Date: 2009-07-27
From: Near MA41

To: Great Barrington, MA
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: broken clouds

July 27 --This morning there must be 1000, it'll be hell to pay to get out of here. Today was one of a serious breakdown, and it is still not resolved what tomorrow will bring. At Homes Rd I was standing at the crossroad and took a ride a few miles into Great Barrington, Barrington the British word for "mosquito nest" from the Spanish, unscheduled. The day began before the tent was down, I had everything loaded, including the ridge rest, prior to lacing the boots and making a break from my blood sucking hosts. I rushed through the woods and swamps, swatting and smearing the pests all over my instantly sweaty skin, finally crossing a long string of boardwalk and puncheons that brought me to South Ergemont Rd. I dropped the pack, stripped my shirt and walked down the road ~0.1m to the Shay Rebellion Monument for cooling and relief from the blood thirsty billions, and, in the return I met Bill Jr, from Bill & Bill way back in VA, first at the Apple Tree for breakfast in Damascus. His Dad was just ahead and they would meet up to stay in Great Barrington. I continued to US7 where the Companion named the Corn Crib, 0.1m W, which has become Doll House Place, but they still favor hikers. The owner gave me a gallon of spring water, allowed me the use of the business phone, offered me the garden hose in place of the once shower and I bought and guzzled 2 Diet Moxie Colas while sitting on the shaded gazebo. I was confused on how to "shower" so I removed my shirt and the contents of my shorts, sat on the macadam and doused myself and clothes until the sun heated hose water was gone, then continued another minute as a cooldown. I was refreshed for over an hour, and I guessed that I wouldn't make to Dalton on Wednesday. I went back on the trail through 1/2m of flatland, pastures, swamp along the Housatonic River, finally crossing into another pasture, then crossing at the end of Kellog Rd up the steep, shady pine woods, again, full of mosquitos. The climb was steep enough to require stops to rest and feast, I swore aloud, inhaled one, bitched when I saw the band-aid peeled back on my knee, whined again as the pack rerubbed chafing and finally declared aloud I was getting off the trail and would head for Great Barrington. I arrived at Homes Rd where a Camry fom NY had parked. I dropped the pack and stood midroad away from the woods and bugs and wanted to dry off before flagging a ride, and within minutes Tiger appeared just as a second car drove up. I told Tiger my plans for GB and he asked the 2 people in the second car for a ride to town, for me. They were husband and wife, day hikers picking up their car and the guy obliged, and I was at the Days Inn by 14:00. The room was perfect relief, clean, quiet, dark and by 17:00 I was walking about a mile back out of town to the laundry where I bought 1/2lb of red skin potato salad at the Big Y. I returned to the room by 19:00 spoke to Soni, told her I would go on to Dalton and ended up in town at BaBaLouie's for pasta and pizza. I needed my mind off of the trail. I've felt uncomfortable since Salisbury, beat up, bitten up, with little enjoyment, heavy sweating and chafing, constantly hiking and chasing bugs, the minutes drag on to slow hours which lead to longing for relief that the tent no longer provides. I find myself looking for off trail breaks, away from the jungle like conditions. This is slowing my progress on top of wearing me mentally. The physical problems I can understand, everyone can, but the mental part is tricky, it can flip in a second. I don't know if the bugs are a physical or mental problem. Dealing with them physically is so demanding that my mind, my well being, my outlook is severely affected. Like other activities, sports, etc, when it is no longer fun, why continue? The negativity carries from day to day, I rarely look ahead to a daily goal, and interest drives drive. At this rate something must change, the daily pace, more hotel stays, time off the trail, flip-flopping or giving up altogether. I must generate that spark that ignites the enthusiasm that wil burn to completion.