Date: 2017-06-18
From: Wiley shelter, NY

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter, CT
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: light rain

6/18/17,  Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter, CTMiles hiked: 1156.8 Miles to go: 1033.0Today was a busy day. We crossed another state off the list, we hiked 20 miles, we resupplied, and we got trail magic. It rained on and off all night, so we awoke to drippy woods and overcast skies. We got up and out before 7:00 AM because we knew we had a big day planned. Luckily, by sleeping in the shelter, we weren't packing up wet gear. Shortly after heading out, we crossed the NY-CT border. Almost immediately, we started climbing and spent the rest of the day going up and down. It seems like every new state we enter has to show us how tough it is and hits us with something difficult. After awhile, it decides we've learned our lesson and settles down. We needed some resupply items, so we stopped at the Bull Bridge Country Store. What a great place! They were very hiker-friendly and allowed us to charge our phones while we shopped. With resupply done, we headed back to the up and down. The expected rain never materialized. In fact, the sun made an appearance in the afternoon. However, the high humidity made the hike pretty unpleasant. We were soaked in sweat all day long. In fact, my socks were so wet and salty that the skin on my arches was rubbed raw. I have cleaned them up the best I can; however, I'm pretty concerned about how they'll do tomorrow. As we came down the hill to CT Rt 341 we heard voices and I said that maybe we'd get trail magic today. As we approached the road, this guy said, "Hey Beaker! Come have some trail magic!" It turns out the trail magic was for us! It was provided by a former thru hiker named Scoops. I had met Scoops and his wife Iceberg at the 2015 Flip Flop festival. He has been following me on TrsilJournals and decided to drive 50 miles and track us down. What a spread! Fried chicken, sub sandwiches, Double Stuffed Oreos, cookies, candy, chips, drinks. Everything a they hiker craves. While we were feasting, along came Sauce, Snooze, Keller, and their friend (whose name escapes me now). Other hikers come along and we had quite a party along the side of the road. Thanks Scoops! It was great! I'm sorry Iceberg had to work and couldn't join us. I was also able to check up on Snooze's leg. He did go to a doctor and get antibiotics  And was doing much better. Yay!Eventually, we had to quit feasting and move on. We still had to hike 7.5 miles, including the descent from St John's Ledges (remember what I've said about named features on the trail?). CT was still trying to show off, so the ascent to St John's Ledges was pretty tough. We passed Keller on the ascent and caught up with the others when they stopped to take in the view. Then came the descent. It was straight down and rocky. The others soon left us behind as we carefully picked our way down. Near the bottom of the descent, 1st Sgt said, "Let's take a break."  I replied, "You want to make sure Keller does OK on the descent!" "Yep." "You're such a Dad!"  "Yep. Happy Father's Day."Keller soon came along and safely negotiated the descent. CT, having decided that it showed us how tough it was, gave us a two mile flat hike along the Housatonic River to finish our day. We are now in the shelter (third night in a row in a shelter - I'm turning into such a wimp!) with Pa John and Mantis, listening to the rain. We are expecting two inches of rain tomorrow. Sigh.