Date: 2007-06-15
From: Conn 341

To: Hoyt Road
Miles today: 11.5

Well, I finally finished Conn. Great feeling to have another state completed. The SQ and I were going to do an overnighter, but it just didn't work out. So, we just did the last section in Conn.The only bad thing about section hiking is the drive to get there. It took us almost 2.5 hours to drive the cars down and get them parked before we could begin hiking. Finally got on trail by 9. We started at the Conn 341 end which in the long run proved to be the smart start.We stopped at the Mt. Algo shelter to eat breakfast and ran into a few hikers who had spent the night. A couple were out trying to hike down to the NJ line, but weren't sure if they were going to have enough time. And, another gentleman who was doing exactly what we were doing, but going the opposite way. He hiked up from Hoyt Road the day before and stayed at the shelter and was going into Kent today.Had a great feeling about the day because we saw a Scarlett Tanager right off the bat on the trail leading to the shelter. And, there was a phoebe who had built a nest in the shelter hanging around waiting to get to her nest. Probably wishing the hikers would get a move on.It was a perfect day for hiking. Not too hot, not too cold and no humidity which translates to very little bug activity. Which was good.As many of you know the last time I took the SQ out for a hike (Jug End Rd) - was not a very pleasant experience. She is afraid of heights. So, having it be buggy would have added to her stress levels. I was not too sure if the terrain was going to be condusive to the SQ's hiking ability. I was more than prepared to hike her back to her car at 341 if it was bad and then keep hiking to my car at Hoyt Road.But, luckily the terrain had no real cliffs or heights. It was rocky in a lot of places, but overall was not bad. It was slow going the first 4.2 miles and I had visions of us getting to my car at 8pm, but once we got passed Dry Gulch it was pretty smooth sailing.   Still took us a while, but we got back to the car about 5:30.   But, once we reached where we crossed over Rt 55 - I realized that we had not parked my car at Hoyt Road. From Rt 55 to Hoyt Rd was another .7 miles. So, once I realized this - I told the SQ to go ahead and hike down Rt 55 to the parking lot and she could wait there. I would go ahead and hike to Hoyt Road and back to Rt. 55 and walk back down to the parking lot.No sooner had I left the SQ and gotten down the trail that I realized someone had mowed a path through the grass near where we parked the car and I could see the car. I felt bad because I sent the SQ down Rt 55 when all we had to do is keep hiking and she could get to the car easily. Oh, well.I hiked the last .5 miles and came back to the mowed path.   The SQ was sitting in the parking lot chatting with a bunch of boy scouts who were heading out to do a 2 day hike.All in all it was a good day.   We had lots of good bird activity - including a great blue heron and king fisher down near the river. We had an owl fly away from us deep in the woods. It always amazes me how they can fly through all the trees and not make one sound. If you don't see them - you would never hear them.   We also saw a Rose Breasted Grossbeak.Saw a deer down near the river. It was cool. The heron was sitting on a log in the water right in front of the deer which was at the edge of the river drinking. Sweet. Too far away to get a good picture though.The most interesting thing we saw was a black squirrel. It was amazing. It was so dark. I don't think I have ever seen a black squirrel. We met a lot of hikers - headed south and north. Including a couple of section hikers from Georgia. The two guys (Sky Tracker and Eagle Tracker) parked their cars at the same spots we did - but they hike opposite of each other. So we ran into Sky Tracker first. He was a retired pilot. Very good conversation. Plus, he came up with a trail name for the SQ. She was telling him how she really doesn't like to hike on rocks and wished she were home. She doesn't mind nice wide trails. So, he came up with T.M.H.   Take Me Home.We got to the height of the land and Sky Tracker was eating lunch with his partner and he introduced her as Take Me Home.   Perfect.