Date: 2006-09-28
From: Surdam Mountain, Ct

To: Kent, Ct
Miles today: 14.6

It was a warm night and seemed much more humid than it has been lately. While I was eating my 1 1/2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I could see a couple mosquitoes flying around the outside of the tent. I love my tent...even this time of year. :-))) I had some chocolate espresso beans and some water, then packed up and was walking by 7:20am. Mrs Gorp was also packed and ready to walk, so we headed down Surdam Mountain and stopped at Caesar Brook Campsite and talked to Puff Turtle who was out on an 8 day walk. He went right into telling us about what we had to watch out for along the Trail. He even warned us about Lehigh Gap in Pa. I thanked him and walked on. We climbed Pine Knob, then headed back down that hill to Guinea Brook. There was a guy standing there and he looked a little puzzled. He said he was wondering where the first place was that he could get water. We told him about a few nice small streams coming up, but he said he didn't have anything to treat water with, so he needed a source of water that he wouldn't have to treat. He said he walked a mile back the other way to Silver Hill Campsite and that the water pump was broken. Mrs Gorp told him about a campground and since he was drinking some bottled water right then, we wished him well and walked on. We crossed Rt 4, the road that would take you into Cornwall Bridge, Ct, then made the climb up Silver Hill. That was only about 400 feet, but it was humid, so I worked up a sweat climbing to the summit. We descended that mountain and came to a nice flat piece of trail along the Housatonic River. The leaves were falling nicely along the river walk. I ended up going into Kent with a grand total of 99 leaves. We stopped by a stream so I could eat a sandwich and the leaves just kept falling. I caught half a dozen while I was sitting. :-))) There's a steep 500 foot climb up St John's Ledges, then a nice downhill walk before Rt 4. When we hit Rt 4, we walked into Kent because we were several hours earlier than the time we had previously arranged with Mrs Moosie to get picked up at the trail head. We walked by the new outfitters store...actually the old outfitter that has just moved into a nicer spot right along the road walk into town. We were both ready for some carbonation, so we headed for the gas station and got a couple sodas, then found a bench and enjoyed them. I had really wanted to catch my 100th leaf today. Well, while I was sitting on the bench, a leaf fell on me and I caught it before it fell to the ground...100 leaves!! :-))) Mrs Gorp has seen me in action, catching these falling leaves and she has said that she could kick my butt in that game if she wanted to, but she doesn't want too. Chicken!!!! :-))) I called Mrs Moosie and she said it would be no problem to pick us up early. Mrs Gorp and I both wanted to check our email, so we headed for the library, but stopped along the way at a bakery and I had some coffee and a couple donuts. Mrs Gorp had a cheese cake...a small cheese cake...but a whole cheese cake all to herself. :-))) We took a few minutes to check emails, then headed back up to the gas station to meet up with Mrs Moosie. It was great seeing her when she drove up. I even got a quick hug before I had my shower. :-))) We all headed back to the Moosie's Spa And Fine Eatery Hostel. Moosie didn't get home from work until 8pm, but Mrs Moosie, Mrs Gorp and I had a very nice dinner. We even had cloth napkins, some wine, candles and nice background music. I often have a hard time describing just how tough it can be on the Trail. ;-))) When Moosie got home, we all talked a while, but Moosie and I stayed up late talking about backpacking and grizzly bears and fried chicken. :-)))