Date: 2014-09-18
From: Mt Greylock/ Bascom Lodge

To: Cheshire
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: broken clouds

September 18-19--Greylock to Cheshire--8.6 milesSitting in bed in the morning, drinking coffee out of fine china. It just doesn't get any better than this!Siva and I have completed our last section together and are enjoying an end-of-trail celebration at the wonderful Harbour House B&B in Cheshire, MA. Eva Amuso is a most gracious hostess, and I am grateful to her for her many kindnesses. Leaf season has begun. There's a jazz festival in town. B&Bs are full. Yet, she still honors the hiker rate for our room and treats us like honored guests. But I am getting ahead of myself. Back to the Bascom Lodge at the summit of Mt Greylock. We surely had planned our final days right. After two weeks of diligent hiking, we ended our trek with three days of low mileage, real beds and good food. The bunk room at Bascom was comfortable with a view of surrounding mountains and valleys. The sunset and the sunrise were magnificent views as I lay in my bunk, peering out the large windows. We had made dinner reservations, which I later regretted. Although our table companions made up for the sluggish service and mediocre meal, I would have been happier to have had a late lunch. I hear the sirloin burger was a veritable feast. The dinner began at 7, and we spent most if the time waiting between each course. Hiker midnight occurs when the sun goes down, and so my eyelids were heavy as I watched darkness fall. Our dinner companions provided scintillating conversation which helped to pass the time. They were longtime friends from Boston who liked to visit a special place each year. This year, they chose Bascom Lodge and the surrounding area. One of the women, Wendy, had been a travel writer and narrator for travel shows, so she was well informed on some pretty interesting places to visit. Her friend was a well dressed elderly woman who had taken care of Wendy's mother. They had a very special relationship indeed. So it was nice to spend an evening with them--four women who shared a special friendship. When hiking with someone, I find that over the days, lots of personal memories and experiences are shared. Close bonds form quickly on the trail. Conversely, long hours spent together on the trail and in shelters can reveal so much about a person that can sour a relationship. I have "divorced" a few gregarious hiking buddies, and several were happy to be rid of me, I'm sure. However, most of my hiking companions have become lifelong friends. And such was true with Siva. We learned much about each other and became even closer friends. When the torturous dinner was finally done, I bade our wonderful table companions a good night and trudged up the steps to my bunk. Sleep came quickly and so did the sunrise. Breakfast was served at 7, and coffee was available earlier. I sipped my coffee as I finished packing and was ready to go before breakfast. Siva and I considered leaving before breakfast, but the smell of freshly baked muffins drew us into the dining room. Real butter and home baked muffins that were more like a scone with a crispy crust and soft inside. Yum!Full of coffee and butter, we began the descent into Cheshire. We had another perfectly sunny day with clear blue skies. It was a magnificent day for hiking. The descent became quite steep which slowed me down a bit. From behind me, i heard the loud thumping of boots on the dirt path. A section hiker blew past me. Oh to be young with intact knees. I wondered if he would be feeling it later. Soon, another quieter hiker passed me and asked if I had seen his buddy. And then he was gone. As Siva and I reached Cheshire, dark clouds moved in. We were grateful that we would be under a roof and not tenting in the rain. We reached the street where we were to meet Eva, the innkeeper and gave her a call. She promptly arrived in her white Subaru and whisked us away to Harbour House B&B. After our showers, Eva offered us tea and spice cake. As we sat in the drawing room sipping tea and munching cake, two hikers came through the door. They were none other than Chris, the boot stomping hiker who had passed me, and his buddy, Richard. Chris appeared dazed and exhausted. So, he was feeling that descent. Eva welcomed them, even though they had no reservation, and showed them to her last available room. The B&B was exquisite, and the breakfast was outstanding. Fully sated, Siva and I thanked Eva and headed to Pittsfield with the Cookie Lady who was shuttling us. I am on the train heading home for a few zero days with Bob. I'll be back on Tuesday to complete the final 100 miles. Stay tuned...life is good!