Date: 2006-07-21
From: Salisbury, CT

To: Conn/NY Border
Miles today: 44.9

We came down Bear Mountain and into Salisbury on another blazing summer day. We were met by a good number of NOBO hikers hanging out in the shade to beat the heat. They didn't appear to be doing a whole lot of anything. They were assembled into groups to large for The General or I to approach so we went about our business and moved along. The town was a bit to upscale for my liking. No cheap places to eat and an inhospitable sort of feel.    We took care of our post office business and bought food before heading back down the trail. It was the 18th of July and we had 3 days till we had to meet Jon's father at Connecticut Route 55 for 1 1/2 days off. The trip was only 45 miles so we had plenty of time. In Salisbury we ran into DejaVu and an AMC RidgeRunner(Nick), both of whom we had previously met. Upon leaving town it seemed likely that we would all run into each other again.    The trail out of Salisbury climbed steeply for a short distance and then leveled off for the remainder of the day. At this time we have been noticing alot of poison ivy, which can be a nuisance. Also it seemed that the understory of the forest has been taken over by a prickly species known as bar berry. I have never seen it in such abundance. After four miles we decided to stop at a shelter called limestone spring.    At the shelter we met an interesting NOBO named LowGear. He is 40 and recently quite his job and sold much of what he owns in order to hike the trail and get his life on a more suitable path. He seemed discontent with his previous job. On the trail he has lost 65 pounds and sadly contracted Lyme's Disease.    Lyme's Disease is a serious issue for the AT thru-hiker. The trail runs straight down the corridor containing the highest number of confirmed Lyme's Disease cases. We have met 4-6 people who have contracted the Lyme while on the trail. This is seriously troubling and jon and I have both found at least one tick on our bodies. I found one which had bitten me, although it didn't appear to have fed. The tick is an unusually slow feeder and will remain on the host for a period of 2 or more days. The disease is caused by a bacteria which is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick after it has been attached for a period of 36-48 hours. So I should be fine. The disease is almost never fatal and as long as you detect it early on a perscription of Penicillin will clear you up in no time. As a precaution we are stocking up on bug spray and checking for ticks as often as possible.    Later in the evening DejaVU and the RidgeRunner showed up and we all had a lively conversation. It appeared as though a large thunderstorm was going to hit, but luckily it blew by us to the South.    The next day jon and I hiked 22.3 miles to the Stony Brook Campsite over many small hills. The terrain has remained very interesting despite assurances to the contrary by passing NOBO's. We had a pleasant stretch along the Housatonic River in which I took a free shower outside the hydroelectric plant. Our evening camp was incredibly pleasant and we took a swim in the PCB infested waters that flowed through the Housatonic. Apparently, back in the day before alot of current environmental policies were enacted General Electric did a pretty good number on this body of water. Also near our camp was a high concentration of very majestic red oaks that lined the trail leading to camp.    On the twentieth we hiked quickly with the purpose of meeting George Hvozda at our predetermined time of 5 PM. Seven miles into the day Nick the RidgeRunner caught up to us and we hiked with him for the remainder of the day. He brought a good new perspective to our usual trail conversations. In fact he taught us a lot of very interesting stuff about the history of Karate and the differences between its many forms. He was a good guy, and I am glad to have met him. His relaxed personable attitude casts the Appalacian Mountain Club in a favorable light.       We arrived at the road at 4:26, right on time. After only 5-10 minutes of waiting his father arrived and we were whisked away for a nice break in a luxurious hotel. As I write thes words I am clean, well fed, and sipping a Molson Golden at the Berkshire Inn. Mr.Hvozda has been incredibly generous to myself and I appreciate everything that he has done. Tonight we are going out for a steak dinner to celebrate "The General's" twenty-second birthday(July 21st), our 50th day on the trail(july 20th), and yesterdays completion of 1/3 of the trails total mileage. Cheers!!!!!