Date: 2009-06-15
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Home of Tom Levardi, Dalton, MA
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: light rain

Mon Jun 15, Day 97. The neat thing about the cabin we stayed in last night is they fix you a fantastic blueberry pancake breakfast. Our caretaker was Dave and I immediately volunteered to help him with kitchen duty in the morning. Mmm, mmm, mmm. Having six large blueberry pancakes really makes my tummy happy. I helped in the kitchen and also tried to fix coffee in an old percolator pot. That didn't go too well. Hey, it's hard cooking in a frontier kitchen!I was on the trail at 0630 and the rain was just starting. The trail conditions are probably the worst I've seen in a while. Mud and standing water are all over the low spots. Running water is on the trail on all the inclines and descents. You try to avoid puddles at first then resolve yourself to the fact that your feet will get wet. My boots are soaked and there's no way to get them dry. I wear the same damp socks day in and day out. My feet are getting pretty beat up. By the end of the day I will have bad hot spots on my heels. They are not blisters (yet) but they are red and sore. I put some BandAid Compeeds on them and it helps a little. The hike otherwise isn't too bad, I just wish there was scenery! AT sometimes has its own bridge!Click on picture to see full size Finerty Pond, mi 1542.9In the afternoon the rain really started coming down. I wear only my rain jacket. That means my shorts get soaked but they dry quickly. The thunder begins and I start to get anxious. Hiking with metal poles in a thunderstorm is not fun!The rain gets heavier as I approach Dalton, MA.Hot Wheels and I meet up at the railroad tracks at the town border and walk in together. The trail goes straight through town.I had been hearing about a trail legend named Tom Levardi who helps hikers. He's been doing it for thirty years. I find his house and ring the doorbell. Tom comes out and looks at me dripping wet. I ask him if he has a place for Hot Wheels and me to stay and he says he does. He is amazed that we have hiked in from Upper Goose Pond Cabin. He thought surely we would seek shelter at the Kay Wood Lean-to just south of here.Once we get our packs put away the first order of business is to hit the Post Office before it closes. We both have packages there. Back at the house we take showers and get dry. Tom then drives us to a fantastic AYCE place and I have three main courses and two dessert courses before announcing I was full. A quick trip to the store to re-supply and we head back to the house. At the store I buy bottles of shampoo and bodywash, and a package of toilet paper to donate to the house. Tom is very appreciative but does not ask for supplies like this. He accepts them upon my insistence. I am totally blown away by Tom's hospitality and caring compassion for hikers. He is a real Trail Angel, that's for sure. Tom Levardi and SpokesTidbits and Observations:T&O One: I pulled the second deer tick out of my leg the other day. Amazing how tiny they are. Apparently the DEET wasn't on the one square millimeter of skin it decided to attach. I'm vigilant looking for the little critters.T&O Two: The AT goes through Massachusetts for 90 miles and I can almost see the Vermont border up ahead. I still need to climb over Mt. Greylock which will be the highest peak (3,491') since Virginia. Hope the legs are ready for some big elevations. Click here for audio journal