Date: 2021-05-30
From: Silver Hill Campsite

To: Salisbury, Connecticut 
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: moderate rain

Connecticut has some really nice shelters and campsites, Silver Hill being one. Newer privey, a large bench swing, a seating area and a pavilion that covers two picnic tables. I found two trees spaced perfectly for me AND facing such that my tarp would block the wind. I had hiked an extra 4 miles yesterday to get there after I had called Maria in Salisbury, Ct. to see if she had a bed available Sunday night. She did!  So the extra miles yesterday put me in reach of town IF I got up early and got on trail. The forecast called for rain from early Sunday morning to mid-morning Monday with high temps in the mid 40¢s. The few hikers I had spoken to the last few days had mentioned taking zeroes and getting off trail. I reasoned (in my unreasonable way) that wet is wet and hiking big miles would be fine. This is going to be fine. Alarm went off at 4:30 and I was walking in a light mist by 5:15. I knew if I averaged 2 mph I would get to Maria¢s house by 5pm. Goal set. The first hitch for b my scheme came 45 minutes later when I came to Guinea brook and found a rain-swollen creek about 40 feet across and the stepping stones submerged. I spent 10 minutes scouting for a better place to cross to no avail. Whelp, I¢m going to have wet feet all day, might as well embrace the suck right out of the gate. I took off the bottom zippered portion of my hiking pants and took off my socks as well. Then it was ¢step in and see what happens¢. What happened was that the water came up over my knees and the current was strong enough that I had to use extreme caution every time I moved a trekking pole or foot. I made it across and then dried off and reassembled my kit. Hiking uphill from the creek I came to a road that had blue blazes on the trees. Hmmmm. Checking my Guthooks app for the first time I saw that there was indeed a high water bypass road walk that would have taken less time and far less drama than my route. Mark this down as lesson learned? I doubt it. Around 8 I passed three SOBO weekenders (don¢t they have warm, dry lives to live?) who told me there was trail magic at the next road crossing. 20 minutes later I was drinking a Vitamin Water and eating a Clif Bar courtesy of Butterfly Bob, a retired Navy Seabee who comes out most days to provide magic. Bob served in Morocco, Puerto Rico, Panama and Guantanamo Bay. He was obviously and deservedly proud of his service. After that, not much to say about my hiking day. I had sorted some food into the top of my pack for lunch, but never stopped hiking due to the temps. I knew if I stopped, I¢d have a hard time getting warm again. It poured rain like piss out of a boot from 8 until 10 (a saying I heard from my father that seems to imply a lot of rain, but why is your boot full of urine in the first place? Questions must be asked) then settled into a steady shower for most of the day, occasionally mixed in with a short downpour or a light drizzle. Walking around puddles was pointless, so I didn¢t. But Mandy, was it some cold water. My rain jacket held out until 2pm when it started to wet-through in spots, very few things are truly waterproof. I just kept my focus on 22.5 miles while still enjoying what is truly a pretty trail through the state. Pic above is from one of the few views not socked in by clouds and rain. I made it to Maria¢s house at 4pm, a wet, cold, dripping rat of a hiker I¢ve read about Maria¢s place before, it¢s not technically a hostel and she takes in only three hikers per night. At 92 she¢s only got so much energy. After a 20 minute hot shower I felt warm again. Maria had set up a drying rack in front of her radiant heater for my clothes. She apologized for not driving me to the laundromat, but she had an auto accident a few weeks ago and has decided to give up driving. I ordered a pizza from a local place and sat with Maria at her kitchen table as she fed me hot tea, Nilla Wafers, and chocolates. If I were playing Hanzel in some macabre story - I would have died a warm and happy runaway. When my pizza arrived, I shared it with Maria as she told me about being a war-bride from Italy. She had left the where she had worked and hitched into Piza to get a job. She married a GI at 17 and moved to Connecticut with her husband who told her ¢I don¢t know where we¢ll live or what we¢ll do¢ but things turned out alright in the end. I¢m going to lounge here Monday morning and help her turn the rooms over for three new hikers tomorrow. It¢s supposed to rain until 10am and I¢ve got two days to cover the 20 miles into Great Barrington. Side note: two days ago while doing a steep climb I cracked me head against a protruding rock. Now that I got in front of a mirror I see I bruised my melon in style and that it was apparently a bleeder. Inspecting my hat, I found this to be the case. Lesson learned to watch for obstacles? I doubt it.