw another black bear yesterday. A couple miles before the Kay Wood Lean-to. It ran down a tree and took off into the woods. That is the 8th black bear I have seen on this hike.