Date: 2008-07-25
From: Great Barrington - Shay's Monument

To: Benedict Pond
Miles today: 12.7

I awoke at like 8:30ish and felt the need to get going on all the errands that i needed to do in town. I can't tell you how much i would have rather slept further in that incredible bed. But i got up and went to the local coffeehouse for an eye opener. The coffee was really good, and the help seemed a bit in outerspace. I asked about a local laundrymat, and got different opinions as i went on a wild goose chase. Just what i wanted this morning. Back to the motel and grabbed my defunct sleeping pad, and my tent which i chose to send home for weight savings. I hoped that it'd help me get to my goal, which seemed far away and at the other side of Massachusetts, to do in the few days that i had left.When i got to the local Outfitter just after he opened for the morning, he said that he was all out of sleeping pads and that the next outfitter was some distance away. I didn't want to be without a pad, so i asked him again and he remembered a pad that a customer took out of the packaging and couldn't get back into it and had never been outside. He gave me an excellent deal on a $100 pad that i'm sure to use after the trail so i was provided for yet again. Someone is really looking out for me. ;] I sent off my packages, checked out, and got to an actual laundry mat to the south of town. While in the mat, i got called "filthy" by older tourists, the town was filled with upscale New Yorkers on vacation, and saw more Mass plates with drivers wearing Yankee hats.. geezum. Went into Big Y supermarket while wash was going, and got many funny looks and atitude. I had to remember that these people don't know i'm on the AT, nor do they care if they did, and that the transition between the modern and AT worlds is quick and the contrasts between the two can hit you like a slap in the face. Forget friendliness, generousity, and consideration, you are back in the real world and they don't care for these attributes. They look at you suspiciously like fools for exhibiting these behaviors, especially when they have not idea that you are a on a massive journey of self reliance and reflection.Anywho, back to the trail, and met Bonzo by giving him a cold beer brought from the town. Met Stump Knocker, whose working on his 6th AT hike. Saw others at Corn Crib on Rt. 7, and got popular by sharing the rest of the beers that i brought for others and myself. Then up in the hot but less humid day to Benedict Pond, where i hoped i might stay with my mother's friend at their summer house. I had a great swim in the cool pond, felt great, and got to use the payphone to talk to loved ones. I ended up sleeping next to a park building on a concrete walkway, as there was so much goose poop that you could hardly walk on the grassy areas, and bugs were out in force if you weren't in the breeze off the pond. Had bad night's sleep as park rangers and people showed up late into the Saturday night. At least i didn't get kicked out, i don't think the ranger saw me 15 feet away as i don't think that he'd think anyone would sleep where i did. Finally went into open air changing area and slept on the small bench/ledge from 2-5am. Quite a contrast from last night's bed, but not all nights can be so good. That's what makes it a journey. ;]