Date: 2003-08-13
From: Stealth Campsite

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 17.2

Well...it was a long day, but we're in our 10th state!! Connecticut...woo-hoo! We got up early, although I was the last person to wake up. I had trouble getting to sleep...body aches and warm sticky weather combined to make it impossible to sleep without medical aid. I took a flexeril...haven't had to do that for awhile. I got to sleep about an hour later, after listening to coyotes howling at the full moon. I was sleeping VERY soundly, then, when Randy called over to wake me up at 7:15. Apparently I'd slept through the first wake up call. I managed to get ready in an hour (difficult for me, although you'd think with as little as I have with me it wouldn't take that long), and we were on our way. The first 4.5 miles flew by. The terrain was quite easy, not very rocky, and a good bit of it was downhill. On that first stretch, we passed by a brick and iron gate that looked as if it should be in front of an estate. It was located, however, in front of a field surrounded by forest. In wrought iron lettering, it read "Gate to Heaven". We had to !have pictures! I got one of Randy hiking through with his trekking poles and another with him loitering at the gate. He took one of me pondering the gate. There are so many random quirky things out here on the Trail! We got to the shelter and saw Lady Bug...we had passed Gray Matter hiking south to his car. We took a short break there and continued on. The next 4 miles also went by rather quickly...we were making really good time. We stopped three miles into CT, taking a longer lunch break at a campsite there. The water source was a hand pump, and the water was REALLY cold. I can tell you this for a fact, because I was so hot from hiking, I decided to sit under it while Randy pumped it. I thought I wouldn't be able to get my breath back! I was a lot cooler, though, so it was all good. At that point, we had no idea what the next section held in store for us. We started climbing Schaghticoke Mountain, which is not very high. The climb, however, was looooong and !relentlessly up. I was sweating buckets and sucking down water. All I could think was that I could never make it in Vermont and the Whites...those are real mountains, and I was flagging on this little thing! We got to the top, and took a short break waiting for Gerri to catch up. Continuing on, the terrain stayed on the more difficult level, or at least it felt like it...the heat and humidity make it harder to climb. We passed Gray Matter hiking south...deja vu all over again! Lady Bug was going to pick him up at the state line and drive him back to Kent. We hiked on...it felt like forever. I hope that doesn't happen too often, but it seems as if lately, when we hike over 15 miles, it feels like forever till we're done. Finally, we got to the road, where we met Snail and Fisher King, two SOBOs. There was also a guy walking his dog who had a pickup and was going to Kent...yay! We got to the Fife'n'Drum Inn and checked in. While Randy took a shower, I went to the ATM. Iceberg Slim appeared from the restaurant that I was passing and !invited me to join him, his parents, Snot Rocket and Chief. Then Sage was brought in by Slim. Slim's parents bought me a beer and Sage and I split an appetizer...nice Trail Magic! Thanks! :) I went and took a shower, then Randy and I went to get SUSHI!! For four and a half months, I've been craving sushi...I felt liked I'd died and gone to heaven...it was so fabu! We then went to the local bar and grill and hung out with Lady Bug and Gray Matter for the rest of the evening. A great night in New England...I'm almost home!!