Date: 2007-08-24
From: Griffith Lake Tenting area

To: Campsite at Bully Brook
Miles today: 14.6

I'm exhausted...trail weary. We got to the Greenville shelter and could notfind the water source, so we moved on another mile to here...better site at thetop of the falls...love the sound of the water and we had SUN into the evening. But I shouldn't feel this tired after only 14 miles. What's the matter with me? I'm getting worried about the challenges that lie ahead if I don't find moreenergy. One problem I had today was this new new T shirt I got in ManchesterCenter, although light weight and synthetic, it's abrasing my skin at theshoulders where the pack rides. I had to take a bandana and tuck it under bothsides so that it protected my skin. I don't think this expensive new shirt isgoing to work for me...darn!One thing I've noticed in Vermont is a lack of bird calls...it's very quiet inthe woods here...even in the morning....wonder why that is?I've found the ideal summer job here: caretaker for Little Rock Pond! What abeautiful place this glacial lake is! Reminds me of any of the lakes in theAdirondacks, and I could canoe around all day and swim. Hmmm... I'll have toapply.We've been seeing a fair number of SOBO's(Southbound thru-hiker...northbound isNOBO...that's me!). And the other day I saw a guy I recognized. After wechatted a bit he told me he had been northbound in the spring, but flip-floppedup to Katahdin after he got to Damascus VA so that he could hike south. Thisway he isn't fighting the cold and the time limit.Status on my battle scars:Poison ivy - seems to be getting better, but still itches at night.Sprained thumb - swelling going down, but tonight it's hurting much more...can'tuse it for gripping pole or trees yet so I'm feeling one-armed.Feet - new insoles in manchester seem to help, but plantar fasciitis stillplagues my heels...some days I hike for long times on just my toes!Breakfast - pb&j on whole wheat english muffinLunch - crab meat with mayo on english muffinDinner - Lipton Asian Sides "Thai Sesame Noodles" with Southwestern Chicken..mmmgood.Oh, I forgot to tell you about the rock sculpture gardens we came acrosstoday...fabulous! Piles and piles of balancing rocks in every nook and crannyof a group of large rocks. We suspect someone starts it and others add to it,to where there are 30-50 piles of rocks in all types of little formations. Wecame across two "gardens" like this today about a mile or two apart. So cool! I got pics, but you'll have to wait til I can get them to Dana. Oh, Dana isliving in St. Augustine, Fl now and just started working as the cafe supervisorfor one of the hotels there...I can't remember the name, but maybe she'll put itin here when she posts this...I can hope!It's 1:30 in the morning and I woke up because I felt a mouse on my face! Oh mygosh! But where is he? I'm in my tent. I looked every where and I could notsee him nor could I see how he got in. Maybe it was just the strap on mysleeping bag dropping onto my face, but that sure felt like little feet. Cant'tgo back to sleep. Guess I'll read for a while. What's that I hear? Nibbling? Look! There he is! Sitting on my pack! Oh, god, how will I get him out of here? I throw everything out of the tent! No mouse:..but look, there's the hole hechewed in the mesh of my tent. Duct tape it up, leave my pack hanging on atree, and go back to sleep (after I journal about it!)...good night, again....Step lightly