Date: 2021-06-04
From: Shaker Campsite

To: October Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: light rain

Last night¢s rain wasn¢t nearly as heavy as predicted. I still lazed in bed longer than usual but got up when I heard others stirring. I even ate this morning before hiking as I really couldn¢t bring myself to eat last night. So I had some Steve¢s Paleocrunch Granola (1000 calories) and hit it at 6:20.  There were only two designated camping areas in reach - Upper Goose Pond at 10 miles and October Mountain at 18.8 miles. Yesterday talk was of maybe jumping off the trail due to the rain or doing short miles before the thunderstorms arrived. I decided to get to Goose Pond first and then see what was what. The rain did arrive about 9, but by that time I was soaked anyway due to the high humidity and having to walk through some pasture grass. So the rain gear stayed packed away.  I did make a quick side trip to the AT stand - a roadside stand that offers cold drinks for a dollar, free water refill, charging station and a garbage can. Super sweet. The rain stopped after about 45 minutes and just went back to maximum muggy.  There was no breeze to be felt so I just tried to keep a nice steady pace and make sure my breathing didn¢t bring on a coughing fit. When I got to the Upper Goose Pond side trail I checked the weather and the forecast for rain had gone away. Had thus been Sunday (predicted to be 90 degrees) I may have stopped anyway and spent the afternoon swimming. But with the ATC Shelter here still closed, I moved along.A mile or so later I was at a road crossing and there was a lodge just a short walk up the road. The Berkshire Lakeside Lodge was listed in the guide as ¢hiker friendly¢ and as having water available. When I got there a woman was coming out of one of the rooms she was cleaning and I asked if I might get some water and take a break at their picnic table. She was happy to show me the refill station and also let me know they had sodas for sale for a dollar. Bingo!  I sat outside and had two Coke¢s and ate a meal bar while doing some Spanish lessons. Muy Bueno!  When I went to leave I ducked my head in the office to say thanks and they handed me a home baked chocolate chip muffin - muy, muy bueno!! I packed it away for later. The afternoon trail had the whiff of Pennsylvania about it with lots of rocks that required some concentration and care. I didn¢t hurry much as I only had 7 miles to do. Dudley went the whole day without a mishap, which hadn¢t happened in a while and was quite welcome. I got to the camping area right at four and Just Tim was sitting at the picnic table. I had been at Maria¢s Hostel with he and Forager last Sunday. Turns out Just Tim is having a foot problem that may actually be a stress fracture and could take him off trail. I feel just awful for him, no one wants to leave due to an injury.  Shortly after Captain America arrived followed by Chef (who didn¢t stop at Goose Pond, either) and then Grumpy Cat who slack packed part of the day and then hiked with a six pack of Space Dust, two of them still in cans, the other four inside him! I think I¢d just lay down in the middle of the trail if I drank four IPA¢s in 90 minutes while hiking. Then the real crowd arrived: two troops of scouts from Connecticut out for a two night excursion. Every spot of ground has a tent on it. My hammock is surrounded. Captain America said he feels like he¢s on deployment again and living in tent city. This should be interesting as they¢ll be up late and we hikers will be up early.  This is fine.