Date: 2004-08-06
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Cheshire, Mass (Catholic Church Parrish hall)
Miles today: 20.9

Note to all (especially NOBO's) from Little Bump: Flounder is not named after an ugly, bottom dwelling, 2 eyes on top of the head fish. Flounder's trailname was insprired by the precious and cute little fish from the Little Mermaid!Sleeping was nearly impossible last night. Uncle Walt snored the entire night. The NOBO beside me tossed violently in his bag trying to shake the shelter in an attempt to quiet him but to no avail. We could take no more so we ate some bagels in our bags (because it was cold). I had just whispered to Flounder that each shelter should come equipped with a 4 pound medicine ball to drop on the snorer's gut, when the NOBO directs a few expletives towards Uncle Walt. They were all things we wanted to say, but didn't! Of course, Uncle Walt slept through all of it and we were set off in a giggling fest. We couldn't stop laughing to the point we could hardly breathe. I guess we were just overtired. The trail into N. Adams was O.K. [Just O.K.?! Aren't we going to get a mud update?!] There was one great lookout and a rocky area to descend. We did our celebratory dance as we entered Massachusetts [Is this dance different from the hitchhiker dance?!] 3 states down, 11 states to go! We passed through town and only stopped for water that was offered by a friendly homeowner. Then it was up Greylock Mtn. (a 7 mile climb). The climb was long but not difficult. We headed straight for the lodge where we got a cheeseburger and fries. Yum! We went up in the War Memorial tower and marveled at the views. A ridge runner pointed out our next 70-80 miles and some things to look for on our maps. Thanks. The down was just as long but with MORE MUD. Beater (NOBO) summed it up on a register entry that went something like this: "I stink, I eat almost anything, I waller in the mud all day...but I am not a pig...I am a thru-hiker." Hiking on through Cheshire we went through a pasture of Ben and Jerry's cows. They were friendly and curious. They tried to lick me, with their 2 foot long tongues, as I petted them.Yuk! Cheshire is cute(small). We get an Icecream on the way in. We decide to spend the nite at the church hostel. It's located in the Parish hall of a Catholic Church. We are welcomed by Father David. How nice and safe it feels to sleep in a church. They hostel is wonderful and very spacious with showers, bathrooms, laundry and kitchen...and all for free! We talked with Father David for some time. His hobby is puzzles of all sorts. What a great ministry he offers to thru-hikers . We thank him and his entire parish for the hospitality. There are a number of NOBO's here also but my head is so bad and we have been meeting so many that I can't remember which ones are here or whether I met them on the trail today! To our surprise, guess who else shows up?!! [You won't believe this one! ] King David shows up! He got a ride around the mountain and will slack Greylock NOBO tomorrow. I guess we'll say our goodbyes again but something tells us that we'll be together on Springer Mountain at the end! *** If everything you need in life for the next 6 months is stored in ziploc bags...you might be a thru hiker!