Date: 2005-06-24
From: Tyringham

To: Lee
Miles today: 8.6

Super 8 Motel, Room 211Jasmine died! Our cat of 10 years was killed by a car on our street today. KT found her mangled body in the gutter just outside our home as she returned from work. Everybody is very upset. My daughter, Julia, was the cat¢s owner, and KT says that although upset, she is handling it very well, recalling all of the adventures that we have had with Jasmine over the years. They have contacted a pet¢s burial service and are going to have the remains cremated. I left Julia a message on her cell.   True to her word, Lynn fixed breakfast at 6:30AM ¢ her normal time for guest breakfast is 8:00AM ¢ and I was back at the AT trailhead shortly after 7:00AM. The profile on the map promised a steep and long climb up to the top of Baldy Mountain, and it was, but with a well graded trail that takes a series of gigantic switchbacks up the mountain side, it was possible to get into a smooth and steady rhythm and the distance fell behind and below at a steady rate.      My camera jammed this morning. The lens will no longer retract behind its protective cover. Although it will still take pictures, the lens and the flash stick out at an angle that prohibits it being carried in the belly bag, and I had to stuff it into my pants pocket ¢ an unsatisfactory and irritating place to store it.      Coming down off of Baldy Mountain, the trail traverses a mosquito-infested swamp ¢ so there are other breeding grounds for them in Massachusetts! Then it was a fairly level trail with occasional rock gardens all of the way on to Upper Goose Pond, with lots of nice hemlock stands along the way. Leaving Goose Pond, I met a family with many young children on their way to the pond to go kayaking. I had seen the kayaks by the old chimney at the site of the demolished Rod and Gun Club. The pond is s popular area, with much water activity, kayaking and fishing mostly.      Then a descent to I90 ¢ one of the index points of my trip. This is the route that my children and I have been taking for the past five years as I drive them home and back from college. We have always watched for the signed Appalachian Trail at mile 14.7 of the Massachusetts Turnpike, and I have often wondered if I would ever hike across it. Well today was the day. Took many photos with the jammed camera.   The stream from Greenwater Pond just beyond the interstate was a raging torrent. I don¢t know if it is always like this, but I was soon safely over it on a sturdy footbridge.   I began to hitchhike on Route 20 ¢ Jacobs Ladder Highway- and, as predicted by Lynn, had little difficulty. Car #38 stopped and I was soon in down town Lee. I could not find the Best Valve Inn, and was getting confused and contradictory directions as to its location, so I cancelled my reservation there, and checked in here at the Super 8, one of my favorite motels. They always seem to be close to everything, and so it proved here also.      Had a late afternoon meal at the Friendlies Restaurant across the street, stocked up on goodies, and even got my laundry done at the Hotel across the way.   So a very good day. I did not have to hike the long hot and hard five miles into Lee. The receptionist here has offered a ride back to the trail at 9:00AM in the morning. A late start, but I am planning a short day. Good cell signal here also.   For some reason today I was thinking about ¢diversity¢. Diversity is an excellent characteristic for populations. It allows us to cope with many different challenges and situations because with diversity comes adaptability ¢ not to mention the definite biological advantages of an expanded gene pool.   Yet diversity is very frightening to many. It means that we are all different. We are not the same. Therein lie the fundamental seeds of bigotry and discrimination. Thus we have the challenge:Thought for today ¢      How do we encourage diversity, but eliminate discrimination?   By getting people to understand that we are all fundamentally the same ¢ but different            ¢E Pluribus Unum¢