Date: 2021-05-21
To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 48.3
Weather: overcast clouds

On Sunday, May 16, I left Great Barrington and hitched a ride back to the trail, in a style befitting my status. A former thru-hiker picked me up for my very first ride - in a BMW! (I know, you were thinking a burned out pick-up. ) I'm sure glad I got cleaned up in town, for his benefit as well as mine. It was an easy hike to a shelter with a beautiful setting. For the second time I would be solo that night, but a local couple passed through on a walk. Although they said many bears were in the area, they reconfirmed that storing food in the bear box eliminated problems.On Monday, my water bag for filtering water started to leak. I did not have cell service, so I decided to run 3 tests with my wife Cynthia, the Commander in Mission Control. They consisted of: (1) test whether I could send a hunt and peck satellite message to her (as foretold by the 1970's song "Radar Love": "I send a message coming in from above. We don't need a letter or phone! We got a thing called Radar Love."), (2) test if she receives it and sends me replacements, and (3) most likely, test her patience. And, yes!, all three tests were met, especially testing her patience. After all that work, I had a snack while viewing Benedict Pond.Shaker campsite was known to be the home of two sows (female bears), one with three cubs. I was cautious as well as surprised when I arrived and saw a bear sleeping halfway up a tree, and monitored it for movement. I met Gnarley and Pyro that evening but went in my tent before the bear came down. The next morning I looked and it was still there - the black bulbous growth was part of a bare tree, not a bear tree!Mission Control had done a fine job the previous day, but on Tuesday a new message was received: "Houston, we have a problem!" Apparently the cruise director- moi! - had scheduled a hostel stay over Memorial Day weekend. Great, except the hostel didn't open until June! The Commander found a motel - at holiday rates - that would keep me on track. And it comes with such pride - I'm single handedly reinvigorating New England's economy. On Tuesday, I met a wonderful college couple, Scoots and Flowrider, and later Mr. Clean, a superbly fit 59 year old, all section hiking. It was a great day, with the scent of pine needles roasted by the sun. The trail is comprised of "rocks and roots" and sometimes dirt, and in sections all that is hidden beneath piles of leaves. I had fallen a few times so far, but saved the best for when I pitched forward after stubbing a rock and did a face plant. As it is, I am unusually cautious about where I step, so I don't think the fall knocked any sense into me, but also I don't think it knocked any sense out of me, which is fortunate because, as my friends can attest, I don't have any to spare. My campsite that night was Upper Goose Pond cabin, which was closed, but the view from the beach and dock were outstanding, with lots of 6 inch fish swimming. That night I met Decap and Pinky. Pinky and I have so much in common, we could be twins! His trailname is Pinky, some of my friends call me Brownie. His trail shoes are Hoka Speedgoats - so are mine! He runs in Brooks shoes - so do I! He is in his 20's in both age and daily mileage - so am...uh, I guess the similarities stop there. Not twins!Flash back to last Saturday, when I walked past a field with sheep. I got a group photo after they saw I was a kindred spirit when I said the secret password "Baa-Ram-Ewe". Fast forward to Wednesday, when a doe ran across the trail as Terrapin and I were approaching each other. We started chatting when a hidden fawn (or, shall we say, an "unspotted spotted fawn!") raced after her. After leaving Terrapin, I was going up the hill when the fawn, having looped around, came charging down the trail at me, the doe in hot pursuit. I jumped into action, shouting "Baa-Ram-Ewe", and when that had no effect, shouted a different phrase which was more effective, and the pair veered into the woods. Unfortunately, that meant venison was not on the dinner menu that night. Later I had my lunch at Finerty Pond, where a six engine propeller plane flew low over me. Unfortunately, the day was warm and not liking the water sources, I didn't drink enough water and I got a headache that lasted a day. But at the shelter I met two chefs from Albany who were starting a "six month hike". They both had "freshmen backpacks", and after hiking 9 miles were already looking at sending gear home. They were funny!Thursday was an easy hike to the Kay Wood shelter, with nice tentsites and water access. Friday was a short hike into Dalton, MA, to pick up a maildrop, eat some food, before going to a campsite. I have had some issues. A couple mornings I was reluctant to get up, which surprised me because it is going far better than I expected. With shorter mileage, I have been more content on the trail than ever before. On reflection I decided the emotions were a combination of homesickness, loneliness and a fear of being alone on the trail. Being a guy, I'm ill-suited to address such things as emotions - I am the poster child for Lynyrd Skynyrd's song "Simple Man". However, I find that once I start hiking, I am much better, so the answer is to hike. Another issue I didn't expect is some fatigue despite my low mileage. I hope to increase my daily calories to help compensate. That's all for now, Folks!