Date: 2006-07-12
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: 83 Depot Street, Dalton MA
Miles today: 20.1

Mr. K and I were the first ones to leave the cabin this morning, after a delicious blueberry pancake breakfast. We stopped at another famous point along the trail for lunch. The Cookie Lady's house is actually a working blueberry farm (the caretakers at Upper Goose Pond sometimes get the blueberries for their pancakes via southbounders who bring them from here). The berries were still not quite ripe, but we were able to take shelter from the rain on the covered porch, and although the Cookie Lady wasn't around, her husband Roy (the Cookie Man =) lived up to the name and brought us out some delicious homemade cookies.In the afternoon the light rain that had started around lunchtime became a steady downpour, and I slipped and slid my way down the mountain into the town of Dalton, MA. It's funny how after nearly three months on the trail you still naturally want to avoid being soaked or even getting wet, but after a while you start not to mind, and then even enjoy it. It was cool, there were no bugs, and every few seconds I could lick my lips and be refreshed by the water running down my face, without even getting my water bottle out. As I hiked I sang one of my favorite songs over and over. It's called Word of God Speak, and at one point its message hit me so powerfully I got chills. Here are the lyrics:I'm finding myself at a loss for wordsAnd the funny thing is it's okayThe last thing I need is to be heardBut to hear what You would sayWord of God speakWould You pour down like rainWashing my eyes to seeYour majestyTo be still and knowThat You're in this placePlease let me stay and restIn Your holiness Word of God speakI'm finding myself in the midst of YouBeyond the music, beyond the noiseAll that I need is to be with YouAnd in the quiet hear Your voiceI'm finding myself at a loss for wordsAnd the funny thing is it's okay=============================When I reached town, it was still raining hard, and my sole focus was on finding the library before it closed so I could do some journaling. I was walking down the street not really paying attention, when this home-owner hollered at me from his porch, asking me if I wanted to come in out of the rain. I explained that I really just needed directions to the library, and he responded by offering the use of his computer. He said I could get a shower, clean up, and crash at his place for the night if I wanted to. I was blown away. I didn't realize it, but this is the famous Tom Levardi, and he's been providing magic to thru-hikers for 26 years. He refuses to accept any sort of payment for what he does, either. He sat me down on his porch, and I got one shoe and one sock off before he came out the door with a tray on which was the biggest ice cream sundae I've seen in a long time, with the works: hot fudge, whipped cream, and a cherry. Before long, Mr. K and Patches showed up, and both received the same royal treatment. The four of us hung out for a while before Tom drove us all to the Old Country Buffet in Pittsfield for an AYCE buffet dinner. Tom's bathroom scale is pretty old and hard to read, but I think I gained at least 3 pounds over supper.I couldn't believe the way Tom took care of us. He made us feel like honored guests, spreading blankets and pillows on his living room floor (somehow I lucked out and ended up on the couch). We watched a movie, during which I fell asleep, and kept getting the feeling that I was at my grandparent's house or something, even though I'd never seen this guy before in my life. It was probably the best trail magic I've received in the 1500+ miles I've been on the trail. Tom isn't a trail angel- he's an arch-angel!