Date: 2009-07-18
From: Caesar Brook Campsite

To: Sharon Mtn Campsite
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: scattered clouds

July 18 --Continuing the entry from last night... That didn't quite happen. The rain and I arrived together, and my sweat scraped skin was raw in spots, and my blistered left foot was wet and soft, oozing slightly and my bee stings tender and on a slightly slope spot, the rain, with plenty of thunder came down heavy, more than once, splashing in the now formed puddles surrounding my tent, splattering water, mud and leaf debris under my fly onto my screen, I awoke at one point to find a large puddle along the low, right side under the tent floor that felt like a water bed. My down bag was welcomed with a nice soaking, and although the rain has stopped the clouds remain, which is probly why I am still unpacked and reluctant to boot up my sore foot and clothe my chafed body. I have been evaluating my interest and drive, trying to determine what distinction there is. My main concern currently is my blistered foot, I thought with 2 zer0 days with light use in Kent that it would improve, but I am afraid that it may be a more serious issue that will require medical attention, part of which, of course, will be rest. The sweating/chafing problem is a daily one. How am I to clean myself sufficiently to continue comfortably? These issues affect progress. Pain and discomfort affect drive and diminished drive affects interest. I don't want this spiral to begin and I must overcome the issues quickly and continue, even at a slower pace. The food drop schedule was too aggressive, but that can be supplemented and adjusted. It is important now to continue comfortably. It was as if a switch had been flipped. I've been in the tent here at the Sharon Mtn Campsite since ~14:30 after a slow tormenting walk, stopping to wash my shorts, while now wearing tri-shorts for the raw thighs, and filter water, the pack was now full weight as I carefully placed each left boot step and blinking away eyeball bugs while smacking mosquitos on blood stained socks and all other reachable parts of my body. I was tired, cranky, discouraged and wanted only to be out of the hostile environment that the trail now hosted. I was told that a rattlesnake was seen at the top of Easter Mtn sunning itself, but by the time I arrived, I had forgotten the warning, and, stepping up a high ledge, I heard a distinct warning of a big, fat grandfather timber rattler, enough to jog my memory quick. He posed for a few photos, nothing more. So setting up and stripping down, I drifted off to the roars of a nearby speedway, oval track probly, going all afternoon. I dozed for a good 2 hours on and off, thinking intermittently of how I would travel home and heal my foot, which is still oozing bloody colored goo through the band-aid, and how I would return to the trail. Later, before dinner, I studied the Companion and felt a renewed surge of enthusiasm of walking to Dalton, MA. Leife and Lady showed up around 19:00 and I went out to talk, their tent about 60 yds away. Back here in my tent my foot was noticably tender and now I am favoring a trip home for re-hab. Soni is in NH and can pick me up on her Monday return. I am afraid that it is beyond a local inconvenience and requires medical attention given the open sore and harsh conditions of uncleanliness. It is difficult to admit this, for the end is not near and I can't see going on like this without paying for it later.