Date: 2018-08-05
From: Dalton MA

To: Cheshire MA
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: broken clouds

I really and truly thought I had seen just about everything on this trail over the past 116 days. What I couldn¢t fathom in any way was what I would see on day 117.The day started wonderfully. Waking up in a comfy motel bed...packing up and getting coffee and a lemon poppyseed muffin at the local coffee shop...the sun and blue skies in abundance...an easy road walk to start the day. It was the perfect beginning to a perfect day, AND we had our cousin Alyssa with us which was so great. Alyssa loves the outdoors and is a strong hiker in her own right; she was so generous to us this weekend and the joy we had being with her was simply wonderful.We get on our way, the three of us, and are having a great hike. The plan is to hike 9.5 to Cheshire, then catch a shuttle back to the hotel where Alyssa¢s car is, and bring Curly and I back (Curly was slack packing) to the trailhead where we would hike 3.5 more miles to the shelter. We enjoyed a mid morning snack at a lovely pond along the way. The trail is muddy but navigable, and for once, sunny. The miles tick off and then, with about2 miles to go in this portion of the day, we encounter a hiker. A guy hiker. A guy hiker traveling southbound. I am ahead of the girls and encounter him first. And I can¢t help but notice he is, shall we say, ¢scantily clad?¢ Matter of fact, this rather large, sweaty man is hiking in boots and this leather thong of sorts, but not much else. I¢m talking his feet were covered but that¢s about it. Fortunately, his private parts were covered by something, but I was too shocked and trying not to stare. Making eye contact was difficult and he stopped to talk. I¢m sure this was all for shock factor on his part and it worked! He did inform me that he wanted to thru hike the AT someday but wanted to do it ¢natural style¢ as he put it. I really wanted to make a joke about the skeeters having lots of opportunities but just mumbled ¢good luck¢. Curly and Alyssa did a much better job ignoring him than I did. I think I was in shock. Later in the day, I talked to a hiker who was behind me and said that when he saw him, he was completely naked. You really can¢t make this stuff up!Regaining my composure, we hiked the last two miles to our first destination and who is there providing trail magic! Mrs One Foot! We were so excited to finally meet the one and only Cheryl. It was so cool, and the fact that ¢one Foot¢ was in the area made it the best. His family was at the trailhead to greet him upon his arrival and all the hikers that showed up got to be part of the party. It was so fun to meet his wife and Mom and brother and grandma. Crazy stuff and proof again that the best aspects of this trail (just like life) are the relationships. In addition, I got to see Sparky who we haven¢t seen in several weeks; and Sunrise, a hiker from Japan that we met at the beginning of this hike and haven¢t seen since mid May! What a day, what a reunion.Then, One Foot invites Curly and I to spend the night at his family¢s place which is just up the road, and tomorrow we will slack pack Curly 14 miles to Williamstown. Another amazing gift in this extraordinary day.Tonite instead of being in our tent in the woods, we are snuggled up in a comfy bed provided by wonderful and generous people. I¢m telling you it just keeps getting better out here!