Date: 2003-07-29
From: Kent, Connecticut

To: Silver Hill Campsite
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, nobody came to chase us away last night. I got up early and snuck away just in case they were waiting until daylight. I went to town and got a bagel sandwich. Everybody started coming into town. I could have taken it easy and done the same. If I had only known they shut the town down at 6pm.Everybody was going through mail drops at the laundromat all morning. Just about everyone that stayed at Chicken Legs¢ house before the Shenandoahs was there. I went to an art gallery and got a $1 shower. Yes, it was an art gallery. This town has about 6 galleries and no fast food. See, that is a disproportionate ratio of burgers to trashy sculptures. It seems to plague the entire New England region. (NEW ENGALNDERS: For those of you who are easily offended, let me first point out that the following is meant to be a joke. I recommend skipping ahead to 7/31/03 where Dutch has some great things to say about you. ~ Jessica)It is because this area has been filled for so long with Yuppie pseudo-enlightened liberals. It doesn't take long to see it. The signs are everywhere - soccer moms who think they¢re vegans because they live on a steady diet of wheat germ and valium. Her husband who listens to self improvement tapes when he isn't massaging his secretary. He looks down on anyone driving an SUV since his Subaru is so much better for the environment. If either of them were smart enough to know wetlands equal mosquitoes, they would have them filled with dead baby seals and spotted owls. They want people to pay taxes except on deco art and gourmet coffee. Then they start ranting and raving about all these needless taxes. If you don't believe me, think about what happened when the British put a stamp tax on tea. Worse than mom and dad are the poor dreadlocked children. They get to grow up knowing their parents spent the family inheritance on an art gallery that will go belly up in five years. They wind up listening to gangsta rap just to listen to something different than their hip parents. Being forced to wear Birkenstock sandals with wool socks to school pumped full of Ritalin to correct their behavior so their stressed out parents don't have to. Of course, they¢re depressed since all they have to look forward to is getting a job piercing their weirdo friends. They think the American dream is to have the last name of Kennedy. Actually, I have learned to overlook all these flaws since they have one thing going for them. If you look past the "I'm the ultimate vegan communist¢ attitude and look between the art galleries, you will find some fantastic delicatessens and bakeries. In them, if you ignore the hummus pita and the grape leaves filled with goat cheese, and ask for a real sandwich made with real meat you can wind up with quite a treat. They can whip up unimagined creations with crusty French bread, Thousand Island dressing, and dead animals. Just don't get caught eating it or one of the do-gooders may splash you with red paint and yell "meat is murder".The hiking was good today. I will be meeting Jess on Friday night.               Peace,DutchA new day will dawn for those who stand long, and the forest will echo with laughter.