Date: 2013-06-17
From: Dalton, Mass.

To: Cheshire, Mass
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: light rain

Slept until 7, watched The Today Show, started my laundry, then met Gas Can in the parking lot to walk to breakfast. (The puppy was sitting right next to Gas Can, and as I walked up, he yelped and ran under the pick mic table) maybe I need to take another shower! We had a big breakfast at the town diner (Tom & the Thru Hikers were there also) Jackrabbit was a no show. After we walked to PO to get Bounce Box, put my clothes in the dryer, and started trying to figure out what I could do without (have to get this back pack lighter) Gas Can could tell this was going to take awhile, so he decided to hit the trail. Sent around 10 pounds of stuff home (including tent) hopefully I can stay in Shelters and not have to camp. My tent was considered light eight years ago when I bought it, but at 4.2 lbs. is just too heavy for today's ultralight gear. It's been the thing all the other hikers have laughed the most about. Decided to take another shower, while it was available! After being in the woods, it's so nice to be clean! Finished packing bounce box and home box, walked next door to PO, then checked out of Shamrock Motel and hit the trail. It was 11:00 am! (Late start) Pack felt much better on my back! Lighter is always better!!! Good day hiking, sunny for first two hours, then clouded up, rain was coming. Started walking faster, prayed I would get thru the cobbles (the steep rock downhill) before the rain came. Had a great view from the top of mountain, just as I was feeling good about my hiking ability, and becoming so sure footed, I slipped down. Luckily fell on my pack, so no injuries...just my pride. Can't get cocky, or in a hurry, always have to be careful and watch footing! Just as I reached the bottom of the mountain, it started thundering and within a couple of minutes was POURING! Wind was whipping and limbs were breaking, so glad to be out of those woods. Gas Can was waiting for me at the ice cream shop at the edge of town. He said the Church Hostel we were planning on staying at was closed and all locked up. After several minutes of interrogation by me and the ice cream girl we realized he had gone to a white wooden United Methodist Church, the hostel was a red brick Catholic Church another block down! We walked in the pouring rain to St. Mary's Catholic Church, went around to the side and rang the doorbell of the Rectory. Father David and his big yellow lab Dutch came to greet us, and showed us to the Parish Hall and the Hiker rooms. It was wonderful to be out of the storm! He was a kind, gentle, caring priest who welcomed us with open arms even though we were muddy and soaking wet! Dutch loved me, by the way! I think that puppy back at the motel, had issues! About an hour later two thru hikers showed up Berenstein Bear and Joe the Hiker. Two great guys! After the storm blew over we all walked to Bass Water Grill for a delicious dinner. We had great conversation and shared lots of stories from the trail and our real lives. Got back to the church around 8:00, and the guys got settled in their room, and I in the other hiker room. The 4th graders from the school had made us Trail Magic bags full of all kinds of great treats! I caught up on some of my journal. Thanks for your patience....it takes a while cause I am doing this on my phone and can only type using one thumb! Plus, Verizon has pretty sketchy coverage in the woods, so I usually have to wait til I get to a town to update ya'll on my journey. I finally crawled in my sleeping bag and fell right to sleep around 10pm. Slept better than any night so far! Guess I felt right at home on the floor of a Church! Years of lock ins with youth ministry! Shalom, Chief