Date: 2008-06-23
From: Belter's Campsite, CT

To: Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: moderate rain

Well, I didn't get very good sleep last nite. My hips and lower back werehurting for some reason...who knows why. It was a weird nite. There must havebeen 40,000 mosquitoes trying to get to me, but my hammock netting protected me. The buzzing from them was so loud though, it woke me up a lot. I had 2 shirtson, but had to take one off...too hot in 74 degrees. I finally fell asleep tobe woke up by a tree branch randomly crashing down. No clue why. Then @ 2:45a.m., I got woke up by thunder, it was lightening and sprinkling lightly, so Igot up and pulled my hiking shoes under my hammock and made sure everything wasready for a storm. Luckily, the storms moved just north of me and most of itmissed. I fell back asleep for another 2 hrs and work again to rainthough...ugh...more rain.By the time I got up and moving @ 5:30 a.m., it had pretty much stopped though.The mosquitoes were waiting for me however. My morning perfume is Ben's by theway. Nothing like a little deet to make you feel all fresh and ready to go. Ifyou stopped moving today, they swarmed you just waiting for a drop of sweat todilute the deet.So I packed up and was off @ 7:04 a.m. I knew it was a town day and thank God,because I don't think I could endure one more day/nite without showering orhaving some substantial amounts of food. I had 10.4 miles to go to get to Rte44, which .4 to the west takes you into Salisbury, CT. The day looked likeyesterday though, hazy, humid, soupy, and I figured I was in for more of thesame.First was down to a road and then around a farm field. The trail was soovergrown, it was up to my waist and I couldn't see the ground. Can you saytick haven? Then it was back to the (same) road, which I didn't mind roadwalking today. I've been so low energy, and I'm sure part of it is because Ijust haven't been eating enough calories out here. Food is heavy---heavy slowsCertain down----lack of food also slows Certain down. Man, I can't win. Gottafind that balance.I hiked past a high school and eventually past a hydro-electric plant that usesthe Housatonic River for power. The trail kept taking dips into the woods thenback out to the road...I never quite understand this. I did see a most gorgeoussite where there were big waterfalls from the Housatonic River. I walked outonto the rocks and took a pic.Finally I went into the woods for good and I started the 2 mile climb up Mt.Prospect. I was dragging and CT has had SO MANY gian blowdowns (huge treeslaying across the trail) so there was a lot of climbing over and going aroundthem today. On one, I was trying to step over and nailed my right knee cap ona branch. OUCH!!! It bled a little, and then I called the tree a horriblename.About halfway up, I had to stop and take a break. I just couldn't move, so I gotmy i-pod out, which really helped to distract me from my stinky, sweaty, soaked,wet, hurting self.Overall, CT has been a beautiful state with a lot of pine forests (my fav) andstreams, but the horrible weather has really made it hard for me to be able tosit and enjoy a lot. I may have to come back someday and hike with mycyber-friend Sheri, who is from here.I finally got to the top and the trail was friendly pine needle covered, whichacts as a shock absorber. Again, I kept encountering tons of blow downs, whichhas to be a testimony to the violent weather going through here lately.I passed this awesome rock called The Giant's Thumb and then knew I was withinabout 2 hrs from town. I was watching the sky and trees, which till now werecalm, and from time to time I'd pause my music to see if thunder was audible.Nothing yet.I had to climb over another blowdown, but when I leaned back to swing my legsover it, it was the perfect position for a break, so I took one and just lookedaround. I was listening to Pat Methany's "The First Circle" and it was quite anemotional trip seeing the incredible mystical pine forest with moisture hoveringaround and hearing a great piece of music that I had played once when I was in abig band (lead alto). It was probably the most enjoyable moment in all ofCT....and then the wind picked up.I moved on and felt a rain drop. I turned off the music and realized anotherfreakin storm was about to hit. Again, it was 11:00 a.m. but I was juststarting the last descent waaaay down to Rte 44, so I decided to just hike andnot stop. The rain started, the wind started, I already had my pack cover on,but didn't want to stop to put my rain gear on. I was heading into town anywayright? Flicker..Crash..Boom..Wind..DOWNPOUR!!! Oh man, this was just likeyesterday's storm and it was raining SO hard. It was a wicked powerful stormagain. I got all the way down and could see the road, but you hike for .3along side it in a freakin field (like I wanted to be the tallest thing aroundright?). So I did put on my rain jacket and OR hat and just got to the road.I was drenched, it was storming like crazy and I knew .4 away was my salvation. I did decide to try to hitch though, because lightening bolts were hitting themountains around, so I stuck my thumb out as I walked. 3 cars passed me andthen a van pulled over. It was a guy named Sean from Salisbury. THANKS MAN!!!He took me to the little town center, which is just awesome. I've fallen inlove with this town too!!!! Everything is in one spot, it's a cute town with acoffee house, ice cream, a great little bistro, P.O., and library with freeinternet. No t-mobile cell service (or Verizon either).So I went into the P.O., and it is still raining and thundering like crazy.Persistent mailed my mem card AND another box of goodies! So I sat in the POhoping the rain would subside some, but it wasn't, so I finally decided to putmy box inside my rainjacket and find Vanessa's house, who offers rooms tohikers for a good price.It was right across the street and up a hill, and just as I was getting to thehouse, this HUGE bolt of lightening came down on the mountain behind the town.I ran.....I got to the house and her son answered the door and showed me to my room andaround. I took a most glorious shower (used all the hotwater I think...oops)and got my laundry going. So Salisbury, CT is just an awesome town, everythingis literally across the street from everything and I love this little town.It's quaint, it's got everything you need, and the people are so friendly.Gosh, I'm loving New England so much.Vanessa said she was making pasta for dinner and I was welcome, so I went to theCountry Bistro (it was about 2:00 p.m.) and got some quiche and a salad just tohold me over. Then I went to a great little coffee house with a computer andthey let me use their phone, so I called Karen and it was so nice to talk toher when I was safe and dry and warm and clean and not running from the crazyweather. I had a mocha and checked my emails, then went back to the house.I was unpacking my disgusting pack and about 5 Vanessa hollered up that dinnerwas ready. Ok, so you know how life will generally give you what you need whenyou need it if you're open to it? Well, I have to say I had the absolute timeof my life this evening at dinner. Another hiker, Seattle Sailor (who is 68years young), Vanessa, and I all sat there, drinking wine, eating salad, bread,and pasta (Vanessa is a private cook, so you can imagine how good the food was),and we talked and laughed and told stories and laughed some more. We talkedabout everything from politics to viagra. Seattle Sailor has been feeling likeme...he's been doing 18 milers and now seems to have a hard time with 10, somisery loves company, and it's sad for me to say that I felt better knowing Iwasn't the only one struggling. He's a totally awesome and interesting man whohas run a business for 40 years driving yachts for people all over the world.Vanessa was born/raised in CT and is absolutely the most down to earth,nurturing, comfortable person in the world. It was like we all had known eachother for 25 years. Amazing time. Oh, and Vanessa has hiked about 150 milesof the AT herself, and she can relate to hikers. She's just a great woman.She also has 2 kitty's, Tiger and Spooky, and a dog named Tasha who isunfortunately dealing with lung cancer. I did get my animal therapy though.We all sat around till about 7:30 p.m. enjoying each other's company and thenVanessa had to leave, so I went to my room and turned on the tube. It feltgood to just do nothing.Seattle Sailor is going to leave tomorrow, and I'm taking a day to dryout...everything is soaked to the core. I feel so at home here and it's due toVanessa's energy, which is just real and wonderful. I feel optimistic again,I'm still apprehensive about my ability to even do 15 mile days, so I'm goingto slow down so I can enjoy this again. Seattle Sailor is doing the same thingtoo. Not sure what it means when I hike more like someone twice my age, buthey...who cares right?So it was a crazy morning but ended up being one of the most enjoyable eveningsI've had yet. Vanessa said she'll have coffee in the morning and we're welcometo some pastries she has down there. I'm sleeping in and just going to enjoythis wonderful little town tomorrow as I resupply. Seriously folks...don'tskip this town, it's another gem.Glad to feel human again.....~Certain