Date: 2010-07-23
From: Mt. Greylock

To: Through the 26th of july
Miles today: 0.0

7/23-7/26Our slack pack from Vernon, NJ south to Unionville, NY was ok as it turned into a grand social event. We met a couple from Kentucky.  He is a survivor of tonsil cancer and doing so well that he and his wife are doing sections of the AT and having a ball.  Many northbound hikers were on the trail and chatty that day .  We got back to Unionville  with Butch picking up many tired and overly hot hikers.  Dinner of home hade soup was served by Bill.,  Tornado warnings kept 20 of us hikers under "The Outhouse" roof. ... In fact Butch insisted upon it.  The next day we zeroed doing laundry with our clothes drying  in a half hour! Temps were about 100 degrees and no breezes.  We  Siliconed our boots today and it does not seem to hold on to our stitching even though we brushed our boots pretty clean before applying the silicone. Butch had to pickup oil for a car so he asked if we wanted to come along.  A ride in the country is a favorite pastime of ours.  We did not go directly to "go" but we had a terrific historic tour of houses, farms, and with folk lore thrown in.  Just the best time and we are finding out that being with and meeting some of the nice folks along the way have made our journey truly great.  I know I have said this before, but needs to be said again and again.  Anyone reading this - get out and meet someone new this week and enjoy the encounter!  I got side tracked..... And that's easy for me to do. Butch runs the Mayor 's Outhouse and has a magnanimous heart.  Don't let his gruff exterior fool you.  "humanity is here at this hostel like no where else".  I venchero! Is a common saying around this hostel and those who pass through it's doors.  NOTE:  Dick, the mayor and owner, is closing it's doors on Sept 28 , fixing it up and putting it on the market.  Time to move on.  Anyone interested give Butch a call at 845-649-0403.  For us it has been the best hostel on the trail so far.We had to leave Sunday morning from Vernon heading north.  Butch slack packed us one day. The day was an ok hike until we started the spiny rocky walk to Bellville.  CB fell about 7 feet off some slippery lichen covered rocks and landed on his tailbone.  He seemed ok but his comments regarding a ridiculous up and over trail was dangerous and not too smart seeing as how some areas could be routed around the rocks .  To make matters worse rain sprinkled off and on and the supposed water sources produced nothing. We decided stealth camping was a good option to give his back a rest. After the third non-producing water source we found a site almost on the trail( a no no).  In this area I believe we were to be 50 feet at least from the trail.  Rain went away as we were setting up our tent , the wind came up and since our water rations were low we ate carrots, peanut butter on raisin bread and drank some water - then off  to bed.  One of the best night's sleep I had on the trail.  CB didn't appear to be in any discomfort from his fall.  We slept in and our wake up call was "kooper" one of our favorite dog friends and his best buddy, obe wan, two great hikers we have had the pleasure to know.  We chatted for a moment and off they went to find ice cream. We caught up with them at the Bellvale farms creamery (the owner gave obi a banana split before opening up for the day. Nice Trail Angel!!  The owner wasn't around when we showed up so who knows if he would have treated us also.  We hung around til noon when it opened up and said bye to obi-wan and cooper. We met Will,the owners son who proceeds to tell us of his family history in this valley, the valley's history and showed us a journal of hikers passing through. Will 's mom took us to the next town where we had lunch( always have dessert first, if possible). While at lunch we decided to go to the emergency room to have CB checked out for Lymes disease.  CB didn't even mention his back as I found out later!  CB was having weird symptoms : a rash from his chest to his head , a few days of headaches, knee aches. After the emergency room run we had to pick up the medicine  at CVS.  We picked up the meds, got a few thank you cards, junk food and went outside to wait for our friend Beth.  I found some decent milk cartons and made us a few chairs to sit on while we waited for Beth.  It was like holding court.  Everyone passing us to go into the store stopped and talked to us.  We answered the usual questions and had a ball.  People even went into CVS and bought us trail mix.  Thank you once again trail angels for making us have a memorable day.Blood test is negative but CB  is on amoxicillin for ten days. Our friend drove two hours from Wilkes-barre to pick us up.  She is crazy but wonderful to do this.  What a wonderful Victorian home she has bought.  A gem of a place.  She let us do our thing while she worked, but would have stolen it if we could have. CB put his magic to work on her third floor walls,but still it needs more work before painting. We did laundry and walked around W-B in 95 degree heat.  We hit the air conditioned movie theater for a few hours and I have no idea what the title of the movie was.  I did yard work and CB headed for the third floor again next day.  I cleaned two baths, got rid of mildew on back porch ( sure) , and vacuumed.  Felt like I was home.  Good feeling.  I miss home  and my puppies. Best thing I got to do was COOK and eat corn which I made myself.  Had six ears one night.  Contentment plus!!!! Our crazy friend, Beth drove us to the 84 diner at Fishkill, NY So CB's brother could pick us up and drive us to Lee / Tyringham, Ma.  CB's bro.  was coming up for a Red Sox game  so timing was perfect.  While waiting for Eric we did our version of hiker trash stuff:  lying on the lawn of the 84 Diner contemplating beautful cloud images, and tapping our feet to the 50's music.  Ah this is the life.  Not a bad way to spend part of a day.  Thanks Eric, Sharon ,and  Aidan . Glad we never decided to be purist hikers as we would have missed a lot of extra fun.  Ct was not a hard choice to pass up...you can have the ticks.  We met a hiker who lives in Lyme Ct and has had Lymes 7 times.  HB Ariana!! We love you!July 31- wow I put in a date!  Upper goose Pond Shelter- we had lunch with Bambi, the caretaker then headed out.  We stealth camped at FinertyPond as it was quiet and pristine.  No one was there but us.  We both slept well.  It's August!!  We are at October mtn. Leanto (looks like a shelter to me) Bear boxes and many campsites.  CB had a peek a boo contest or stAredown with a bull moose on the way to the leanto today.  A six foot rack on this beast! Good to be back in N E. Blackberries galore right now. Met Coal cracker a NOBO who flip flopped is 135 miles from home.  Sun and clouds today and no humidity.Left Kay Wood shelter under cloudy skies.  The blue bird was not on the wing today.  We are now in turkey territory and searching for a feather to put in CB's hat. CB in his third set of boots -Asolo - and comfort level is not quite there yet. DT still on first pair.  CB is having pain on the inside of his heels not on the bottoms. hmm. Dt 's Asolo boots are ok with some stitching breaking down. Holding on to them until a catastrophe occurs. No blisters ever so far.  Long live duct tape. In to Dalton....... Oh cookie lady we passed you by and did not realize it until 5 miles later!!!