Date: 2019-05-23
From: Kay Wood Shelter

To: Dalton
Miles today: 3.0

Got a later start today but made it to town by 9. The trail goes right through Dalton and I've been very much looking forward to getting here! I went strait to the post office and picked up my mail drop, REI order, and guidebook pages for Vermont and New Hampshire. I couldn't wait to use the Superfeer Trailblazer inserts so I opened up everything in front of the post office and restocked there. The break in period with these insoles is going to be a little rough, but it's better than nothing. I got UV arm sleeves in this drop which I think I'm going to like. They seem to keep my arms cooler and will also help with keeping them out of the sun. They match my shirt too!I got another pair of darn tuff ultra lightweight socks along with a bottle of permethrin and cleaning solution to reseal my rain gear. After trying to hitch, I got the bus to Walmart and picked up an external battery for my phone. I've been thinking it over and it seems like the best way to cut weight. This way I can use my phone as a guidebook, camera, and book reader instead of carrying my Nook, camera, camera charger, and guidebook. I did laundry most of the afternoon. Two cycles for my raingear and one for my clothes. Then I dosed everything in permethrin including my pack. There have been ticks everywhere the last few days! So far I've caught them all before they had a chance to bite.I got a hot shower at the rec center then Tom picked me up and got me down to the post office again.I also sent home my camp shoes (will be getting crocs) because they weren't going to work for the stream crossings up ahead. They were a bit heavy and made of cloth that didn't dry well. I also sent back my stove. A lot of guys going lightweight do this and I had done it back in 2011 once it warmed up. What I'm doing differently is using the cold soak method to still eat the meals I planned from home (like rice sides and mac and cheese). I got a watertight protein shaker bottle at Walmart and will use this to soak my dinner during the afternoon so it's ready when I get to camp. I sent home my nalgene because I don't need two bottles plus my camelpack.So here I am going lightweight again. I think my feet will thank me and the only thing I really gave up was having one hit meal a day (I don't cook any other time). I'm going to get Guthooks for the last two sections of the trail, but I'll still have the guidebook pages with the mileage as backup if something goes wrong with the phone. The hip pocket on my backpack won't fit my phone anyways so I think I'll still have to keep it out of site in my pack for most of the day. May have some better pictures to post here now that they won't be on my camera. I figure I saved about 2-3 pounds with this change in gear.I'm staying at Tom Levardi's place tonight. He closed the porch in with tarps and I get a nice dry spot without needing to setup my tent (they're calling for heavy rain around 8). He's great for conversation and I have everything I need here. Heading up the street to dinner. Glad to be showered with clean laundry again! Tomorrow looks like great weather and I'll be trying the new pack weight out with 3 days of food (I'll confirm new weight on scale at some point). Some big climbs coming up! So happy to have arch support in my shoes again!Levi