Date: 2014-06-19
From: Kent, Connecticut

To: Pine Swamp Brook Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 99: Thursday, 19 June 2014 Kent, CT (mile 1461.2) to Pine Swamp Brook Shelter (mile 1478.2)Wednesday, we asked Buffalo when he'd want to get back on the trail."Maybe like 8:30am.""OK, so we'll need to leave the motel at about 7:45am. Is that OK?""Yeah, that's fine."My alarm for 6:30am went off and Buffalo was still asleep. Although I knew he didn't need to get up this early, he DID still need to pack. At around 7am, Buffalo started rustling."It's 7 o'clock.""I'm still really tired. And my back and legs feel stiff. I don't have a headache, which is good, but I'm not 100%. I don't know if I can do the mileage.""You probably won't, but you may be able to do 8-12 miles/day with a nap mid day. You took naps on the PCT. But eventually you'll get back to your previous ability. Heck, with my surgery, I couldn't even get out of bed using my arms and wondered how the heck I'd hike with a pack. But it came back."I went to get a muffin and cup of coffee. When I got back, he was up and moving around."Want to know what got me motivated to get out of bed? I started thinking about how I'd attach the umbrella to my pack!""Whatever works! But we're NOT going to make a 7:45am departure. Want me to call Aunt Barb to move the time to later?"So we moved the time for a 9:00am departure. We didn't make the 9am but did get out by 9:30am, after a quick shower and finishing up the apple oatmeal cake! Buffalo did feel better, it stopped raining and was nice and cool. We got to where the trail crosses CT 341 Schagticoke Rd, past Kent at about 10am. By this time, the sun was out but not too hot. We had to take the obligatory photos. This was a unique spot because the trail coming from the south comes down a beautifully forested hillside. It crosses the road into a flat, grassy field, but there's wooden steps that go up, over and down the other side of the barbed wire fence along the road. There's also a nice, big AT sign at the step bridge. Very picturesque!Aunt of Buffalo took a video of the Buffalo going over the steps. We were saying good-by when a hiker emerged from the other side. "Hi, I'm Bootburner." Pointing to each of us, Tina introduced us, "That's Buffalo, Mum of Buffalo, Aunt of Buffalo, and I am Friend of Aunt of Buffalo." "Is Kent that way?" as he pointed to the right.Tina was nodding and pointing in the direction of Kent. I think her wheels were already turning. "We're going that way. Do you want a ride?""When are you heading out?""As soon as we say our good-byes!"Buffalo went up and over the barbed wire by-pass and into the field. He turned and waved and off he went. We loaded up Bootburner and his pack and headed for Kent."If you see a Subway or something similar, just drop me off, or I can find a grocery store."Well, we didn't see any fast food place, so Barb dropped him off where he might find something. He thanked us, and we parted ways. We continued up Rt 7 following the Housatonic River, I believe. We got on I-90 in Massachusetts and headed west to the vacinity of Sherrill, NY to take Tina home, then on to Rochester.In the car, Tina, Barb, and I talked about the trip's events and the Trail Magic. They both had a lot of fun, especially having so many hikers and many who knew Buffalo. They were also very taken with Chris and what she did for Buffalo. The Trail is an amazing place!Barb and I got into the Rochester area and she immediately took her vehicle to Delta Sonic to get it washed! The next task was to unload all the stuff we took and to take off the Sidewinder (car awning) and remove the truck bed's rubber mat to wash it down! Neither one of us are spring chickens so I'm sure we were quite a site! I know we were laughing! I did a lot of "Stupid Ups and Downs" - everything that came UP frome Barb's basement before the trip, had to go back DOWN now! I got to exercise my climbing legs!We pulled out the roasted veggies and Field Roast that got cooked yesterday, but not eaten. We added some hot pepper, warmed it all up, and called it 'supper'! Barb sent a text to her daughter-in-law Michelle that we were home. Michelle suggested getting together tomorrow for supper. When Barb told her what we still have, Michelle said, "Dinner at your place!"After dinner, Barb and I sat out front, talking, and we emailed photos from the trip to each other and Tina. Great trip. Great comraderie. Met wonderful people. Thanks, Buffalo, for being the reason for all this!I just found a small sticky note with Day 91, Wednesday, 11 June on it. It had four things listed: rash, lack of energy, headache, and stiff neck. I don't know why there wasn't more written, but I do remember Buffalo saying that he was experiencing these things, but that he was going to go on and see if he could shake it. Guess he didn't.The Mum and.....