Date: 2008-08-30
From: Sherman Brook Campsite

To: Outlook Ave
Miles today: 14.5

The first mile and a half of our day was walking into North Adams. But first it took awhile to get out of bed. It rained all night and was still drizzling when we woke. We tend not to move real fast on these mornings. Finally we moved and by 9:00 were down to Rt 2 walking toward the laundry .6 mile east.We had been working on a plan to slackpack a few days, hopefully through Massachusetts and Connecticut. We had a rental car reserved in North Adams. Our plan was to drop Owl and Roo at the laundrymat and start on that chore while Soaring and I took a taxi to the rental place. As we were walking down the street a car pulls over and asks if we would like a ride. Whoa, didn't expect that. We didn't even try to hitch a ride this time. Turns out to be Bagel, a two-time thru hiker and a very nice lady. She gave us a ride to the rental car place and hung around long enough to make sure we were on our way. We were telling her our slackpack plan, which was still a bit incomplete. We've got the car for a week and a rough idea of the layout of the two states. What we are not sure about is after we finish the slackpacking week and return the car to North Adams, how do we get back to the trail where we left off. It's been a bit of a concern, but we had decided to go ahead with the plan. It always seems that God provides some kind of plan wherever we go. And once more He did. Bagel offered to do some research for us and see if there was a bus line or other transportation that would get us down to the CT/NY line when we needed it. Instead, later in the day she called us and offered to shuttle us down herself. How do we keep meeting these amazing people? I think if you've lost your faith in people, the Trail is a great place to find it again. So now we can start the week off without the burden of worrying about how to finish.After we got the car we headed to the North Adams Post Office. I was hoping the missing tent pole would have arrived there. It didn't. I called Bennington to see if it had been sent on and found out MSR had sent it Fed Ex to the PO so they couldn't send it on. They could hold it for me if I could get there before they closed at 2:00. I could do that..I think. Next though was to get to the Dalton PO before noon to get Soaring's box, then a quick lunch, then drop Soaring and Owl off on the trail.Today I'm playing the support role so that I can get the tent pole and repair the tent. Also I have this awful rash around my ankles where I had blisters from my old shoes. I fear it's a reaction to all the adhesives from the bandaids, duct tape and mole skin I was using for several days. I've decided a day or two off trail to heal would be wise. But there is no need to hold Owl back, she's still going strong. I dropped them on the trail just south of Dalton walking north to Cheshire. They planned to do a thirteen mile section. They wanted to get some miles in today and knew that Greylock would be too much for an afternoon, so they are doing the miles a little out of order, but they'll all get done.After I dropped them I headed back to Bennington and got the pole. Then I went in search of a nearby and convenient campground for a couple nights. Found one near a Mall of all things, go figure. It's got showers and laundry and is convenient to the trail sections we plan for the next two days, so it works.Before driving over to the pick up spot I pulled out the new tent pole section. I've tried to fix these kinds of tent poles before and it wasn't fun. This time I managed it without a hitch. I had the thing taken apart, broken piece off, new piece on and restrung in about ten minutes. I was impressed with myself. :o)With that done I just needed to go pick up the girls. A quick stop on the way at Target for some shampoo and soap was in order. It was very uncomfortable. I still hadn't showered or done laundry. So I'm walking through Target trying to keep my distance from people. I felt real self-conscious. But people kept walking right up next to me. What happened to that big American personal space bubble? I thought we didn't want to stand near each other! But not in Target today...not in the travel samples isle...and I was buying several bottles of soap and shampoo, you would think they'd get it. And not in the check out isle. Oh well.By the time I got to Outlook Road Owl and Soaring were there waiting for me. They can really hike fast when they aren't waiting on me :o) Back to the campsite for showers. Now that felt good. Chinese all you can eat for dinner and back to camp to crash for the night.I think the only one unhappy with the day was Roo. All day in a car or on leash. She's a little antsy. If we do sit out tomorrow too we'll have to find some place for her to run off a little energy. I thought she'd like the rest day, but she's a trail dog, ready to move.Time for some sleep. Hope we can sleep here, it's so noisy after being in the quiet woods. The neighbors have their radio cranked up high. I may be tired enough it won't matter. Tomorrow I'll have Owl tell you about Greylock.Rabbit, Owl and RooJoshua 1:9