Day 62 - I Need A Vacation (1/9/2016)

Today marked the end of my first two months. I woke up early because I'd promised the caretaker I would go get water from the spring. This sounds generous, but really it was just because I'd get to take the canoe out again. Littlefoot and I set out and brought back 24 gallons. God I love canoeing.

I also planned to leave early. I'd heard the rec centre in Great Barrington allowed us to camp for free, so my plan was to race 19 miles into GB. So my plan was water, wolf down some pancakes, and hit the trail by 7:40.

Over pancakes, I chatted with Littlefoot and Bambi (the Caretaker). The conversation was so good I left at 9:30 (after another short chat with Jellybean and Pooh Bear who were having a late morning). 

I half expected I wouldn't make it to Great Barrington, but a lunch at the 8 mile mark with Sphinx and Freefall git me pumped again and I managed to press through.

I've now hit the 30% mark after doing 117 miles in 7 days. My legs and feet are ready for some concrete jungle, so I'm looking forward to Rebecca, Dave, and Colin's arrival Saturday. For tomorrow I need to deal with mail, laundry, and a few gear issues. I'm also loving into a motel for the night. Pro Tip: don't go to a resort town on the last weekend of the summer if saving money is your goal.

At least tonight the camping is free (even if the beer* wasn't).

Start: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

End: Great Barrington

Distance: 19.1 miles

* Barrington Brewery's ESB may be the best beer in its class that I've ever had

Day 61 - Rest Day At The Goose (31/8/2016)

This was a nice easy day, though I still struggled for the last few miles. You know you're tired when 11 miles feels as tough as 18. (Then again, you know you're fitter when 11 miles used to be a big day, and now it's a rest day.)

Upper Goose Pond is every bit as amazing as I was told it would be. The caretaker has a big white wolfhound named Falcor (to go with a small brown mutt named Bella). After pitching my tent, I took a canoe to an island in the pond for lunch. There I had a cup of tea, some lunch, and listened to music on my phone. Truly serene. When I got back, I found out that Uncle Mickey had bought hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone, so I immediately had dinner. Then I went up to my tent to make real dinner (yep, three consecutive meals in a few hours), and met Jellybean and Pooh Bear. They're both former army, and were on their first recreational backpacking trip - and discovering that trail walking with big packs is harder than they'd expected.

We had a great chat, and I gave them lots of reassurance that, indeed, trail walking with big packs is hard. Then we chatted about army life, and Germany (Pooh Bear had been an army brat there as well). They left me with a really delicious hit sauce (Puerto Ricans don't mess around with that).

Canoes, dogs, grilled burgers, and good conversations. It's really hard to explain how much I needed them that day.

Also, at the end of the day, Littlefoot showed up! I feared we'd lost him to the 12 Tribes, so I'm glad he's remained in society (sort of). I also found out that Eskimo, who'd gone to hospital with suspected giardia, was back on trail (and also not a member of the 12 Tribes). Good news abounds!

Start: Cookie Lady's

End: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

Distance: 11.1 miles