Date: 2006-06-22
From: Bethel, Connecticut

To: Belter's Campsite
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: overcast clouds

June 22, Belter's campground Well, I had bed hog with me last night after lights out. Seven decided I was okay and jumped in bed with me. He didn't snore but boy did he have some eyebrow raising farts. But is nice to have snuggles. I miss my dogs. Got up early, as usual, but today I got dressed for hiking and packed my stuff. Socks and I had agreed to a trail time of eight. An hour drive away, so we headed out early. She packed the jeep for more trail magic. I think she is on a campaign to change people's mind about hiking through Connecticut. They have strange rules in this state and she is the champion trail angel. She actively goes out looking for hikers. I had a great time with her yesterday.   Got to Cornwall Ridge before the post office opened. I thought I might have another package, but it was a figment of my hope. So off to the trail after writing a change of address.   This stretch starts hard. Crawl out of the gap 500 feet then bump along for nearly five miles. 500 down, 500 up, 500 down, 500 up, and in the rain. Not the cold kind. The warm spring kind that causes the glasses to steam up. And I'm being careful about my foot. There are rocks imbedded in the trail. The canopy doesn't keep the rain from falling all the way to the ground. All the previous rains have swollen the brooks. The jumping rocks are under the surface. I have to wade across. The rocks are slippery. It takes me four and a half hours to do six miles. But by that time, the rain has stopped. The sun struggles to come out. Between the rain and my keeping an eye on...Oh, I heard a tree fall!...my feet, steamed up glasses, I don't get to see much. So when the sun finally makes it out, I'm happy again.The trail turns friendlier. Still rocks but now I'm walking on the top side of the ridge. Elevation here is so low, there is not alot of high vistas. But there is one, Hang Glider View is the name given. The book says it was first cut by enthusiasts. Now it looks out over the valley and an automobile race track. Today they were racing. The noise was a buzzing in the air. Finally the sun makes it out. I'm once again walking with mountain laurels. And tiny white flowers. One of the rules in Connecticut is that hikers have to stay at designated campsite. So, my goal for today is Belter's. I've been warned this is a sad place with dead pine trees. And there are plenty of them here but there are some very tall ones that look dead but if I strain enough I can make out green way over head. My routine when I camp is to find a place to call bed. I set up my tarp and then go get water. There is supposed to be more rain. So the tarp is laid out facing east-west. I notice the rain seems to come from northwest. Maybe it will be like today, wait until morning, when I'm breaking camp. The biggest thing I've noticed as far as green things, there are more pines. I wonder how much more of this is coming up. Everything seems to wither under pines. Makes a great mattress to sleep on.I'm finding myself feeling sad. I fond a note from Giggles. She is two days ahead so I suppose I will not meet up with her again. I saw one hiker going south this morning in the rain, but he looked like a weekend hiker. Everything was clean and new. I wonder if another batch of fast hikers will catch up with me tomorrow. UpperGoose Pond is up ahead. It is a popular shelter. I might not get there. But for now, I trudge along, knowing this is my last few days out here. I value the view from where I sit, the sun is slowly sinking. I stink of bug juice and sweat. Maybe time for bed. I hear rumbling. Namaste'