Connecticut & Massachusetts

I've opened this web page multiple times to write this blog that I've already postponed and I can't seem to think of the words I want to put on this page. I've always been torn with what to write in my blogs. Torn over how much of my life I should disclose so publicly. For this post I choose to keep it to a minimal, partially because i'm feeling behind on posting and access to a computer is far and few in between (& currently I have access to one) but I'm also feeling a bit selfish (Part of me wants to keep these memories and stories for myself) and have chosen to keep most of it to myself to share with people over a cup of joe once I finish.

Connecticut

My first time in New England.

The day I arrived in Connecticut, Poofy, who got off in Harpers Ferry picked Woodchuck, Chill-a-While, Paperclip & I up in Kent and drove us to his home town (about an hour away from the trail). We stayed as his place for two nights, taking a zero in the process. It was great to see Poofy again, catch up & rest our feet. The cashiers at the local subway commented on how nice I was to them, southern hospitality is not something they get a taste of often, from the sounds of it people are usually rude to them. At the end of our stay with Poofy, Chill-a-While left temporarily to find some work in order to fund the rest of his hike.

Stairs made out of roots.

Clearly happy to see Poofy again!

Showers & fluffy towels make me happy.

Two hikers, one couch.

Poofy, Chill, Me & Paper.

My "Mother Nature" doodle.

Me & Chill-a-While.

Me & Poofy.

Me & Paperclip.

Chill signing his last trail journal until he returns.

A deer cooling off in the water.

Silver Hill Campsite (0.1E)

Plenty of rock squeezes.

The longest "Detour" ever...

Determined to pass and get into Falls Village for free camping and a hot meal, me and my hiking partner forged a river. Falls Village was a quaint little town with not a whole lot to offer, we ate dinner at the Inn and set up camp behind Toymakers Cafe. Got a cup of joe and a delicious cinnamon bun the next morning.

The back of Toymakers Cafe.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts was the first state in a while that took my breath away, the first day the trail follows alongside a mossy gorge with scattered waterfalls. The trail is well graded and the layers of pine needles make it feel like cloud walking.

(Above & Below) Chicken of the Woods.
When cooked properly it is suppose to look and taste like chicken, I haven't tried it out, but one of my hiking partners swears you could serve it as chicken in a restaurant and no one would be the wiser.

Me, Woodchuck & Peaceful Warrior got a hitch in the dump truck pictured above... So far that's one of the three coolest hitches I've received, the other two being an RV & an Italian Ice Truck.

New England is full of lakes.

Upper Goose Pond Cabin (0.5W) is a must stop for thru-hikers. The caretaker lets hikers take the canoes out onto the lake. It has a big bunk room. And the best part is in the morning you get freshly brewed coffee and possibly the best pancakes on the trail!

Low Profile's silhouette.

The dock & canoes we had access to.

Rob Bird is the definition of a trail angel. He is an amazing human being with such a big heart. Back in Tennessee he took me in when I needed to get my root canal done, drove me to the dentist and put me up for the night. I stayed in contact with him & he picked me, Woodchuck & Paperclip up in Dalton, MA and took us to the cabin he had rented long term in order to provide some trail magic in the town where his hiker hostel use to be. He took us to eat all of the best food around, slack packed us & another hiker named "Custom" over Mt. Greylock, took us to a cliff jumping spot & gave us a bed and roof to rest our feet.