Date: 2015-07-12
From: Dalton, Massachusetts 

To: Mt. Greylock
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: light rain

It's a strange thing to tent camp in town. Nice, but strange. There are streetlights, and we aren't used to that. So, all night long, I thought maybe it was time to get up, because it was so light out. Of course, 2:41am is not time to get up. But someone in tent city had to pee, apparently. 5:00 am isn't time to get up, in my opinion, either. But many hikers do, and their zippers plus deflating sleep pads told me there were some in this group. Once awake, of course I had to pee too (sorry if this is TMI but it's a fact of life, after all). I waited awhile, and started packing up a few things in my tent, got dressed, and then walked a quarter mile to the bathroom. When is the last time you walked that far to pee? I didn't think it would be good if I "went" in this respectable neighborhood back yard. So I went to the Cumberland Farms gas station/convenience store several blocks away. They weren't open yet officially at 5:48, but the clerks are used to hikers standing around outside, and know why we're there, so they let us in to use the restrooms. Nice restrooms, btw. Since I was already there, I bought breakfast too...how convenient! Orange juice and a bakery muffin first, then coffee and a doughnut. After that I walked back to my tent, which was soaking wet even though it didn't rain. There was dew, plus it got chilly overnight, which makes condensation. Not wanting to pack up a wet tent, I stayed a while and "dried" it by taking apart the pieces and spreading them out in a driveway, in the sun. By 7:45 it was mostly dry, and I was on my way, back up the street to Cumberland Farms for a final "pit stop" before making my way through town and onto the Trail again. It was in much better shape today than yesterday, so I made decent time, but was still feeling rather low...I got over the first big bump of the day and pulled into Cheshire just before lunchtime. I stopped first at the post office to mail a card, then walked up the road, and found Mama Bear and Wye Knot, who I'd just met the day before, finishing their lunch break. Batman, MB'S husband, is driving around doing trail support for these two. He heard me say that across the next field (a corn field...which we got to walk straight through like royalty, not the usual edge of field walking) I would be hiking an extra quarter mile to the Dunkin Donut/Shell convenience station for some food. When I did so and arrived at the next road, he pulled up in their van and offered me a lift, since he was going there anyways for ice. I happily got in. Once there, I found Bandit, Autodraft and Castaway eating more Ben &Jerry's ice cream. I used the rest room (again, how convenient!) and bought a turkey deli sandwich and an oreo/coffee chillatto, and then Batman gave me a ride back down, saving me a half mile round trip of road walk in the sun. Nice trail magic, Batman! On top of that, I told him I needed a new small fuel canister for my stove. I've been trying to figure out how to get one for a couple of days now...mine is dangerously low. He said they had a spare to sell me, and to remind him later, since they're staying where I am tonight. Nice rescue, Batman! (I'm told that's how he got his trail name...he comes to the rescue...haha, and his real name is Bruce...it works on many levels). The trouble with eating lunch back at the trailhead was that I would have major trash to carry up the hill afterwards. Think about it: that plastic "clamshell" thing the sandwich came in, plus mayo package, plastic knife, cup with lid, and straw. But it was that or else the road walk. Or wait!!! Right next door to the Trail head is a trash removal company. And trash trucks. It was a shady and smelly lunch spot, but I couldn't have been happier...I tossed my trash into the back of one garbage truck and started up the hill. Thank you for the "trail magic", Delmolino&Sons!!! You made my day. The next job was to climb Mt. Greylock, which I found to be difficult today. It shouldn't have been difficult, really. But I'm finding that my bad foot really doesn't like roots. Not at all. Nor carrying a full pack up a mountain. It is going to be a rough time for me in New England given these facts. I'm only just getting started, and Greylock is a baby mountain, compared with what's coming up. Anyhow, I made it to the top, just catching up with MB and Wye Knot (WK) near the end. We admired the summit monument, then went to the Lodge for snacks and drinks, checking in to the bunkhouse upstairs, getting showered, and doing chores for the evening. This is one of those peaks that has a road to the top, so there are tourists here too, and the (very noisy) restaurant is just below our bunkroom. MB, Batman, and WK are all asleep... they are some of the crazy ones who get up at 5. Two day hikers are downstairs eating still, and will be coming up to get ready for bed rustling with their belongings. I'm sandwiched in between these extremes. I'm thinking ear plugs plus not much sleep are in order. In any event, I'm staying until breakfast (continental, comes with the lodging) is served at 8am, and I've promised the other 3, who will be long gone down the Mt. by then, that I will eat their share for them.