Date: 2003-06-30
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin (1515')

To: Kay Wood Lean-to (1860')
Miles today: 17.6

Aloha! {sniff} Good to see you back. {sniff} You must know before we get into today's events {sniff} that it's been a long day for me {sniff}, note the mileage above does not include the additional .7 from and to shelters {sniff}, and all with the beginnings of a wicked sinus/head cold {sniff}. Time out; time to blow my nose for the millionth time. {sniff sniff} Excuse me. Thanks. The short of that long sentence is that I'm tired and feeling only so-so meaning who knows where this may go... if anywhere. So let's see what happens, shall we?   After a wonderful hearty breakfast of pancakes and coffee (thanks Maarat) I was off leaving Chilz and Cipher washing dishes at the cabin. Unlike me, Chilz is a smart guy and knows a wonderful place to spend a zero day when he finds one. He and Cipher were going to make the most of the peaceful environment and canoe. (The 18-year-old swimmer daughter might have a bit to do with it also but we won't go there.) He also was set on food to be able to stay where I have one day's worth remaining and a day plus to get to town. Bummer. Oh well, next time.   The hike today would have been wonderfully pleasant if I didn't have this messed up head to deal with. Scratchy throat, stopped up nose and sinuses going nuts.   Don't know what this is all about all of a sudden. Irritating as all get out too. I already huff and puff on the UPs so let's throw in a touch of a head cold. Thank goodness today was pretty much level after the first big UP. That made it a little better.   The hike took me across Interstate 90/MA Turnpike (1400') where I actually got a honk. Made my day! From there it was to Finerty Pond (1900') for a foot soak in another lovely pond. Ahhhh... life is so rough for some!   When I arrived at the pond I found Earl relaxing pond-side. It seems I may have just missed his skinny-dipping session. Ain't that always the way! We spent the next 20 minutes or so just sitting and soaking. Most excellent. Even better, he offered up a couple of cold pills, which I eagerly accepted. Didn't work completely but they did help.   Earl is a 62-year-old retired steel worker from Ohio. More importantly he is a wealth of information regarding places to hike and plant and bird identification. He either taught me or refreshed my memory on numerous plants, trees and birds. It was nice to finally have someone along that knew and could point out what's what and why something did what it did, etc. One of the most important things he taught me today was that Jewell Weed could be used to stop the itching from poison ivy. I don't have the poison ivy problem but I did give it a try on some of the million itchy bug bites. I can't tell you if it was coincidental or not but I forgot about them so.... I'll continue giving them a try and let you know for sure. Anyway, he was a treasure for his knowledge today and I certainly appreciate his taking the time to walk with me pointing them out along way. Reminded me of Monya, Pizzaz and Short Job. {sniff}   We took a leisurely lunch at the October Lean-to and a leisurely walk to here. In route we tried... the Cookie Lady. Marilyn Wiley lives on a blueberry farm behind an abandoned house along one of the roads we crossed today. She's kind enough to provide a water spigot on the house for hikers' use. It's our understanding that she often provides homemade cookies to munch on as you watch hummingbirds buzz her feeder. In season, which they aren't quite yet, you can pick your own blueberries at some pittance of a charge like $1.25 a pound. Earl and I had hoped to find some ready to go and bring a bucket here for the evening and morning but no such luck, to early. We also didn't luck out with any of the cookies. She didn't seem to be home. Reading the shelter journal this evening though shows others to have been much luckier. It's okay though. Non-iodine water is just as good if not better. Mahalo to the Cookie Lady.   The remaining portion of the walk was rather benign with us sauntering along and Earl showing me plants and flowers and telling me about different places to hike. It sounds certain that this is Earl's one and only long distance hike. Sometimes I can understand that completely. {sniff}   We have the shelter to ourselves tonight. With limited flat ground to pitch my tent I'm opting to shelter it also. Truthfully I don't feel like setting up the tent. As long as the mosquitoes behave I'll be fine. I'm too tired to notice much otherwise anyway. Tomorrow is my day to stop in Dalton for a mail drop (or Christmas as I call it). My original intentions were to go through, do what needed to be done, and then hike out to the first shelter. There's a big UP coming soon. Now though it's all going to decide on how this head is doing in the morning. If the cold is still with me I may get a hotel room, sort through everything I need to do, buy some head stuff, and baby myself for a day. Gotta get this thing gone and fast. Obviously you'll be the second to know tomorrow (I always get to be first).   For now though, I am quite tired and actually want to crash early. Unbelievable, it's only 9p and I'm going to bed. Earl is climbing in now. So with that said, I will bid you adieu and see you tomorrow. {sniff} Goodnight and zzzzzzzzz........BSandTs: minor sweat. Weather has been exceptional... and cool right now.AandPs: arches! Nothing that a good massage and a Motrin 800 can't fix for 7 or so hours.MandGs: head colds! painful arches! head colds again!...waah!Critter count: 7x tiny toads, 7x chipmunks, 1x very green garden snake