Date: 2003-08-23
From: Kent, Conn.

To: Campsite on the trail.
Miles today: 10.2

It seemed strange to wake up in a motel room with two guys and no Mudbutt. I packed up my stuff and joined Chafe and Carnethy Bob for breakfast. After a quick trip to the grocery, which they forgot to do last night, by mid morning we were on the trail. The trail started out with a pretty steep climb, then leveled off to just undulating gentle ups and downs. We came to a nice view point and with just a little arm twisting we decided to take advantage of the veiw and the breeze and eat lunch. The breeze was just stiff enough to keep any bugs at bay that were looking for lunch also. It was a good thing that we had a long rest, because we immediately faced a mountain of steep rocks that would bring us down to the Housatonic River. There were several places that all I could do was sit down and slide down the face of the rocks, to the next foothole. Short people definately are at a disadvantage in some of these places. I came as close to a bad fall as ever when my pack smacked into a tree as I turned to find a foothole in the rocks. By doing a breakdance step with my hiking poles I managed to stay upright, but it gave me a scare. After a long climb down, we were finally rewarded with a trail that seemed to be right out of heaven. It was wide, flat and ran along the riverbank for 5 or 6 miles.What a wonderful hike!It would have made Mudbutt extremely happy! By early eveing we had made really good time and was 3 miles short of our campsite. We decided to go down the side trail to the Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter for a quick break. Never in my wildest dreams could I have ever guessed the surprise that was waiting for me when I got down to the shelter. There were two other hikers there, set up for the night. We introduced ourselves and they did likewise. Almost There is a southbound lady and Cimmaron is northbound gentleman. As we talked among each other, I learned that tomorrow was Cimmaron's 81 birthday. That's right, 81 years old. He had hoped to complete his thru hike this year, but it looked like time was running out for him to be able to finish. I thought to myself, 81 years old and out here alone, already hiked 1400 miles. What an inspiration! Then talk to turned to where we were all from. I said "Pensacola, Fl." because no one knows the small town I really live in. It turns out that Cimmaron is from Pensacola also. I name several people he might know, but none strikes a chord with him. Just before we get up to hike on, and on a whim, I pull out my pocketmail. I ask Cimmaron if I can have his name and when we get back home we can get together with our spouses and go to dinner. He obliges and starts to spell his last name for me as I type it in. Before I can finish typing it he gives me his first name. My fingers stop in mid air. This is a name that I have heard before. And there is no mistaking when and where I had heard it. But I knew it just could not possibly be, so I asked him if he was ever in the school system in Pensacola. He looks at me strangely and says "Well, yes I was as a matter of fact." I got goose bumps on top of goose bumps. A little further questioning revealed that he was a Science teacher when I was in the 7th grade. I did not have him as a teacher, but as a hall monitor he stayed after me and my group of friends. We all just new we were dead in the water if Mr.Caetano caught you misbehaving. Of course we could not figure out why pitching pennies and stealing drags of older students cigaretes was so bad. Nor could we figure out why teachers were so against us being around the back of the building holding hands and smooching when we thought no one was looking. He hauled me into the office more times than I can remember. Thank goodness he did not remember me!! It is just unbeleivable!! Here we are 2,000 miles from home, and we meet each other. Talk about magic!!! As I left him I was saying, "But Mr.Caetano, I wasn't pitching pennies, I was just watching." and Mr.Caetano, pleeeeease don't take me to the office, I promise I didn't hear the bell!" He was grinning from ear to ear as I walked away, saying, "I wish I had a tape recorder, my wife just isn't going to beleive this!" I fully intend to take him and his wife to dinner this fall when I get home. If my memory serves me right he taught my husband in school. The next three miles flew by, most of it still along the river. Then the trail finally turned away from the river and headed up the side of the mountain. One more climb before I could call it home for the night. Silverhill campsite is a big spacious campground. There is an old fashion hand pump that pumps orange colored water out for the water source. There is a covered pavillion with two picnic tables under it, a privy, and a nice size deck jutted out over the mountain with benches built in on either side. A redwood swing completes the setting. This quickly becomes one of my favorite spots I have camped in. My only regret is that Mudbutt is not here to share it with me. She would have realy loved this place. There are several families here with children. Their giggles as they shine their flashlights at each other in their tent sing out through the dark night. They are having a blast. I smile as I remember my own kids when they laughed like that. There is a definate chill in the air after the sun goes down. It will be perfect for sleeping tonight. Just before I go to sleep, I step out of my tent and look toward the eastern sky. This is a perfect place for star gazing and I want to see if I can catch a glimpse of Mars. This is the closest it will be to earth for several hundred years. There it is in the sky. I am dumbfounded by it's brightness. It looks like the light on a jet plane. The sky is filled with millions of stars and planets. And tonight I have a front row seat. I go back and encourage the guys to come see this wonder. They are thrilled with the sight and glad I told them about it. I lean against the picnic table and gaze up, trying to pick out what few constellations I know, but my eyes keep going back to Mars. It seems such a simple thing, but to me it is a special gift, a rare treat. I thank my heavenly Father for placing these stars and planets just so, for hanging them in a blackness to illuminate the sky. I am reminded of what the Bible says in Psalms 8:3,4, and 5. "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained, what is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels and hast crowned him with glory and honor." Surely I am blessed.total miles 10.2