Date: 2003-06-28
From: US7 (620')

To: Mt Wilcox North Lean-to (1950')
Miles today: 13.5

Aloha! What an absolutely awesome day I've had. Nothing really spectacular about it except that it was one of those days that remind me of why I'm out here - simply for days like this.   Right off the bat I'm going to contradict myself but only because it was part of the day. That was my beginning - I woke up in a bit of a testy mood. Somewhere during the night I started beating myself up about having stayed in town. I admit that I wanted to due to the heat and humidity yesterday but a very large part of me actually wanted to be on the trail. The Army has an expression that fit my mood perfectly when I started thinking about it: "There are always two better places than where you are - where you're going and where you were." Both applied late last night and this morning.   With Rooster having decided that she was going to remain in town another day, I went in search of my shuttle to the trail. To continue my testiness I found that the front office didn't open until 7a and it wouldn't be until around 8a that I could get a ride back to the trail. That probably was just icing on the cake. It was going to be a long day.   As I was going back to my room my next-door neighbor was out smoking and started chatting. He was the one that told me about the hours. He thought I was going for the lousy continental breakfast. When I explained he looked rather sad for me. That was nice. It wasn't five minutes after entering the room that he knocked and offered me a ride back to the trail. He and his father were headed out to breakfast and it was on their way. (Dad grew up here and knows the area well.) It took about half a second to say yes. Thirty minutes later I was standing trailside. An ounce of my testiness had melted away. Mahalo to my nameless trail angels.   I wasn't a mile into the trail when a whole additional half-pound of testiness was removed. As I rounded a corner a doe came running into the cornfield I was walking beside. I don't believe I startled her; more that she was out for her morning run. She was wonderful to watch. She would run a few steps and then do a graceful jump, run a few more and jump again. Not a hurried run and jump but a take-my-time-and-play type run and jump. She was so awesome to watch. She stopped at the end of the field, trotted to the right side of it and then reversed and trotted to the other corner of the field. At both corners I would swear she looked back at me and smiled. I swear. She then silently and beautifully walked off into the woods. Awesome. Mahalo to the doe. She certainly helped my mood.   From that point on the walk just got better and better. Not so much from the scenery or terrain but for the people I met along the way. Day hikers and thru-hikers both. Before meeting any of them though, the trail took me alongside the Housatonic River once again and to June Mountain vista where I spent a good while sitting, eating fruit and playing with my map. Another half pound of testiness melted away.   As I crossed into a small dirt parking lot I chanced to meet Blue Jay La Fey and Allison. Blue Jay is a three-time thru-hiker and Allison was headed out for her first backpacking and camping experience. They were also out to offer trail magic to anyone needing it. They were such fun folks to chat with. We had to have stood there for an hour chatting about a hundred different things.   Blue Jay may or may not know it but he alone lifted another pound of testiness off of me. I truly don't mean this to sound vain but he recognized my name and knew my journal. He was so very kind with his comments. Whether he was just being nice or not is beside the point. The fact that he said the things that he did made me feel so much better. You never quite know when you're writing a journal like this if anyone really is reading it so it was very sweet of him to boost my ego a bit. To Blue Jay, another big mahalo.   While we were chatting aches and pains came up in the conversation. I mentioned this thing happening with my arches and Allison began to remove another pound of testiness from my feet and me.... Alliston turns out to be a massage therapist and took on the task of removing some of the foot discomfort by massaging my hands. It was wonderful! She also volunteered to work on my feet but I liked her so I wasn't going to subject her to my tired and smelly feet. Her hand massage was more than enough. It also seemed to have helped; my feet felt much better during the next six miles. Another big mahalo to Allison - mahalo!   I finally did leave these wonderful people only to get 10 minutes up the trail and meet Loren and her dog. We ended up chatting for another 20 minutes but this time about how "older women, 40+" have it so much more together than everyone else. It was pretty much a woman empowerment conversation. She also helped to remove another half pound or so. Mahalo Loren.   By that time I was feeling pretty dang good. I even took the next hill with a little less huffing and puffing. The next stop - Benedict Pond. Another picture perfect glacial pond just begging to be used for swimming. A perfect spot to have a late lunch and soak my feet. Just as I was about to settle in, Chilz and Cipher (his dog) joined me. Perfect company for this lunchtime retreat.   Chilz is a 29-year-old guy from Dover, NH. We had briefly met on a couple of other occasions with one of them being yesterday at the outfitters. Such a mellow guy for his age. Not in to hiking the big miles at all. He spends most of his time hiking alone and bases his stops on Cipher. It's obvious that Cipher is the best cared for dog out here too. Always leashed when hiking and made to drink often (doesn't move on until he does). They were a delight to spend the afternoon with.   While there 3 day hikers joined us for a question and answer session (not uncommon) and then 4 new-to-me thru-hikers joined only long enough to take a swim, have some fun and continue on. I believe the names were F8, Hoosier, Homebound, and...? (I'm blank.) They were in and out quickly.   Once everyone departed Chilz chose to join me for my remaining 4 miles to here. It was still a lovely day to hike. We were here before we knew it but not before another long relaxing break on the trail. It was 4 miles after all.   Joining us tonight is Buddha, a 19-year-old 6'4" dude. Again the youth of today surprise me. Another levelheaded together kid. The kids out here are just phenomenal. There truly is hope for the world's future. Truly.   That's really about it for my day. As you can see, nothing fantastic really ... except for the people. That's what made my day today. I had an awesome day. Thoreau would be so proud. I'm just happy I had the opportunity to meet all these folks, chill by a lovely pond, and be here at all. This is why I'm hiking this trail. To experience it and what it has to offer. Today was crystal blue skies, temps in the low 80s (thank you), and some absolutely wonderful people. A gal can't ask for much more than that.   Oh, as for the testiness? What testiness? Who was ever testy? Certainly not me. Aloha!BSandTs: a little sweat but not enough to take the Deet off.AandPs: still the arch thing happening. Worse on left foot now. New boots coming. That should do the trick.MandGs: waking up testy... waah!Critter count: 7x small frogs (invasion?), 12x chipmunks, 1x breathtaking deer