Date: 2007-09-19
From: The Hemlocks Lean-To

To: Riga Lean-To
Miles today: 10.0

mi. 10sleep shelterdest. Riga Lean-to day 69 Ahh a short day. For some reason when I looked at the mileage last night I was thinking it was going to be around 15, but oh well. It was nice to take an easy day and enjoy myself. Today is going to be one of those days I remember, not the big mileage ones. When I think back tpo what I have already done or when someone asks me about my hike, the actual walking is usually not what I talk or think about. It is what I am doing when I'm not hiking. Anyways. I got a late start today. After getting water it was after 9am. Tony and Jim were really cool. They gave me some of their extra food. Good thing to I was cutting it close to town. Thanks again. Hope to see you guys somewhere else along the trail. Before I started south I walked the .1 to the old shelter to check out a sleeping bag they said was left there. Sure enough there was a cheap rectangular one there. If it was a good one I would have packed it out and mailed it one. I also saw Catz sign in. He is 2 days in front of me. Runway also signed in. She went all the way here from Upper goose pond. A 33 or so mile day. I heard from Tony that she came in and was seperated from Peter. She thought she was ahead so hiked on. But he was acutally behind and came in later. She was afraid of being left behind. One of the things I like about solo hiking. Only one pace, mine. The hiking today was really chill. Just a couple ups, followed by long ridge walks. It was cool getting some views again. I was sitting at one of the views at around noon when Mountain Mike rolled up. He satyed just before the shelter last night. I realized then too when I got out my guide book that I was only going another 6 miles or so one the day. So we sat there for awhile and chatted while drinking the morning coffee. So I hiked with Mike for the rest of the day. We made great time. I think for awhile we stopped every .1 or .5 for a break. We stopped for awhile at a stop just off the trail at a waterfall with a view. I would have never seen it unless it showed it to me. He also gave me a bunch of food for lunch. In return I shared the last of my Martini's. Tonight I am staying in yet another shelter. Hopefully my last for awhile. Tomorrow I pick up my hammock and my winter setup. I will be good to go after that. One thing this and the last shelter had is bear boxes. I hadn't seen any since Maine or NH. Now I usually don't hang my food that high. But I did use the bear box. I read there has been increased activity in the area. No mention of it in the registry though. A northbound section hiker and a kids group are tenting. Thankfully they put theirs in too. Mike moved ahead when he heard the people. I should run into him tomorrow. I think I figured out why my heel has been bothering me. I had m shoes tightened too much.                                                                                                                                                                                                               I really lucked out with food tonight., The section hiker gave me an extra piece of fried chicken he packed out of town. The kids camp group here also shared their extra dinner. One way or another it all seems to work out in the end. I just need to sit back and let it happen. I heard from Buzz the section hiker here tonight that he pasted Adam, Peter, Moose, and Runway that I stayed in Dalton with today. He saw them at 9:30 when they already did 15 miles. They are trying to do the 44 miles of CT in one day. They were talking about it, but I didn't now if they would follow through. More power to them. I definitly won't see them again.