Date: 2010-08-22
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Route 20
Miles today: 1.6

8/22 2Upper Goose Pond Cabin to US 201.6 milesHouseYesterday evening I felt a little restless so I walked on down to the pond. It was empty of boats, and still. I sat on the dock and gazed across the water. Then I reached down to touch it. The water felt warm. I realized that I really, really wanted to go skinny dipping. I was a little worried about local mores. I walked back up to the cabin and asked the thruhikers what Massachusetts public nudity laws were like. General consensus was it didn't matter if you didn't get caught. The cabin caretakers didn't care. So I fetched my little camp towel and headed down to the pond. With no people around, I could undress in perfect privacy. I slipped in to the silken warm water with a feeling of utmost freedom. I was in my own personal pond, just me and a couple million gallons of water and the dark sky. I glided out a distance, then stopped and looked around again. The pond looked different from inside it. Everything looked bigger. The trees loomed taller and the far shore stretched away. I looked down and saw my pale legs glowing in the water. The pond was so clear that even in the faint light of late dusk, I could clearly see my own feet five feet down in the water. But with the falling night, the water to either side of me began to look dark and mysterious. After a few minutes of splashing around I swam the short distance back to the dock and climbed back out. Still alone, I could take my time drying off. It was nice to get back into my dry clothes. I love to swim. It relaxes me all over so that my muscles feel soothed and massaged afterward. But I hate wet clothing. So skinny-dipping was perfect. All the fun, none of the hassle. I walked back to the cabin in full darkness and settled down by the fire that Grizzly had made. He had thrown in something to make the flames turn colors. As usual the not-quite-a-pattern of the fire captured my attention and I sat watching for a long time. Then I went off to bed in the cabin bunk room. In the morning the caretakers made us coffee and delicious blueberry pancakes. After I washed my breakfast dishes I thanked them and packed up to go meet Laurie at the road. The walk was brief and wet. Rain started slowly but picked up steadily. It had the feel of an all day rain. I arrived at the parking lot and sat down to wait for Laurie, who was forced by traffic to take an alternate route. When she arrived, she had City Slicker in the back seat!  We all chatted as we drove her to Dalton. Laurie had stopped to ask her where the parking lot was, and was in the right place at the right time to give her a ride. From there we headed to Laurie's, stopping along the way at a great little shop for coffee, sandwiches, and muffins. Thus sated for at least an hour, I was ready to move on again. At Laurie's I was immediately enveloped in a cloud of doggie curiosity and kisses. It was wonderful to pet a dog for as long as I wanted. I kept a hand on a dog at all times. Except when I was showering. Not that I think the dogs would have objected. Soon clean and freshly laundered, I got to meet the horses, buy groceries, and go out for a burger. Ray, Laurie's husband, headed for bed at 7:30 and the two of us didn't stay up much longer. Laurie's retired. I don't know what my excuse is. The sun went down and my lids got heavier. I suspect gravitational variations due to my ever increasing latitude. In the morning Laurie will drive me back to the trail. She offered to let me stay as long as I liked, especially as rain is predicted for several days. But I'm a glutton for punishment, and I want to hike!  I only have three weeks left and I want to make the most of them.