Date: 2012-06-29
From: Steve and Laura's house, Falls Village, CT 1486.3

To: Brassie Brook Shelter 1499.2
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

We heard rain from our tent at about 5 am, but fortunately, it had abated by the time we arose at 6. Laura was up, and offered to do wash for us. We hand washed our socks, and put them in the dryer, then packed up, and walked with Laura to the Toymaker's Cafe. (Random note: Toymaker's Cafe was located at 85 Main Street, Falls Village, CT. Their phone was 860-824-8168, and their e-mail was t100toymakers@earthlink.net.) They were very hiker friendly, and let hikers tent on their property. In fact, there was a thru hiker camped there this morning. We had the best omelets yet! And, since one of the owners is gluten free, they had gluten free toast for me! After we walked back to Laura and Steve's home, our socks were dry, so we finished packing. Laura gave us some almonds and cashews, and we gave her our dried jujubes, which we were tired of. She then drove us back the 1.3 miles back to where Steve had picked us up yesterday. We started hiking about 9 am. The trail contoured for two miles to the falls, then started ascending. After another six miles of hiking, we came to route 44, the road to Salisbury, CT. While we were walking into town, suddenly a man pulled two bottles of ice cold water from the cooler he was carrying, and handed them to us. Thanks! They went down real easy, especially since it was HOT out! What a trail angel. Another tenth of a mile and we reached downtown Salisbury. There, sitting on a bench, was Johannes, with his trail angels, Felix McGillicuddy and his wife, drinking sodas. Felix had thru hiked in 1998. We chatted a few minutes, then looked for a cafe. Soon we came upon Haystack, his friend Cool Breeze, with his dog Petie. Haystack was doing an interesting flip flop: Springer to the NOC; Port Clinton PA to Maine; then Port Clinton back to the NOC. They recommended a cafe right around the corner. We took their suggestion and found a nice table outside. As we were eating, Snag (as in Snagglepus the tiger,) came by and joined us. He had started his hike near his home in Lexington, VA, was hiking to Maine, then finishing by hiking Virginia to Springer. (Random note: there are countless variations of ways to thru hike the trail. As long as one hikes the whole trail in one year, it is considered a thru hike.) We resupplied for the next few days at the IGA, which we found to be well supplied even though it was small. We walked back to the trail, and located the cemetery with a water spigot on route. We didn't stop as we didn't need water...but then missed the next white blaze. We went to the next intersection and beyond since we could see a blaze behind us...which turned out to be a "ghost" blaze. (Random note: Ghost blazes occur because when the trail is changed, the old blazes are removed...for a half mile or so. Past that, the old, obsolete blazes remain. In this case, we were off trail far enough to come across an old, "ghost blaze" which totally threw us off.) We turned around, and hiked back to the last blaze that we were sure was correct. We located it across the road from the cemetery...and went up, of course. Bummer. Another 15 minutes wasted. (Random note: We frequently noticed that the most difficult route finding was out of town, though we never figured out why.) Fortunately, what we had thought was a hike of seven miles after lunch, turned out to be only six miles, so it seemed like no time when we reached the Riga Shelter, and then only another 1.2 miles to our destination, the Brassie Brook Shelter. When we got to our destination, there was a boy scout troop from Westchester County, NY. We chatted, and they gave Gary a sandwich. I got water from the nearby stream, treated it, then we fixed dinner. After dinner, BearManPig came in for the night. We asked him to thank Wonder for us if he caught up to him. (Random thought: When trail angel Laura was day hiking yesterday, she ran into some thru hikers at a viewpoint, including Wonder and Ol' Blue Eyes...small world on the AT.) Life is great on and off the AT when you meet great people, and get town food for lunch in a delightful little town.