Date: 2004-08-16
From: Cornwall Bridge, CT

To: Limestone Springs Lean-to
Miles today: 18.2

Right now I am sitting in the Lean-to drinking a cup of decaf and munching on some cookies. It¢s dark out. The shelter is lovely. It¢s in a clearing of pines along a small creek about a half-mile off the Appalachian Trail, and as a result it doesn¢t get much use. I am the only one here tonight, which is kinda neat. I got to the AT around 9:30 this morning after enjoying another hot shower, scarfing down an egg, sausage and cheese sandwich (on a roll), with a couple of cups of coffee at the grocery. I then dropped off my ¢bounce box¢ of running stuff at the post office, so that it will be in Williamstown when I get there for my run next week. Fortunately, I got a ride up the hill quickly, just as it started to sprinkle.The morning was rather ¢blah¢¢gray and drizzling with 99 percent humidly. The high point for me was running into a bunch of campers and two of their counselors from Camp Jewel. They were on a backpacking overnight trip. The kids were very smart and engaging. They asked a lot of good questions about the Appalachian Trail and about my experiences over the past five months. We spent about 20 minutes or so doing questions and answers and then took some pictures, which I promised them I¢d post here on my website. It was a really pleasant respite for me and I enjoyed the kids greatly. They told me I was their idol.Other than the campers and the two SOBO¢s, the only other people I have seen all day are a couple from Maine, whom I have leapfrogged several times since leaving Pawling, NY. They are very nice.After lunch I decided to really ¢put it in gear¢ and cranked out 6.2 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes, with the last 2 miles in pouring (I mean POURING!) rain. Around 4:30 p.m. it looked like it was going to stop for good, so I skinned down, wrung out my clothes (a half hour after putting them back on they were dry¢God bless polypropylene!), and then cooked up some Ramen noodles. Rob and Edie had given me a loaf of some wonderful fresh bread, a third of which I devoured along with some extra sharp cheese I had cut from a big wheel in the grocery store this morning. YUM! I replaced my soggy shoes and socks with my sandals and then headed off for Prospect Mountain, a 1000-foot climb to finish the day. Just as I started up the mountain it began to thunder (no lightning though!) and then the skies opened up again. For the second time today I got soaked (I mean soaked!) but it was worth it because as I approached the summit the rain abated somewhat and BOB turned the western sky to gold. In the pine forest everything was black, green and gray but between the trees and high boughs was a curtain of shimmering gold off to the west. As if that weren¢t enough, when I reached the top of Prospect Mountain, in the immediate valley to the east, was the most brilliant double rainbow I have ever seen (take a look at my photo album and it will give you an idea of what it was like, but only an idea.) I can¢t remember ever being able to distinguish VIBGYOR as clearly as on this inner prismatic arc (a.k.a. ¢rainbow¢)From there it was all downhill to where I am tonight just at the Limestone Springs Lean-to. Where I arrived a little after twilight. Having had a light meal earlier this evening, I decided to have some oatmeal and cookies, wring out my clothes (again!) prep my water and now to hit the hay. Bon nuit!