Date: 2009-07-30
From: Schaghticoke Mtn Campsite, CT

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 3.2

Although the fog was thick and the trees were dripping with rain, there was a definite air of excitement this morning as we woke up. With only a few miles to go Bark and I could hardly wait for our visit from Lady B and Italian. We still had to get up and over Mt. Algo and with the dense humidity it was not easy, but by 9:45 we could see the road at the bottom of the treeline. Within a span of five minutes we heard Otter behind us and then Lady B yelling our names from the road. After smelly hugs all around and a few pictures the five of us piled into their hummer and headed into Kent, CT. It is a beautiful quaint New England town, the first on the trail. Our first stop was the outfitter where Bark and I had to have our poles repaired (one bent and one broken). Then it was off to a shoe store in town to find me what would hopefully by my last pair on the AT, but no luck finding a size 9 in anything. From there Lady B and Italian took us to the Post Office and the three of us were able to pick up our letters and even a great food drop- thanks Sam!!The one thing we all really needed was of course, a shower. Turns out there is nowhere in town to get one unless you want to spend a good bit of mulah on a hotel room. We talked about it with Otter and decided it was well worth it to split a room, get a shower and a dry place to sleep. Lady B and Italian dropped us off at the hotel, but only so they could go pick up a couple of roasted chickens from the grocery store. After we had all showered, our friends returned and we all headed to a beautiful park which was busy with kids playing in the nearby waterfall. It was a perfect picnic spot! Otter, Bark and I were totally beside ourselves when we saw Lady B and Italian pulling out food from their coolers- we had roasted chicken, homemade potato salad, watermelon, cornbread with peppers and cheese, brownies, lemonade and two kinds of tea- wow! They really out did themselves. Just to get to visit with them was a treat, but I must say lunch was incredible. We had a wonderful time catching up and hearing about their recent hikes. Lady B and Italian are very familiar with the trail in the North and provided some great (and trustworthy) information about what is to come.We walked over to the waterfalls and snapped a few pics with everyone. Before leaving the park we got a call from Stewball who was also in Kent for the day. We told him to meet us at the hotel and we would all see him there in a little while. April 4th- our fourth day on the trail, it was the first night that Bark, me, Otter, Lady B, Italian and Stewball all camped together back in Georgia- so this was a great reunion almost 4 months later.Our time with Lady B and Italian had come to a close, but not before Italian let Bark drive his hummer, oh boy! We all got back to the hotel and now the 4 of us needed to do some laundry. Stewball took on the laundry while Bark and I finished up our resupply and headed to the library to check emails and order some shoes for me.After everything was done we met back up and enjoyed some great leftovers that Lady B and Italian left for us. Stewball had a couple of visitors that joined us for a fun night of trail talk. By 11pm we were all pretty tired, the visitors had left and it was time for lights out! We watched the storm blow through last night with lightning and thunder and were so thankful as we lay down that we would be dry tomorrow morning.On a side note, we also celebrated Stewball's birthday, although belated. Instead of a candle we had to use a match and hope that he would blow it out quickly. All went well and we had a chance to sing him Happy Birthday officially!