Date: 2008-06-27
From: Tom Leonard Lean-to, MA

To: Shaker Campsite, MA
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: overcast clouds

The nite went by too fast. I've been so exhausted lately, but I did wake up once to 2 owls hooting back and forth. It made me smile.I got woke up by the birds, but it is nice to know I can lay there for 30 min. and wake up. I packed up and was on my way @ 7:15 a.m.So with the exception of the first day, Massachusettes has been a very boggy, black muddy, marshy wet state. One place today reminded me of the scene in The Empire Strikes Back, where Luke Skywalker flies his X-Wing fighter to the planet that Yoda lives on, and he crash lands his fighter in this swamp. Well, the swamp on the movie was much like where I hiked in parts today. I also had another Star Wars-related revelation. I think the sound of the light sabers waving back and forth was inspired by the way mosquitoes sound darting in and away from your ears.The highlight of the day came early. Benedict Pond was really beautiful. There's a rock that I'm sure almost all hikers have sat on, that juts out into the water and you feel like you're on center stage in the world's largest theater. There was white\pink mountain laurel bloomed alongside the left, and tall grass on the right with 1 duck in the center, swimming around. I did not want to leave this spot today. It felt so good there. The water is crystal clear too with the green trees on the mountain behind reflecting on the water along with the blue sky. It made today worth the effort.After this, it was hiking along The Ledges, which wasn't that big of a deal. There was one rock ledge area, but that was it. Then another climb up Mt. Wilcox, which had me in a sweat in no time. I knew once I made it to the 2nd shelter, the majority of the climbing was done for the day.When I go up hills, I'm super slow, and I have to get into a rhythm. I hike as fast as I can without having to gasp for air, so that's not fast. I usually wonder if the top is ever going to appear, and yet somehow it does.So I got to the top and it was pretty flat for 1.5 miles. I did stop @ Beartown Mtn. Rd for lunch. I do this because the bugs aren't quite as bad in a clearing like a road. The 2 guys I'd camped with the past 2 nites also showed up and ate lunch. Nice men, but I have to say, for grown men, they are just as damn goofy as little boys. They were making me laugh.It felt good to sit and take my shoes off, but I headed on around 12:45 p.m. I had planned to go 14 miles today and stealth camp, but folks, my energy level is disappearing to somewhere. I don't know why, but I was so tired today it was everything I could do to just keep hiking on a downhill.I started the steep descent towards Shaker Campsite, and stopped @ Fernside Rd. for a break. I had cell service so I called Karen. I told her this year hiking is such a different mental game for me. Last year I had so many things I was thinking about, and it seemed the hours would pass. This year I'm battling my thoughts to stay positive and excited about being here. To be so close and yet feel so tired and really wonder if you're capable of making it. I have 650.1 miles to go, as of today. I've got to get my brain focused on that abstract measuring that I spoke about the other day. I feel overwhelmed right now by what is before me.So it started thundering and I was headed down anyway, so I wasn't freaking out. I got to the Shaker Campsite and decided to just check it out. My book said there's no water here, but there actually is. Now, it was only 3:30 p.m., but to go the remaining 2.7 miles, climbing up was involved, and I had a decision to make.I knew if a storm hit, I'd spend a good 45 min. sitting it out somewhere low. I am also feeling so tired I could pass out right now. There's water here afterall and a cool mom\son camping here as well. I decided to stop. I couldn't see pushing for 2.7 more miles when it could storm, I'd be climbing, and I didn't have the mental or physical energy to deal with running down a mountain from one.So I set up and layed in my hammock till 4:30. The thunder eventually disappeared, but I forced myself up to make dinner. I'm plenty hungry (craving hot dogs with ketchup today), but I could have gone to sleep for the nite.I burnt my instant mashed potatoes (I told you I'm a horrible cook), but enjoyed talking to Juanita and her son Chris. She's an Oceanographer! Cool huh? She loves hiking and brought her son out for the weekend. I think that rocks. This kid probably doesn't think twice about camping\hiking with his mom, but people where I grew up sure would have.So it's 5:45 p.m. and 77 degrees. I'm going to go to sleep after I pull my tarp back over. I've been laying here looking up @ the trees above me. Oh, during diner I saw a hummingbird eating from a flower! I've never seen one feeding in the wild, only @ home in the feeders, so it was cool. Not sure what my short day does to my hiking "plan" but I'll figure it out....I always do.~Certain