Date: 2010-07-27
From: Sages Ravine Campsite

To: US 7/Dolls & Dwellings
Miles today: 14.6

1,500 miles!!!   Today, my first full day in Massachusetts, was just full of beauty. Sages Ravine, Race Mountain, and Mt. Everett were all spectacular. Storm and I hiked and talked and enjoyed the views. Shortly before we began the steep descent off the ridge, we had quite an intense experience. We were hiking along and talking, when I heard a quick movement just to the left of my feet and a loud rattle. It took me a second to process, and I froze. Thankfully, Storm was thinking better and said, "Run, run, run!" The large Timber Rattlesnake had shot away when I stepped close, but was still quite close to me when I froze. Luckily, it did not strike, though it easily could have. We watched it for a while between us, until it was about 15-20 feet off the trail and still headed away. Storm quietly began to walk by, but the snake wouldn't have it. He turned his head back and rattled angrily. She quickly stepped back and waited some more. After a few more minutes, she was able to pass and we hiked on. I can't speak for her, but my body was pumped full of adrenaline.   We soon came to US 7, which we were hoping would be the end of our hiking day, but we weren't sure where to camp. After our snake experience, we had both quickly decided that dinner and margaritas in town were in order, and we had hopes of hiking less than half a mile and camping alongside the Housatonic River. When we got to the road, however, we saw that thick undergrowth would probably make that impossible. We dropped packs to check it out and decided that if worse came to worst, there was one little spot we could camp in a pinch. Now, here's where things get interesting. My book (the Thru-Hiker's Companion), lists a place just .1 mile off the trail at US 7 called the Corncrib. It says you can camp there and get water and soda. I initially had hopes of staying there, but Storm told me last night that it no longer exists. She said that she and Grommet went there last year to instead find a very strange little doll shop. We had since heard conflicting reports about this from a ridgerunner, so we decide to go check it out.   We picked up our packs and walked a minute or two down the road and found Dolls and Dwellings, the VERY strange doll and miniature shop. A sign on the front said, "Formerly the Corncrib," just as Storm remembered. As we stood there looking at the building, a car pulled in the drive. The man inside rolled down his window and said, "You're welcome to use the place for the night." He told us to go around back and explained that their well is dry, but that there is drinking water and separate water the flush to toilet in jugs inside. He briefly told us a couple of other things about the place and quickly drove off. We both stood there stunned and confused for a moment (ie, "Is this really happening?"), but laughed and said, "why not?"   We hitched into town for an amazing Mexican dinner (with margaritas!) and then back out to the crazy doll shop to settle in. This is definitely the most bizarre stay on the trail so far, but it works! The entire store was open from the back, so we explored a bit. We even found original New Kids the Block dolls!   I opted not to sleep inside the available back room, but could not hang my hammock (no trees!), either. To save me from being eaten alive by the bugs, Storm kindly let me share her 1-person tent with her. It is a tight fit, but hilarious! I am so grateful!   And, to whoever owns the doll shop, crazy as it may be, thank you so much for letting us weary hikers stay here!