Date: 2018-07-02
From: Main Road

To: West Branch Road 
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

As it turns out, breakfast is not served before 0700 in the little town of Lee, CT. Its okay though because I needed to sleep in a little. After breakfast WW dropped me at trail and I hiked on. The day hadn¢t heated up too much as I started the 1,000 foot ascent to Baldy Mountain. The real issue was the gnats. I¢ve become accustomed to the pesky insects flying around my head. But for some reason, they decided to goKamikaze on me today. In total, about a dozen of relentless pests dive bombed into my eyes. Just as I would dig the remains of one out and look up, another maniac would fly in. A few brave ones went for the nose. One of the flyers got me on an inhale and ended up shooting right through my nasal cavity, landing in my throat. Flying bugs on the AT is one thing I could do without just fine. After summiting Baldy Mtn. (not really bald) the trail dropped down to Goose Pond. The iconic Upper Goose Pond Cabin is located about a half mile off the trail. Many hikers congregate here for a swim on a hot summer day. Evidently the caretaker also serves up pancakes in the morning. After hiking along the shore for a minute I came to a boat dock that would have been a good spot to get a picture and take a quick dip. Unfortunately, there was a rather large group of non-hikers milling around the trail and blocking the way to the dock. I said hello and kept moving, hoping to clear the area before any of the tidy folks inhaled.The plan for today was to meet WW at the halfway point and take a run into Lee for lunch. Less than a mile from our link-up spot the trail crossed the Massachusetts Turnpike. A footbridge crossed over the eastbound lanes and the trail worked its way through a small wooded area before another footbridge crossed the westbound lanes. The path then looped under the bridge along the turnpike. A sign on the road welcomed drivers to The Berkshires. The Berkshires is a rural region in the mountains of western Massachusetts dotted with villages and towns. It is a popular vacation destination, known for outdoor activities, fall foliage, farm-to-table food scene, thriving arts institutions, and renouned annual festivals. The quaint little Massachusetts towns we have been passing through are part of the Berkshires.Immediately after turning away from the turnpike, the trail came to the shore of Greenwater Pond. The Berkshire Lakeside Lodge sat on a the western shore and had a nice little beach area for guests. The trail re-entered the woods, crossing over Cooper Creek on a footbridge. A minute later it crossed US 20, where I met WW at a parking area. We went into town to grab a sandwich and then I took a siesta. I could get used to this.After a three hour break in the hottest part of the day, I was hiking again at 3:30PM. The air immediately felt cooler when I entered the wood line. However, I was drenched in sweat again before I finished the 700¢ climb up Beckett Mtn. Save a few short rocky segments, the trail was nice today. The diverse terrain and landscape kept things interesting. The occasional breeze even made the conditions tolerable. It was an easy walk from Becket Mtn to Walling Mtn. From there, the trail dropped down to another large body of water¢Finerty Pond. The AT followed the picturesque pond for about a quarter mile. From the pond, it was slightly downhill to Washington Mtn. Brook and then up to a beaver bog. Up and over another small ridge and then a gradual descent through a peaceful forest. At 6PM I crossed West Branch Rd. The hike ended here. Within a minute my chariot, and cute little driver, came along to take me away. Back in town we did some laundry and grabbed some pizza. We also talked about the plan looking forward. The recurring injury has been a real kick in the gut for WW. Still, she is not ready to give up hope of rejoining me on the trail. However, it is getting expensive for her to follow along with me. So, here¢s the plan. After the 4th, she is driving up to Burlington, VT to stay with extended relatives for about a week. If she feels better then, she will try one last time to rejoin me on the trail. Please keep praying for that to happen. As much as I want this for me, I want it even more for her. There are still some amazing views, challenges, and experiences ahead. It would be awesome to share them together. As it should be!  Peace & Blessings - NSElevation Data:Ascent - 3,480Descent - 2,460Grade - 6.8Weather:Day - 95 / SunnyNight - 68 / ClearOver The Horizon: Mount Greylock, MA