Date: 2008-06-21
From: 10 Mile River Campsite, CT

To: Stealth site .1 past Stony Brook Campsite, CT
Miles today: 16.0

Happy Birthday to my sister! 40 is knocking @ your door! LOLAlso, happy summer solstice to everyone! Each day gets shorter now, by 1 min. 43 seconds per day I think. It's also hike naked day out here on the AT. I did not partake, but I did get naked from the waist up once to put on my camisole after it dried out from yesterday's swim. 2 hikers showed up (of course) but it was 2 women, so who cares right?Nobody was naked today at all. I think it's a myth.It was an uneventful nite except for the totally realistic dream I had that a storm was coming in, and wind was blowing over me like crazy, so (in my dream, I was exactly where I was camping in reality), I opened my left eye a bit and in my dream, could see tons of lightening, but when I woke suddenly, my left eye was open and it was like the movies where boom..instantly the sound and other parts of the dream are gone. Crazy..There was no wind, so storm.I woke to 59 degrees and stepped off @ 7:15 a.m. Today was a very very physically demanding day, the hardest I've had since being back out here.It started wonderfully, hiking along the river in pine trees, simply beautiful. I met a new ridge runner, Brandon, who is actually from NC. No clue why he's way up in CT.Anyway, I climbed more today than any other day this year. First it was up Schaghitcoke Mtn., a 2 mile climb, and then it leveled off for a bit. I made it to Thayer Brook for lunch and soaked my feet, which felt really good. I will say adding the gel insoles on top of the superfeet has made a tremendous difference for me.I knew it was pretty much down for 1.5 miles to Rte 341, where you can go into Kent, CT. I almost did, I'm so hungry, but opted not to.After crossing the road, I met several trail maintainers building what's called a turnpike. It's raised frames filled in with rock\gravel\dirt, to protect the wetlands that flood there. I met Ben, Walt, Henry, another Walt, Ann, and 1 other man I can't remember. I thanked them all for their work.Then it was a crazy steep climb up Fuller Mtn. Man was it tough, short but tough. I met a Hungarian family day hiking, and the very chatty 15 yr old daughter kept me occupied all the way up. I was glad she was there, it distracted me. Her sister was 11 and was very inquisitive too. Cool family.Today just went on forever really. I kept thinking I was further than I was..that's a bummer.Then at the point you are ready for a break, the hardest hiking came. I dragged my tired butt up to Caleb's Peak, where I met a cool section hiker from CT. I was so tired after this 1 mile VERY steep climb, so I was praying for a nice downhill...NOT!Folks, all I can say is I feel sorry for SOBO'S who have to climb what I went down. Verticle rock scrambling mainly..really tough hiking. I almost thought I missed the memo about bringing climbing gear.It really slowed me down, and I finally got to the bottom and couldn't believe I stll had 3 miles and 1.5 hrs left! Ugh...It is totally flat though, you're on River Road for a bit, which is gravel (but you can't see the river at all). I put my crocs on for awhile and hiked, but the rocks were poking right thru the bottom, so I changed again.Finally I got to where I had a few miles left. I passed Troop 66, a group of boy scouts ages 9-11. They were dragging too, but were doing 7 miles. We were all headed to the same place though.Finally the trail started taking me rigt next to the river (not sure of the name). Weird..I started and ended my day hiking in beautiful pine forests next to rivers. I could have done without the stuff in between! LOLI accidentally passed the campsite, but found a great spot to hang further up, about 100 feet from the banks of the river. I got here @ 6:08 p.m. That's 11 hrs of hiking today for a mere 16 miles. Ugh. Ahh..another nite of water lulling me to sleep. I am so tired I can't even describe it. It's 70 degrees @ 8:30 p.m. and I'm going to pass out now.Oh, I found another tick on my right calf and removed it. It wasn't there for long, because I'm always checking out my legs for them.Oh my gosh...I haven't felt this tired in a long long time......~Certain