Date: 2008-07-30
From: Dalton, MA

To: Jewels' home - Adams, MA
Miles today: 10.1

We decided to get a fairly early start today because our plan was to spend the night in Adams, MA with Jewels and Draggin '05. I knew we would have lots to talk about because Jewels has done lots of hiking, Draggin did a thru hike of the AT in '05 and they both just finished a cross-country bicycle ride of the Trans Am last month. :-)Mrs. Gorp and I walked down to the local restaurant and had breakfast and coffee after we got packed up. (I also had a small pot of coffee in my room)We had just finished breakfast and was standing out front of the restaurant getting our packs on when Linda Perault stopped to talk a little.She mentioned her mother had walked the AT when she was 70 years old and that her mother is now 90. Mrs. Gorp asked what her Mom's name is and Linda said it was Kay Wood!Kay Wood is a rather famous person along the AT and even has a shelter named after her. Mrs Gorp and Linda Perault I asked Linda about that and she said her mother was actually embarrassed to have had the shelter named after her.Linda walked with us for about half a mile while we talked. That was one of those unexpected pleasures that always just seem to happen out here on the Trail!Linda turned and headed towards her house and Mrs. Gorp and I headed into the woods and started the 1,000 foot climb we had to get over to get into Cheshire.It seemed like it took quite a while before we passed by the side trail to Crystal Mtn Campsite...and that was only about 3 1/2 miles into the woods.We kept walking and I wanted to stop to get a snack, but Mrs. Gorp said it would only be a short time before we got to Gore Pond and it would be a nicer spot to stop and eat....soooooo, I kept moving... :-)It was nice there. We found a great spot right on the edge of the pond and I got to eat a little to give me the energy I needed to do the "big" miles we had planned today. ;-)We walked on when I was done eating and came to The Cobbles next.There are lots of huge boulders in that area. I took a few pictures of some along the Trail and we kept walking and descended to Cheshire, MA. Rocks, big ones. We were both looking forward to stopping at a little ice cream shop located right along the AT called Diane's Twist.I had a vanilla milkshake and 2 hot-dogs and Mrs. Gorp had something with ice cream and orange soda in it.We sat out at a picnic table talking to 4 of the locals. The picnic table was in the shade and there was a nice breeze blowing through. I could have stayed there all day because it felt so good! :-)I called Jewels and told her we were going to walk another 1 1/2 miles so we could get 400 feet of the climbing of Greylock done today.She said that she'd pick us up at Outlook Rd at 1pm.Mrs. Gorp and I finished walking through Cheshire and entered a cornfield, then some woods before coming out into a cow pasture. I really enjoy walking around areas like this. :-)We got that 400 foot climb out of the way, so tomorrow we will only have about a 2,400 foot climb left to summit Greylock.We sat down and waited for about 15 minutes before Jewels showed up and took us home for the day. :-)I knew right from the start that this was going to be fun! Jewels lives real close to the AT and she had just finished a cross country bicycle ride, so we really had lots of stuff to talk about!She runs a day care, so when the last of the children had been picked up, we went to the grocery and I bought enough food to get me over Greylock. :-) Mrs Gorp and Draggin '05 talking about how they would rather spend their free time lounging in recliners than backpacking and bicycle riding. ;-) Draggin '05 came over to the house after work. This was his first day back to work since before their 2 1/2 month cross country bicycle ride.It was great seeing him again! Jewels pretty much handled all of getting dinner ready....and she never looked busy! :-)We had some very good potato salad, thick and juicy grilled burgers and fresh corn on the cob. I have to keep reminding everyone that this hiking. This hiking thing is tough! It's NOT for everyone!A song comes to mind. I don't know the name of the song, but I do know a few of the words.... I sing them a lot to myself. It goes something like this; "Nobody know the troubles I've seen, nobody knows but I."I keep repeating those words to myself at times like this when I have to rough it out here on the Appalachian Trail."Nobody knows the troubles I've seen, nobody knows but I."Then we ate! :-)We sat up talking till almost 11pm. Poor Draggin had to leave because he¢ll be "dragging" tomorrow morning at his second day of work in the last 4 months! ;-)We all settled in for the night. I needed to write my journal entry, but was way too tired. I was asleep in minutes! :-)THANK YOU Jewels! What a great time spending the day with you and hearing all those stories about your 4,000+-mile bicycle ride. (makes me want to go for another bicycle ride) :-)Another one of those great days spent living life to the fullest along the Appalachian Trail. :-)