Date: 2006-06-19
From: Mt. Algo Lean-to

To: CT4
Miles today: 11.4

June 19, CT4Well, another evening of excitement after the entry. The fellow in the other tent showed up to fix dinner. On the trail there has been a drifter/grifter named Frank. He's been seen at different shelters pretending to be a hiker. But apparently he's living out of shelters and hanging out. This isn't unusual. I remember running into this sort at one time or other. Most are harmless. So I ignore them. Anyways, I got my first heads up about this fellow from a southbound section hiker in New York. Apparently he's found a way to be here in Connecticut. He asked if he could use my headlamp to get water because his flashlight battery was dead. Then he proceeded to make supper on a Coleman two burner stove, heating cans of chili. He wanted to talk. He claimed he knew me and had talked to me at another shelter. I told him he was mistaken. I would remember someone who ate out of cans. And besides that, I didn't know anyone except night hikers who fixed supper at ten at night, after a hike in, not after sleeping in a tent in the afternoon. And good night. He said, so you're going to sleep? Yep. And I rolled over registering where my hiking pole was in my mind. I didn't have any problems.Got up my usual five and ate breakfast and packed out by six. Marque and Frank still snoring away. Gratefully, the ugly climb was first in the morning and the temperature is tolerable. None of the books I have say if this hill has a name, but Caleb's peak should have a great vista. Today it was hazy. I'm getting used to the idea of not seeing anything when I get to a vista. I actually saw a Johnny-in-a-pulpit, all alone at a stream crossing. And more of those white flowers. Oh! Before I forget, at CT341, first road crossing after the shelter, the road to Kent, I saw Snake again. He and some of the FriaryBoys (I shall call them that) spent the night in Kent. Part of them tented next to the cemetery and Cantaloupe got a room and some stayed with her.All day I got caught up and passed yet again by various FriaryBoys. The nicest was Geebus. He apologized for waking us up during the night hike and he even walked with me a couple miles on the riverwalk after the climb down St. John's Ledges. Back to my walk. The Pinnacle of Pain, that is how I will remember St. Johns Ledges. This is basically another humungous pile of rocks one has to scramble down. Half a mile to do, about 500 foot drop. I try not to favor the sore foot but was unsuccessful. By the bottom, my foot is being a real pain. I'd had to place my foot into positions that caused more then sweat pain.Next a five mile river walk, which I hope will help move me along. At first it is paved. This is where Geebus catches me. We hope it isn't five miles of pavement. But my foot hopes it is, flat walking is merely nagging. But the road turns into dirt then a foot path. Very nice. At first the road doesn't run close to the river and Geebus and I are disappointed. But when the road turns to dirt, we are right next to the river. The stench of dead water animals in the still hot air is different from the organic decay of the forest floor under the canopy.We catch up a ways with Cruise, RambleOn, and TreeFinger and then Sunshine joins us for a midmorning break. Sitting next to the river, enjoying the breeze and cool air off the waters. I listen to them talk about if they should do a thirty mile day or split it in two since their goal is SouthEgermont by Wednesday. I chuckle to myself. I just want to get to the road to Cornwall and hope someone will be able to look at my ankle. I get up and thank the boys for their company and head on down the river walk. It's a nice ramble. Spring flowers popping their color between the greens. I even spotted a clump of wild iris, yellow. Tall phlox, Sorrel and those little balloon flowers. Then comes the last climb for the day. Or at least my day. It isn't horrid. Just a pimple. But the foot is chippering at me. I walk slow knowing it's a mile to the road. I take a break before what is supposed to be the last pitch. TreeFingers, RambleOn and Cruisen come down the path. They stop when they see me. TreeFingers assures me that between the heat and age, the heat takes it out of all of us. Regardless, I let them go ahead. Finally the road. I steel myself for a .9 mile walk on asphalt to town. I hear a car! I turn to put out my thumb. The vehicle starts to turn right behind me on the road. Oh well. Then I here a toot and the driver has pulled into the road but is waving me toward him. I get a ride to town. I get dropped off at the package store. I step in and just stop. They have AC. The counter help ask me if I'm a hiker or just dress and smell like one. Right. Like anyone would even want to dress and smell like one. Oh, I guess I do! I sign the register there. The lady is kind enough to give me thephone number to the Volunteer fire department in hopes the EMT there could take a look at my foot. She gives me directions to the motel. She tells me what time the general store closes. And I get this local soda that is sooo good. I drink down 20 ounces in five minutes. I go to the hotel which is past the general store and who do I see? The Friary boys! I am amused. If all goes well with my foot and they go to NYC, I may see them yet again. The hotel is clean and worn. But they have a shower and hot water and clean sheets on the bed. And an AC unit in the room. I crank it and go take a shower. After the shower I hobble to the post office to pick up my box. I stumble to the General store and find not only the FriaryBoys but IrishGypsy and JerseyGirl. They have decided to make more miles by walking 14 hour days. So they have caught up. But they are getting off and going south. JerseyGirl asks me about my plans. I tell her I really would like to make it to Dalton this year. She asks me when do I plan to get back on next year. We laugh about how next year we will meet at Dalton the first Saturday after 4th of July.Then their trail Angel whisks them off to the bus station in Torrington. I get me a seafood salad on a bun, garlic and peppercorn pasta salad, a couple bottles of YooHoo and limp back to the hotel. I call the VFD, no answer. I call Socks (2005), leave a message. I watch the weather station. Rain tonight. Possible hail. Good day to be off the trail. I hope Giggles and Guinness are doing okay. I call my honey, Paul. He is concerned about my foot. Both of us agree maybe I need to just get off it for a few days. So, tonight, I sleep between sheets, an AC cooling the air. My foot on the extra pillow. Namaste'