Date: 2015-07-13
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kay Wood Shelter 
Miles today: 17.8

What a great breakfast this morning of pancakes and hot tea prepared by the caretakersame of this wonderful cabin. We all sat together at the dining room table. Enjoyed talking to Frog and Toad recent college graduates who are flip flopping together and a group of NOBO'S who we've been leapfrogging. I walked the half mile to the start of the trail and realized I had left the brand new pair of earrings I just purchased at Kripalu on the floor next to the bunk. So I walked another mile to retrieve. All this extra walking and it doesn't even count towards my daily mileage. It figures I would do this on one of my bigger mileage days.Climbed a couple mountains and saw another big pond with chirping birds and singing frogs. The highlight of my day was finally running into Fozzie with his friends Trick and Jersey Girl at October Mountain Shelter while taking a lunch break. I was putting my boots back on to get back on the trail and looked up and saw a girl I recognized from a picture Fozzie's Dad had sent me of Fozzie and Tric. Fozzie is a great kid from Tampa who I got to know when he worked at the local health food store and is also my good friend Marcie's grandson. What a joy to run into him on his thry-hike as well. We chatted for a bit and he shared his Milano cookies with me which happen to be my favorite cookies and then said our goodbyes as it started pouring down rain. I stayed in the shelter for another hour or so until the rain let up and talked to Flip and to SOBO'S. Flip was telling the tale of his awesome Fourth if July trail magic and sky diving adventure. I finally took off and walked through the rain and muddy and rooty trails. I made my way to the famous cookie lady's house which was right of the trail about 100 yards. This was a must do on my list as she gives every hiker two home baked chocolate chip cookies when they come to her house. They were delicious but I was not stopping by because of the food but wanted to be a part of the amazing tradition and hospitality she and her husband has shown countless thru-hikers over numerous years. After a pleasant conversation I purchased 3 hard boiled eggs for dinner and said goodbye and thank you. On my way out I met Red Panda who was planning on camping in the cookie lady's backyard for the evening, another gift from the cookie lady and her husband.   I recognized Red Panda's name as the benefactor of the awesome trail magic I had received and written about in one of my previous journal entries. She said she lives in Connecticut and was able to do trail magic at 5 different road stops. It was a treat to be able to thank her and let her know how much it meant to me. I was happy to be able to give her the banana I picked up from Fozzie's trail magic he had left as they were slackpacking. All my picture taking and visiting and talking and waiting out the rain put me way behind schedule to arrive at the shelter tonight and I didn't get there until 9:29pm. This was not good as the trail got very rocky and steep and even with my headlamp I had a difficult time staying on the trail and it was a little frightening at times. I'very got to work better on my pacing and staying focused. I really should have stopped at sunset and set up camp instead of meeting my goal to the shelter no matter what. Anyway, it was a great day meeting some great people.