Date: 2008-06-29
From: October Mtn. Lean-to, MA

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

Oh man, what an UNrestful nite. The higher-than-I-like mileage really made my feet and toes hurt despite taking 1000 mg of vitamin-I...and then there were my 3 neighbors.So in life, sometimes you don't realize how much you've learned until you get around people who claim they know what they're doing, but really don't. My two teenagers had their tent set up in the shelter, and dad was overly concerned about hanky panky, so he decided to sleep in the mosquitoe-infested shelter right next to their tent as opposed to his hammock. Well, the kids got hot, so they got up and moved their tent out, which invlolved lots of talking. Oh, and there were fireworks going off too, from somewhere.Not 10 minutes after they moved the tent, it started sprinkling, so they got up and moved AGAIN under the overhang of the shelter. Then dad gave up on being over-protective and set his hammock up IN the shelter (still not sure how he did it). All of this was of course loud and obnoxious, and again, I keep being reminded as to why I can't sleep around other people.To tell you the truth, I'm a bit concerned for these people's safety, particularly that of Tony, who is now a totally inexperienced backpacker back @ Upper Goose Pond Cabin who got lost once, and is now faced with hiking by himself for the next 2 days to get into Dalton. The trail was completely kicking his ass, and his son told me he didn't think his dad even knew to follow the white blazes. This is the stuff that ends up showing up on that tv show, "I Shouldn't Be Alive." Hopefully other hikers will be around for Tony.So anyways...I got up and was hiking by 7:08 a.m. to a very humid 63 degrees. My hiking clothes were still totally sweat soaked from yesterday. The 3 amigos were still snoozing when I left.I knew it was a town day...a shower was my biggest motivator, and about 5 miles was very flat. Now, I am into petitions this year, so when\if I complete this damn trail, I'm going to start a petition that the state of Massachsettes change its state bird from whatever it is to the ever so abundant mosquitoe. Oh my gosh, again, swarmed if I stopped moving, having to put Ben's (which is like 98.1% deet) every hour, and if I stopped to take a break, I had to swoosh my bandana back and forth constantly. It's enough to drive you crazy.The muddy wetness of Mass is just what the skeeters like apparently. At one point, I was crossing over another boggy muddy area, and I stuck my hiking pole into the mud for balance, and my pole went half way under! This stuff borderlines on quicksand sometimes. Another time my hiking shoe just about got pulled off when I stepped out of it. Hey, I'm just trying to paint you all a picture of what the trail can be like. It's not always pretty.I can't help but think of the soldiers who fought in Vietnam and WWI &II where they either lived in muddy, wet trenches or in jungles. How did these people survive in those conditions on top of having their lives at stake? I'm quite sure they didn't have bug spray and an opportunity to wash their clothes and bodies every 5 days, and then the rainy season in Vietnam and being constantly wet, oh my gosh, I would have lost my mind.There were 3 climbs today, Warner Hill, which was cool coming down because the trail was a very narrow path barely visible in a sea of green ferns, before heading back into the woods. I met 2 day hikers and their dogs, and they told me storms were forecasted for this afternoon.Next was Tully Mtn., and then a 1 mile descnt before climbing Day Mtn. Just before starting Day Mtn., I met 3 more day hikers. A lady held her bag of grapes out for me, but I told her I didn't want to put my hands in her bag since I haven't showered in 5 days. She smiled and then took some out and gave them to me. Gosh fruit tastes good out here.A man with her told me something interesting. Dalton, MA is known for being the town that produces the paper that our currency is printed on. He asked if I knew what it was made from, and I didn't know. He said it' made from cotton so it can withstand the heating, coloring, etc. Then he told me they take old socks and underwear and grind it down and use it to make the paper. Now folks...if this is true, I'd be thinking twice before putting that dollar bill in your mouth to hold onto it...afterall, you woudn't just put a stranger's pair of underwear in your mouth now would you?You cross over Robinson Rd. and follow a gorgeous stream down into a pine forest and then start the climb up Day Mtn. I listened to music for the last few miles today, I just needed the distraction. I can get into a zone for uphills and listening to music gave me a reprieve from the constant buzzing of mosquitoes.I came over the top and knew it was all downhill into town. It seemed to take forever, as it always does before a town. I emerged from the woods to some railrooad tracks and stopped to look @ my town map. I was headed to the Shamrock Inn, the only place to stay, except for a man's backyard, but I needed to shower more than anything.As I'm headed down Depot Street, there were adorable little kids trying to sell iced tea, so I stopped and bought 2 dixie cups for $1.00. They were hilarious, and as I hiked away I heard them tell their mom they were almost out of tea, and she goes, "Well, you all have drank most of it." So cute.I headed down the road and finally saw the Shamrock Inn. I walked in and Linda helped me out. Now, I'm using the 2007 Companion, so I expect prices to be a bit off, but she told me their rates went sky high to a freakin $104.00 a nite!! I'm like what? She's not the boss, and I get a shady feeling here, but Linda said 99% of their business is hikers, so she offered to "help me out" and gave me a lower rate if I could pay cash. I don't know what that's about, but you know...that's not my business either. Linda was a nice woman and when I asked her where the laundry is, she said they are closed today, but she offered to throw my stuff in here, which I GREATLY appreciated.I checked in to room #12, and took the longest shower. When I washed my face\ears, there were gnats (no see-ums) on my washcloth...GROSS!! Then I put my raingear on and went to the Shamrock Pub next door.I got a salad, club sandwich with chips and an Irish Lemonade, made by the pub. Not sure what makes it Irish, but it was good.I got the food to go and went back to my room and devoured it all. Linda brought my clean laundry to me and I thanked her so much.Finally, Karen and I were both in a place where we could have a long and much needed talk, so we had a great conversation. We're tossing around different ideas about helping me stay positive and focused out here. We've talked about me going home for a few days towards mid-July and then we could drive back up together where she can slackpack me some, visit friends, and then hike with me as planned when I get to Monson. We're just not sure where I'll be in mid-July, so we're going to play it by ear. It makes me feel better to know there's an option like that.Then I got off the phone, walked over o Angelina's Suba ad had dinner...again. A 12" philly cheese steak sub and a Little Debbie Zebra Cake. My appetite is almost embarassing, and yet, my hiking shorts are falling down again...time to order some new ones.Now, my current logistical issue is that when I mailed my LAST set of maps\guidebook to North Adams, MA; I didn't know I'd be in Dalton just 25 miles away, and I don't want to have to stop again in like 2 days, so I'm calling the P.O. tomorrow to see if they can forward (or maybe I can pay a fee to overnight) my stuff here. If they can guarantee it'll be here no later than Tuesday, I'll zero tomorrow, resupply, and head out Tuesday after my mail gets here. We'll see. If the PO in North Adams was right on the trail that would be one thing, but it's about 2.6 miles off, and I'd rather not spend a day trying to hike or hitch. So, this is why I don't do maildrops, but hey..once I get this set of maps, I'll have IN MY HANDS the page with the name Mt. Katahdin on it. I'll still have a ways to go, but hopefully seeing tht name in writing will help me battle this lack of focus I'm still having at times.Like Karen said, I'm physically capable of this, it's my mental focus that seems to be diminishing. I'm fighting it though folks. I'm fighting....Oh, there's severe t-storms coming thru here right now. I SO appreciate having a place in town tonight.~Certain