Date: 2017-07-07
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: light rain

I woke up to Lauraelae making a decent racket as she packed up, just as we had planned. She had overheard the caretaker mentioning that she would make pancakes when she got up, so we had conspired to ensure that she woke up at what we considered a reasonable hour. It probably wasn't necessary as her alarm went off a few minutes later, but better safe than...The pancakes weren't anything special, but to us they were delicious, especially doused in syrup. Blue, MaryBeth, Lauraelae, and I all got packed up and hit the trail in our respective directions. It wasn't long until the sound of the highway began to mask the sounds of the forest and then the smell of cars and exhaust washed over me as I neared I-90. I crossed the overpass and not far after, at the next road crossing, ran into TRAIL MAGIC trash... there were cans and bottles around an empty cooler, a disappointing sight. I crossed the road and found TRAIL MAGIC in the form of a banana in a bag hanging from a tree. Much better.From the road the trail headed back up into the woods and I started my only major uphill of day. About halfway up a light rain started... at first so light that it didn't even make it to the ground before being caught by the trees. Eventually however, the trees reached capacity and stated dripping on the underbrush which had me soaked in no time. I passed a couple of small ponds, normally still but now reflecting the multitude of reason drops hitting them as I walked. Only a couple ducks were visible as I passed by... I'm still hoping to see a moose one of these times. Continuing on, I was soon able to hear occasional cars pass on a nearby road, however it took almost half an hour to actually reach the road. At the road I walked down a short way to the home of the Cookie Lady and refilled on water and had a quick lunch since the rain had stopped. Nobody appeared to be home but I knocked anyways and was greeted by the Cookie Man who I talked with for a short while and who gave me a couple of cookies. Yum.Their house is also a working blueberry farm but the berries weren't quite ripe yet, but they'll be spectacular when they are. Continuing on, the terrain was flat and covered in soft pine needles to cushion my steps. I crossed Bald Top Mt (I'll give you one guess as to if it was bald...Nope!) and then headed down into Dalton, MA. Walking along the street I was looking for a house with trekking poles in the front yard, who Lauraelae had tipped me usually let hikers sleep in their backyard. I came across it and found a couple of hikers hanging around, including my first SOBO! The owner of the place, Tom, came out and he was happy to let me stay, so I setup my tent. Tom had a couple of bikes for hikers to use to get around town, so I borrowed one and rode down to the community center to take advantage of their showers.The shower was wonderful... days of sweat, mud, and dirt coming off and leaving me refreshed. I stopped at a local cafe and got a  salad and smoothie for dinner and used some of their WiFi to update my trail entertainment before heading back. When I got back Tom informed me that he had decided up cook dinner for everyone tonight and a couple minutes later we all sat down to a delicious meal of pasta, meat sauce, bread, and salad. I had second dinner and then after a couple of us walked down to the gas station and got pints of ice cream which we brought back and ate for dessert.Tom mentioned that we should've asked about the ice cream... He would've brought us down to the food store where it's cheaper and I asked if there was a Walmart around. Next thing I know Tom had me in the car and on the way to the next town over where I was able to pick up a knee brace to replace my big, bulky, uncomfortable one.We got back and the hikers started a game of BS with was cut short when it started to rain. Tom came out and hung 4 tarps in such a way that enclosed his front porch, turning it into a mini shelter, which 2 hikers ended up sleeping in. I retired to my tent and drifted off to sleep to the sound of the rain.