Date: 2007-07-02
From: Ten Mile River Campsite

To: Fife & Drum Inn - Kent, CT
Miles today: 8.7

I was feeling lazy today. We were only planning to hike about 9 miles to the town of Kent, CT today, so there was no need to rush. Dad started hiking before me at about 8:00. I left the campsite at 8:30. I had planned to stop at Bulls Bridge Rd and walk a half mile off the trail to the Country Market store. I had plenty of food, but I needed to call to see if I could get a room reservation in Kent. Dad skipped this side trip, but created his own side trip when he missed a trail turn while walking along a river.I passed over a covered bridge on my way to the store. It is one of only a handful of covered bridges still standing in Connecticut. They say George Washington and his army crossed the Housatonic three times at this location during the revolutionary war. The bridge has been rebuilt since that time.When I arrived at the small store, the owner was very friendly and helpful. The pay phone is no longer there, but there is an outlet outside the door where you can charge cell phones. There is a spigot out front for filling water bottles, and a port-a-jon across the parking lot. I plugged in my cell phone then bought a pint of ice cream, a homemade chocolate covered donut, and a 16 oz, double size, double strength Rockstar energy drink. I sat out front at the picnic table and consumed these while I waited for the phone to charge. I called to get a room reservation, but was told to call later, so I headed back towards the trail.I met Libby on the covered bridge on my way. She was out checking the river to see if the level was okay for whitewater kayaking. She said she had never seen the river level so low, but everything looked good for kayaking. After walking and talking for a few minutes, Libby left in her truck to go upstream and I headed back towards the trail. I noticed a rope tied to a tree hanging over the river as I approached the trail. If it had been a little hotter I would probably stopped to play in the river for a while. (Other hikers it is just a couple hundred feet east of the trail at Bulls Bridge Rd - enjoy).Back on the trail I cruised along pretty easily today. The trail the past two days has been easy on my feet. I passed a couple groups of teenage girls on the trail today. They had lots of questions. They were out for a 2 day hike. The second group told me dad was just ahead and asking if anyone had seen me. He wasn't sure if I had passed him when he missed a turn earlier. I caught up to dad and moved ahead to get to town and find a room. I cruised along until I came to a stream crossing. I stopped and left directions and a map to town. As I started down the trail I wondered how dad was doing with water, so I turned around. I met dad back at the stream and gave him a bottle of water. It was only one more mile to the road and then another mile to town. Again I moved forward until I reached Mt Algo Lean-to. Death March had put up a piece of paper at the trail saying he had treats at the shelter. I knew Death March had been a day or two ahead of me for quite a while from the shelter logs, but I had never met him. I went to the shelter and he gave me a beer and a chocolate donut. We talked for about 30 minutes. As I was leaving dad was approaching the shelter.I went into town while dad rested at the shelter. I checked into the Fife and Drum Inn and went over to the post office to get my boxes. I returned to the room and took a shower, then headed to the outfitter. I stopped at the grocery store to look for shoe insoles then saw dad walking up to the Inn. I let him in the room and went to the outfitter. My shoes now had about a 4 inch long gaping hole along the outside of the toe. Not good after jut 400 miles. I was happy to see the outfitter carried Merrell. I tried on the Chameleon boots, but they had the same problem as the Pulse II boots with the eyelets pulling too close. I tried on some Lowa boots that seem to fit pretty good so I bought them. I also bought an Osprey Aether 70 pack to replace the deuter. It is 2 lbs lighter and I hope it keeps the pack off my back a little better.We went to wash clothes and then to dinner at the Fife and Drum Restaurant. Its a nice place and the food was good, but it is expensive.Back in the room we planned the next hiking section. We will hike a couple 10 mile days together and plan to watch the 4th of July fireworks from Hang Glider View. After that I will start increasing my miles again. We will see how dad is doing at that time, but he will probably continue on with shorter mile days than I need to do.Tomorrow dad will leave in the morning and I will hang around town for a while then meet up with him on the trail.PS: I have updated the gmap site: http://maps.yourgmap.com/v/k_nf_Don_on_the_AT_2007.html