Date: 2003-07-05
From: Mt Wilcox South Lean-To

To: US 20 Jacob's Lader Hwy Lee MA (Sunset Inn)
Miles today: 17.4

Day 114 Avg Mls/Day 13.5Weather: Hot and humid. Dew point of 70 with high temp in low 90's.Today's Nature: First time ever that I've seen a red salamander...small one. First salamander I've seen on the Trail.Last night was definitely the warmest on the Trail. When Charlie and I tented around 8, the mosquitoes didn't seem all that bad. Even though it cooled down to around 70 overnight, the mosquitoes moved in. In the morning when we awoke, they were buzzing outside the tent. There were enough that they sounded like truck tires humming on the interstate. We weren't sure we wanted to go outside of our tents. Telescope Maker, who started out in his bag in the shelter, ended up setting up his tent inside the shelter.We had to hike so we just applied the deet and it kept them at bay.Everyone else was stil asleep in their tents when we started walking at 7. We actually made pretty good time at first, covering 5 miles in a little over 2 hours. But as the day went on we slowed down and took more breaks. The Trail dropped 1,000' in elevation and then gained it all back and more. We were really drinking the water today, stopping for a fresh supply several times. I didn't eat a much...only a power bar and a Snickers the entire hike...just wasn't that hungry.We had planned to hike to Upper Goose Pond Cabin to stay tonight. It is enclosed; has bunks with mattresses and is on the pond for swimming and canoeing. However, I told Charlie about the motels in Lee, MA. Seems we both were ready to go to town again to eat and get cleaned up. So, we decided to hike a couple of more miles and hitch into town.About 1 in the afternoon when we stopped for rest and water up walks Sue Bear and Magnolia. They had gotten off in a town night before last. Last night they were in the shelter just ahead of where we stayed. We all hiked together to route 20 which goes into Lee.Just as we got to route 20, we see Orb, Goldberry and L.T. being dropped at the Trail. It turns out they were staying with Orb's Aunt Jodie in Boston for the 4th, and she was dropping them off. She was kind enough to run Charlie and I into Lee where we found a room at the Sunset Inn for $110. Thanks Jodie! The room would probably be $50 any other time. Sue Bear and Magnolia came along and went to Friendly's for some food/ice cream.I took a quick dip in the pool (nice swimming pool) and we both got cleaned up and washed out our shorts and shirts. We ate Friendly's across the street...both spent about $20. I had the country fried steak and a 5 scoop hot fudge sundae for dessert.We're trying to decide what to do tomorrow. The only sure thing is breakfast at Friendly's. I have a drop box in Dalton and plan to stay there at least one night. We could make it there tomorrow if it isn't too miserably hot. We'll see.One thing I forgot to mention from a few days back. We read in the Hemlocks Lean-to register that Camelleon had been struck by lightning while hiking in a thunderstorm. He was taken to a hospital where they kept him overnight. He is alright and has returned to the Trail.Thought for the Day: Oh those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.