Date: 2011-08-03
From: Gulf Road, Dalton, MA

To: Cheshire, MA
Miles today: 8.1

The drive to Dalton from our New Hampshire home seemed to take forever. Then at 12 noon I said a good by to Rocky and my dad and headed north on the Appalachian Trail from the Gulf Road parking lot. It was a warmish and humid day. My pack weight was just about 30 pounds with 4 to 5 days food and 52 ounces of water. I nibbled on my sandwich and banana as I walked.Almost immediately I crossed paths with two young SoBo¢s, both of whom had that gaunt thru-hiker look. I kiddingly told them both that the rest was easy, as they had already passed through the White Mountains and Maine. The Trail went mostly up for four miles. It was sunny and buggy, but got cloudy later in the day. It felt a little odd to be walking with out Rocky in front of me. She has been my pathfinder and web-breaker for over 3000 miles. I lost the Trail several times, as a result. Four eyes are better than two for keeping on the Trail. I reached the Crystal Mountain Camp Site at 1:45 pm; 3.7 miles in about 1 34 hours: not bad for just starting out. I took a five minute break and continued on. I felt sluggish after the break. Soon I crossed paths with four more SoBo¢s and two section hikers. Chatted briefly with each.   Told the SoBo¢s once again that the rest was easy (well, actually, less hard). I reached the Cobbles view point at 3:35 pm. Took a picture of the hazy view toward Cheshire. It was starting to look like rain, as I started the toe-banging, knee jarring descent into Cheshire. I arrived at the Cheshire hiker kiosk at 4:30 pm. Cheshire is very pleasant and nicely maintained New England town. After a little confusion I found St. Mary¢s Church. The Church allows hikers to stay overnight. The Church has two small rooms at the rear of the church; each with some chairs, a microwave, and sections of rolled up carpet which can be used as floor mats, under thermorests or sleeping bags. Clean rest rooms are also available for hiker use. After getting organized in one of the hiker rooms, I went off to locate a phone to call Rocky and let her know of my progress. The clerk at a nearby Shell convenience store graciously allowed me to use the store phone to call home. When I got back to the church another hiker had shown up. He is a nice, quiet young man from the Chicago area by the name of WIP (work in progress). After he got set up in the other hiker room, we both walked across the street to the A. T. Bicycle Works & Outfitters, which is owned by Dragon (AT 2005). Rocky and I knew him from our 2005 AT hike. I don¢t think he remembered me, but he sure remembered Rocky. We chatted for quite some time about life since the Trail. He now mostly bikes; having biked across the U. S. and also the Continental Divide Trail. We will look for Dragon at this year¢s ALDHA Gathering in nearby North Adams, MA. The Church does not allow cooking, so all I could eat at the Church was a cup of hot chocolate and a granola bar. This was not particularly filling, so I located the Cobble Pizzeria and had a pizza and a Coors Light. When I went to pay the bill I realized I had left my credit card home. I have only limited cash, so my projected two week hike is in jeopardy. I have enough food to get to Bennington, but right now it looks like I will have to end my hike there, after 41 miles. I will get an ear full from Rocky when I talk to her next and fill her in on my situation. This was not too bright on my part.I am aching tonight, but not too badly. I took two Vitamin I¢s and I am now ready to go to bed, even though its only 8:20 pm. I can hardly keep my eyes open as I write this.Good Night, RockySwamp Fox