Date: 2012-07-30
From: Mt. Greylock Peak

To: Gulf Road - Dalton, MA
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: light rain

Up and off to the top of Mount Greylock. We ate breakfast today at the Bascom Lodge...a lovely log and stone building on top of the mountain. After eating, here came Headnout and Tagnalong so it was good to see them again. SOS and Pitchit headed down the mountain and ATM and I went back in the dining room to talk to Tim and Nancy. Nancy (Tagnalong) , ATM and I then climbed up 89 steps to the top of the Mt. Greylock Tower. The view was great. After coming down, Tim and Nancy headed down the other side of the mountain and ATM and I started the long drive down the mountain. We stopped at an overlook to enjoy the view. Then we stopped at the visitor center where we got some info for the day. Down the mountain, we stopped at a mall with the hope of getting a video put on a DVD...no such luck, again. We ate lunch at the mall and then went to the library in Dalton. There is NO parking lot for the library so we had trouble finding a spot but with the help of a policeman, we finally found one and in the shade even! This library is being renovated so I will not rate it...it had comfortable seats and WIFI so I was happy..with everything I needed. ATM and I stayed until around 6 and then drove over to the pick up spot after SOS called and said Sleeping Beauty would be there. About 5 minutes after we got there, here he came and then his buddies, Indy and Mission. We gave them all drinks and food. As they were leaving, here came 5 more hikers... Big E, Bubblefoot, and ?? plus 2 of their friends who were section hiking. So TM and ATM passed out more drinks and food! Soon SOS and Pitchit arrived and we headed for Albany, NY where Pitchit will get on a plane for home tomorrow morning. We found the hotel we were looking for after one miscue. We got a referral for dinner and went to the Recovery Room Restaurant. After filling the guys up one more time, we went back to our very nice rooms for a good night's sleep after watching some more Olympics. Road Name of the Day: BLISS SCHOOL HOUSE ROAD This caught Dave's eye and SOS approved because he had a Grandma whose maiden name was Bliss.SOS here:Pitchit & I hiked 16.2 miles today from the top of Mt. Greylock to Dalton MA. We were hiking, as I call it, against the grain. I define against the grain as a NoBo,north bounder, Georgia to Maine thru hiker hiking South. We did this because I prefer hiking down hill. It was our best hiking day of our four days hiking together.Pitchit did some grumbling today at the 10th mile of our hike today. It was at the 10th mile of the hike he said, "4 miles to go". I replied, "No 6". It was at this point he seemed a little miffed with me. I would receive verbal jabs for the rest of the hike, the ride to Albany, NY, the evening meal & just before I closed my eyes to go to sleep. In Pitchit's defense his left ankle aches more at the ten mile plus mark when he hikes because of the injury. Pitchit broke his ankle from a section hike the hiking buddies did in the Whites/NH in 2009. He hiked 7 more miles, that year, after breaking the ankle to get off the trail.In 4 days of hiking this time Pitchit did 56.5 miles - not bad when you considered I did only 30 plus miles my first four days on the AT back in March.. What you learn about Pitchit is he will tough it out for a friend. He does not even want to burden a friend by carrying his pack when he has a broken ankle - ask Trail Boss, if I am right on that comment.why am I hiking the AT. I have given my reason before, but I want to give it again, because GOD CALLED ME TO DO IT and when GOD CALLS I listen. I believe. I want my children, my grandchildren, my family, my friends and those I encountter in life to know I BELIEVeE. Why do I believe because I know without a doubt.