Date: 2009-10-10
From: Highways 9 and 403

To: Denny Road Campsite
Miles today: 8.7

I am back on the trail today after another three day's rest. Besides my resting it was very good to be at my daughter's as my middle grandson, the 2&1/2 year old, had a sudden hernia requiring urgent surgery a couple days ago. It was good I was there to take care of the other two and get dinner ready while Mama and grandson were in the hospital. Children heal amazingly fast. He is almost his usual self after only two days post surgery. So, off to the trail I go. In less than half a mile this morning I saw two deer. Nice. I saw no deer in all the time I was in Maine but they are plentiful here. Today I just moseyed along. Mostly because I could. I am taking it easy for this stretch. I see no reason to hurry and I really enjoyed my day. Early morning it was definitely the fall of the year with fresh leaves on the trail and more wafting down with fresh gusts of wind. The forest smelled of wet leaves. And the trail was pleasant most of the day with only 2 or 3 spots with abundant rocks. I didn't even mind them. I missed a view I wanted to catch, which irritated me because I was looking for it. But when I came to the next one I was not willing to go back. I have noticed, though, both in Maine and in New York that occasionally the view promised by the book is obscured by trees or only for giants. Maybe that was true for this one too. Shortly before noon I ran into Green Lantern, a SOBO section hiker and then Lori and Sherry, also SOBO section hikers. Green Lantern told me there was water at the road near my anticipated camp site so I immediately dumped a liter of water. I had been carrying 3 as I was unsure of the water situation. It was amazing how much lighter the pack felt with 2 lbs gone. A little later I passed 3 from the Dartmouth Outing Club. The DOC has people all over the AT today trying to hike the entire AT in one day by various members of the club. I had lunch on Revolutionary War house foundations. Amazing. It was right by the road Washington traveled up and down visiting his troops. As I said, I moseyed today, taking time to soak in all the beauty of the trail. There were many yellow leaves throughout the forest. I am partial to the west and the PCT and other trails in the west. But there is a lot to be said for the woods of the east too and they were near their best today. My knee and my heel both hurt off and on today but neither hurt very badly or for very long. Good. I reached Denny Road and got water from the spigot on an old stone building just as the book and Green Lantern said. Funny it was not marked on the map. Then I set about finding a campsite. One can only camp in approved sites in New York which limits the possibilities. A great number of cub scouts, their parents and other campers with blaring music also limited the possibilities. I chose campsite #1 near the cub scouts as the other campers in #s 3&4 did not want me near and I did not care for their music either. I have gotten used to sleeping through my grandchildren's noise. Maybe that will help. At any rate, it was a nice day. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am now in my tent and ready for bed after eating. Someone from the cub scouts even came down and offered me a hot meal with them. I had already eaten and so declined the offer but appreciated their thoughtfulness. I can put up with screaming kids. And life is good.