Date: 2016-06-14
From: Cheshire, MA

To: Williamstown, MA
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: scattered clouds

We slept okay at the church last night. Our air mattresses were very loud every time one of us rolled over- hope we didn't disturb the others. About 3:30 am it started raining hard so we were even more thankful to be inside. Up about 5:30 and on the trail by 6.We walked through town, a corn field (where we saw two deer), up a meadow and then back into the woods. Our book showed a long gradual climb to the peak of Mount Greylock and that's what it was. Very muddy from last night's rain but there were a lot of log boards. It was also cold and we both wore out rain jackets for warmth most of the morning. It's weird to see your breath on the 14th of June but it also means very few mosquitoes which would have been nasty with all the water if it had been warm.We summitted Greylock and ate at Bascom Lodge. It was pricey but very good food. I had mixed berry pancakes and a juice. Santa had an egg sandwich with home fries and a soda. It was pleasantly warm at the top and sunny. We couldn't go in the memorial because it is undergoing renovations. We saw a woman who thru hiked in 1997 and chatted with her a bit.We have hiked Greylock numerous times and have section hiked from here to Hanover. So we talked about the different children that have hiked or been carried up this mountain and talked about our section hike.We saw a glider at the top of Williams Mountain. It was big and so silent.The descent was much steeper than the up and hurt our knees but it was a quick hike into Williamstown. We walked into town and talked about our section hike again. This had been our first day and we had made a wrong turn because we couldn't believe we walked through a town. There have been lots of road walks the last two days. No one wanted to give us a ride into town so we hopped on the bus. Went too far because we were clueless but had a nice ride past Williams College and met another couple who was hiking. We were both confused as to what they were doing but that's okay- we were able to answer some of their questions about the upcoming section,Got to our hotel and found a care package from a family at our church who have been following us. Thin mint cookies, packages of nuts, spray for our feet (feels good and smells even better) and an encouraging card. Thank you! And of course our resupply box from our girls.I am going to take a short break. I will fix our apartment situation, gain some weight, see a doctor about my feet and find a better attitude about finishing this hike. We talked a lot about this all day. I am blessed with an incredible husband that wants me to finish with him but not at the expense of my happiness. I am hoping to get our "real life stuff" taken care of so I can rejoin him soon. Our oldest daughter is going to come get me and help me apartment hunt. We will also visit with a special little boy. Then go home to NH where we hope to host Large and White Rabbit before I go meet Santa in Rutland where he is going to resupply. The plan is for me to start hiking again in Hanover where we ended our section hike. I am grateful that a friend's son and wife will host Santa at their house tomorrow and the friend will host him later in the week. We will both be sad tomorrow when he hikes out alone but agree that this is the right decision for now.