Date: 2021-05-26
To: Bennington, VT
Miles today: 41.7
Weather: clear sky

While in Dalton, MA, on Friday, May 21, I had hoped to get a shower at their community center, but was not able to due to covid policy. The waitresses at Dalton Restaurant were much more welcoming, serving me breakfast and lunch while allowing me to recharge my devices and repack my maildrop from home. That evening at a campsite, I met Drew and Jay, weekend section hikers who were funny and welcoming. This was the first night it was buggy, and I was glad I had packed a headnet, which proved quite effective.On Saturday I hiked off and on with Drew and Jay, stopping a little off-trail with them for lunch at Dunkin', where with a few astute choices I put together a 1500 calorie lunch. I had had a couple blister issues, but with minimal care and luck, they have been okay. There were 7 hikers at the shelter that night, a max so far. A Boston hiker showed me platform stakes and how they are used, saying that tent platforms are common in NH.Drew and Jay were going home Sunday, so they left camp early, but on the trail they wrote "Legacy" as a farewell. No one else had done that for me in 1500 miles, so I appreciated the gesture. I climbed up to Mt. Greylock, the highest peak in MA, which is also adorned with a huge beacon as a war memorial - very nice indeed. It was a short day for me - fortunate because I had my tent up before a very hard rain fell, the first rain on my trip. I was solo at the shelter for the third time. Monday was a day for multiple milestones. I completed the MA section (yea!) and entered VT. The AT coincides with the first 105 miles of Vermont's Long Trail. Shortly after entering VT, I crossed the 1600 mile marker of the AT (yea again!) After hiking adjacent to a flowing brook north of N. Adams, I passed through a burned out section of forest that still retained its charred smell, and afterwards a rocky section. CT and MA were excellent at maintenance, both at the shelters and the trail itself. My first impression of VT, not so much. I hope to have dinner with Bernie Sanders tomorrow and suggest ways that VT can up its game. I met Serena and Alyssa, Long Trail newbies. At the shelter, I met Bugs, the first AT flip-flopper I've met on this trip.There has been a full moon the last few nights, and I can trace the arc of its path through my tent at night, a nice sight. On Tuesday, I sat next to a rocky stream to eat lunch and refill my water bottles. VT so far has more ups and downs, and a rocky path to traverse, making it more difficult for me. There was a steep descent into Bennington where I am taking my first zero.Concerns I sometimes struggle with: (1) loneliness, (2) the start of black fly season, which I think the Eagles had in mind in their song, Life in the Fast Lane, "they have a nasty reputation as a few of us do", and (3) spotty cell service separating me from Cynthia, leading to loneliness (see 1). I talk to people on the trail or at the shelter, but the connection is short-lived. So I look for and am receptive to positive messages. The Dalton UMC church sign said "God understands my fears." And on the Graffiti Bridge in N. Adam's, someone wrote "you're going to be okay."There was another issue with my planned itinerary. (Who is my Cruise Director? I'd fire the guy, but he's off hiking the AT at the moment.) Cynthia helped me resolve the issue, keeping me on the trail and supplied with maildrops. I will continue to work to transform my mental fluffness to mental toughness to keep me moving forward.