Date: 2010-08-03
From: Belter's Camp

To: Salisbury, Vanessa Bretton' s house
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

Day 15 Tue Aug 3Plan: 7.5 miles from Belter's Camp to Limestone Camp. If we make it in time we will continue 3.5 mi into Salisbury a day early. Weather fair.We have a big breakfast - oatmeal, couscous and Backpacker's chicken & rice. Appetites are increasing. We share lots of food with fellow hikers because we expect to have a mail drop tomorrow. Water and food have been plentiful but we are short on fuel because we have been cooking large group meals. We say farewell to Fuzzy and Soulpatch who have enjoyed lingering with us playing pine cone baseball and singing around the campfire but now are eager to get back to their routine of 15-20 per day. They have been encouraging Genevieve to continue on to Maine to finish the hike and she is considering it. She will investigate options on the internet in Salisbury. It will be another 400-500 miles in colder and rougher conditions. But we are told that the hikes are magnificent. Genevieve clearly loves the thrill and adventure. She is quite capable and has gained a lot of confidence. Wood Rangler decides to continue hiking with us for a while. He is really good company. When we met him he was thinking of getting off the trail at Great Barrington but is determined now to continue to the end. You meet folks sometimes who will become lifelong friends. Rangler is like that. We have a nice hike through these exquisite pine forests of Conn. Another owl silently flew across my path today and I saw another big deer. As I mentioned earlier I am always walking alone in the forest because no one but the injured walk as slow as I do. But that has its benefits too I suppose. The other day when I stopped to video some geese taking a bath a young thru-hiker stopped briefly to say hello. I said, "Did you see those geese?". He replied, "What geese?". Well, I pointed them out and he said "oh yeah" and then returned to his 20-25 mile per day pace. If I have to walk fast and see nothing I may as well be walking around the track at the high school. I make good time today even though there is a 1000 foot climb it is gradual with several switchbacks so I can make a good pace of an amazing 1.9 mph!! Genevieve and Rangler average 2.75. At 3:30 I find Genevieve and Rangler asleep at Limestone. Since it is only 3:45 we decide to walk on in to Salisbury. What a blessing. Salisbury was founded in 1741 and is the most charming New England town. No industry to speak of today but old money and people who purchase a second home. There are four excellent prep schools and folks commute on weekends to be with their children. Years ago the area was known for iron and in nearby Lakeview was located a pre-revolutionary iron mine. We are staying at Vanessa Bretton's 200 year old house for $35 per night. It is an Alice in Wonderland house because no two surfaces are parallel. I improvise a plumb bob out of dental floss and a quarter to investigate. It is harder walking in here than in the forest. There are doors everywhere and I don't know which one to choose. I can hear Genevieve's voice but don't know which door to choose. Showered and shaved we call Italian restaurant Mizza's. They are 3 miles down the road (bummer) but since they deliver pizza to this area they agree to come and get us and then drive us back after our meal (yea!!). Rangler and I split a pitcher of Sam Adams after he finishes a much craved for vanilla milk shake. When then go for cheesy jalapeno poppers and a very excellent Bruschetta. Genevieve and Rangler have their hearts set on cheeseburgers while 1.0 goes for the fish and chips special. Large pieces of fresh Cod. Excellent. The burgers are so big that Rangler and Genevieve have to take half home. The restaurant owner offers to drive us to the next town to watch a movie but we are beat and decide instead for sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day.