Date: 2005-07-23
From: Pine Swamp Brook Lean-to

To: Plateau Campsite
Miles today: 16.6

8:21pm - Peaceful, Easy FeelingI awoke to a crystal clear morning. The rains had ceased overnight, and new life had crept into the forest. The air was clear and crisp.I knew from the beginning that today would be an easy day. I'm getting off the trail next weekend for a family affair - my grandparents are celebrating their 60th anniversary. Logistically, I can either push very hard and possibly make it to Bennington, Vermont, or I can cruise to North Adams, Massachusetts, taking it easy here and there. I chose the latter route [Note from Papa Razzi's father - boy am I glad he made this decision - it shorten our drive to pick him and return him by about 1 1/2 hours - 2 1/2 hours were long enough]. I may lose a day and be a day behind the rest of my crew when I return to the trail instead of being even with them, but such is life. I've been averaging 118 miles a week for the last month without a day off. I could use a few easy days.When, exactly, did 16.6 miles become an easy day? Once upon a time, this was a full day's hike. Now, anything under 17 feels fabulously light; even twenty miles are not the daunting obstacle they once were. I don't feel physically stronger, but clearly I am. When did this transformation occur, and why didn't anyone tell me?I started alone; Vapors wasn't even out of his tent. The morning stillness, however, was shattered by noise from a nearby race track, the only downside to an otherwise perfect way to start the day. Coming to US7, I caught up to another northbounder named Nomad. We followed a poorly marked road walk to a nearby parking lot where the trail reentered the woods. A few minutes later I commented that it felt like we were going in circles. We were - we emerged on the others side of the road from where I caught Nomad. I guess that road walk was poorly blazed for a reason; it wasn't the trail. We inadvertently skipped ahead and hiked southbound. We repeated our roadwalk and hunted around for the north bound trail. It was, curiosly enough, a poorly marked road walk. It took us ten minutes of searching to find a white blaze to confirm it.We took a brief outside shower at an old building along the trail, crossed the Housatonic River, and had lunch just above Great Falls. The afternoon's climb was much easier than expected. Leave it to the Connecticut trail maintainers to make a 750 foot climb feel easy. Plus, it was a cool day and we had settled into a rapid but comfortable pace. I was in Salisbury by 2:30pm, and my hiking day was effectively over.Salisbury is a small, compact New England town. The men all drove around in shiny sports cars while the women walked around in white dresses and wide brimmed hats. I felt out of place. I instantly ran into two hikers I knew only by reputation, Origami and Sam-I-am. I thought they were much further ahead; I guess not. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to chat; not yet, anyhow. In town, I like to take care of business first. So I went grocery shopping, organized my food bag, and hit up the local ice cream parlor. By then, the duo had disappeared up the trail. Perhaps I'll run into them again; perhaps this was to be our only encounter.I spent much of the afternoon reading a book on the 1919 World Series fix, Eight Men Out, that I picked up at the last shelter. Eventually I called my folks to coordinate next weekend's pickup, and then left town. Nomad had previously departed, eyeing a shelter four miles up the trail. I was only planning to go to a campsite nine-tenths of a mile past where I had left off, and that's exactly what I did.The campsite is maybe two-tenths of a mile into the woods. There are quiet hours posted because this is still considered part of a residential neighborhood, but I don't mind. I sat down on a rock, ate supper, and read more of my book before setting up my tarp. I'm the only one here tonight. Except for cars rushing by on the nearby road, it looks to be a quiet night in the woods.