Date: 2017-08-22
From: Kay Wood Shelter

To: Mark Noepel Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

1. Date: Seasday, Halimath 1 (8-22)2. Day 1193. Morning temp: 684. Weather: calm, some clouds5. Time start: 07076. Time stop and miles: 1850/16.97. End point: Mark Noepel ShelterLog:I was up at my usual time and on the trail a little after 07. I could taste the second breakfast I was hoping to have in town. A quick 2.5 miles later, I was walking down the streets of Dalton, which the trail goes through. I stopped at a Cumberland Farms store for some coffee and chocolate. They had Ice Cubes, a favorite treat from my youth.I headed down Main street drinking my coffee. Mary Jane stuck his head out of a coffee shop to say hi. I continued down to the Dalton Restaurant and had a wonderful 3 egg omelet and charged my electronics some. I was able to reserve a room at the Williamstown Motel for Wednesday night and buy my bus ticket home. It was time for this Phase of the Quest to come to an end.Next, I crossed the street and got a nice hot shower at the Community Center. I was clean underneath, but had to put on my still nasty clothes, but it was all good. The next stop was the Library, where I was able to print my bus ticket. It was so funny. I went to sit down at a computer and the guy next to me moved his seat, monitor and keyboard as far away from me as he could. I guess the shower didn't help with my overall stench much. I definitely earned my Stinky Hiker Badge with that comic reaction. I worked my way back to Angelina's for a sub that would be my lunch and dinner after I picked up a couple of Genny Cream Ales for the walk out. I'm pretty sure those two 24 oz cans and the stuffed sub added about 5 lbs to my pack.I picked up a last few food items for the next day's hike and headed out of town, after a nice three hour stop.There were thunderstorms forecasted for late in the day, so I was hoping I could get into camp and set up before any rain started to fall.As I was climbing the hills between Dalton and Cheshire, I came upon Fairy Baby and Cave Bear who were enjoying their own tallboys so I joined them to lighten my own load. We leapfrogged each other until Cheshire where I left them at the ice cream shop after enjoying a cone myself.Coming out if Cheshire, you start the climb up Mt Greylock. It starts out mild, then got pretty steep fir awhile then a little better for awhile.I arrived at the shelter just before 1900 and it was pretty full. For a second I thought it was going to be tough finding a spot for my hammock, but I quickly found a spot where a guy and his two sons were camped. They were really nice and kept offering me stuff. They had come out for a few days, but the trail and the mountain had proved a overwhelming challenge and they were heading down in the morning.I was set up and had eaten the rest of my sub and drank my other beer as dusk settled on the camp and finally the rain started to fall.It would rain off and on throughout the night, but would be done by morning.Tomorrow, I complete this Phase of the Quest. VOD: The CobblesHigh: Hot shower in DaltonLow: The steep part starting up GreylockHope: A good finish to Phase II-b of the Quest.