Date: 2015-07-03
From: Race Brook Falls Campsite

To: Tom Leonard Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: overcast clouds

7/3, 16.2, Tom Leonard ShelterI woke this morning after sleeping straight through the night for one of the few times on this journey. Apparently I absorbed all of the liquid I drank in the evening making it unnecessary to make a late night latrine trip, but that is enough of that. There was no dew this morning so the tent and my clothes were all dry, and ready to pack or wear. I dressed and packed, ate my breakfast and was ready to hike when I walked up the hill to the tent platform where IB and JP were pitched. We headed out of camp at 7 headed north once again. Hiking today was near perfect with temps in the 50's to start, and low humidity. We began the day with a stiff uphill climb up and over Mt. Everett. Down the other side we reached the picnic area at the road and discovered a wonderful trail angel couple providing trail magic. They had water, cold soda, supplies, medical needs, fresh fruit, cookies and fixed us bacon cheeseburgers for breakfast. They thru hiked last year and have decided to come back to the trail each year from their home in Massachusetts to do trail magic for a few days. What a feast and a great way to enhance the hike! After visiting and eating for some time we bid our farewells and hiked on. Trail magic always puts a little pep in our step so we moved quickly up the trail over several climbs up and down, meandering through the woods. At several places we crossed open meadows, alongside cornfields and through grassy pastures along with following the road a couple times. We took breaks every two hours or so and into the afternoon began to experience the only downside of the entire day, mosquitoes. The little buggers actually must have just hatched a double batch because they were thick as northern Wisconsin can be. I resisted Deet by moving quickly, but did get bit many times. Fortunately I only itch for a short time when bit so it is not a big deal. Around 3 pm we crossed a road and decided to follow it .2 miles to a soda machine. I am not sure why but nearly anything carbonated really hits the spot when hiking, especially when calories are not a concern. After our break we talked about heading all the way to the Eastern Mountain retreat center near Great Barrington. Our plan is to be there tomorrow and spend the fourth in Great Barrington where we hope to find some traditional picnic food like hamburgers and sweet corn but getting there today would be OK as well. Our other choice is to stop at the shelter two miles from town and stay there. We decided to decide when we reached the shelter. Tom Leonard shelter was not labeled like other shelters so it was good to find the blue blazed side trail to the shelter right about where we expected it to be. We joined two couples from New York at the shelter, and a few other hikers have hiked in since. IB And JP have gone to sleep and I am not far behind but the others are gathered around a small campfire visiting. Tomorrow we will hike the two miles to the retreat center, settle in quickly and head for town to celebrate the fourth. We know there are no fireworks there but JP has a couple army buddies meeting us who may be able to take us into a town with an appropriate display. It is appropriate to celebrate the birth of this great nation in the state where the revolution was born and I am grateful to be an American, experiencing the freedom to hike my own hike through life!Silverback