Home again.

okay, i have spent a week somewhat resting my knees. definitely not hiking. still sore and swollen. guess this will take longer than i thot.  did get to try and help nathan and amy move into their new home. so the thru hike is not happening this year for sure. may have to settle for section hikes. we shall see. i did manage to hike 137.4 official trail miles, almost all of conn. and mass. climbed the highest peaks in both conn. and mass. averaged 9.8 miles per day for the 14 days on the trail. met some interesting and incredible people. thanks to all of you who followed, commented, and prayed. your support was and is appreciated more than you know. i am posting pics and tried to caption them as best i can remember where they were. if and when i get back on the trail i will try to post and share as much as is possible. later. see ya up the trail.

Okay now what

So apparently these knees got tired of hiking before the rest of me did. Arrived at mass rt. 2 @ williamstown just before 6 after a 14 mile day up and over mt. Greylock. Beautiful views from the top. Found myself limping alot the couple of miles. Got to.the road and could barely move my knees. Long story short I am off the trail at nathan and Amy's. Doesn't look like i'm gonna be able to do this. Have done 137.4 official trail miles in 14 days. 9.8 miles a day. The knees are just not holding up their end of the deal. Thanks to all those of you who have followed and those who have prayed for me. Keep in touch. Later.

Cheshire, MA. 7-22

Knowing it was going to be so very hot and humid today I was up early and on the trail by 6. Did 10 miles and stopped at St. Mary's Church in Cheshire. They let hikers stay in their fellowship hall. Tomorrow will be the climb up Mt. Greylock. About 2500 ft. up from here. They say it's the biggest climb since VA for thru hikers. The summit is 8.1 miles from here. Come sore feet, you CAN do it. I may stay at the house lodge at the top depending on the heat and the feet. Well, time to get some thing to eat. What will it take be, ramen or tuna fajitas? Thank you to all who are praying for me. It really makes a difference. See ya up the trail.

Dalton, ma

Taking a full zero here today. Tired & sore feet and knees. Tom Levarti is really an awesome guy. Puts up hikers and let's them camp in his yard. Supposed to be really hot today and tomorrow. Will probably try to get out tomorrow. If the feet are up to it. Later.

Kay wood shelter, dalton, ma. 7-19

Apparently went brain dead today, hiked, 19.3 miles. Stopped at the cookie lady's house. Enjoyed homemade cookies, boiled eggs, and an ice cold lemonade. Def worth the extra .2 miles. Really hard on the feet going so far in one day. Planning to take a nero tomorrow, and maybe a zero on Thursday. Need to rest the feets. Getting really late now so,see ya up the trail.

Upper goose pond cabin. 7-18

Started out the day very short on water, not a good beginning. Just couldn't seem to catch up on it. Beautiful cabin on the lake here. Only way to get is to hike in. Caretakers come for a week at a time and serve free pancake breakfast every morning. They do accept donations. This weeks caretaker is couple. He through hiked in 08. Nice people. They have canoes and swimming in the lake/pond. They.also provide water which still has to be filtered, but jugs are lined up on the porch. I think 9 of the 14 bunks are taken tonite. Rained today, felt good but did have to put the pack cover on. Well it is after hiker midnight and I need some sleep. See ya'll up the trail.

Mt. Wilcox north shelter 7-17

Another 13 mile day. Got to the shelter at 6 after taking a 45 min. Lunch break and stopping at bennett pond to swim for an hour. Pretty hot day again, a lot of the water sources are dried up. There is no water here at the shelter. Lots of water within a mile up the trail in the morning. Headed for upper goose pond cabin tomorrow. Beds, water, shower, swimming, canoeing, and pancake breakfast. I'm ready for that. Crossing paths with doc, john Wayne, beanpole, conversation, and mothership lately. Also met geo, glide, do what, and zen. One minutes til hiker midnight.  See ya up the trail.

Antique shop on rt. 7

7-16
Got to rt. 7 and was gonna check on motel rates and resupply, but there were some other hikers there who said the rates were really high for the weekend. The two nice old ladies at the antique shop let 11 hikers camp around the place, have access to the bathroom, water, power, and cold drinks. They also had cases of jugs of spring water for the hikers. Real nice. Walked a mile and a half down the road and got a burger. Since there were no trees I had to figure out how to use my hammock as a tent, to keep the mosquitoes out. Wasn't pretty but it worked. Good end to a 13 mile day.  See ya up the trail.

Laurel ridge campsite. 7-15

Happy retirement day to me! Spent the day in the woods climbing to the highest point in CT. Bear mountain-2316ft. Up from the 735ft I started at this am. Didn't see any bears, only bear poop! Did 8.1 miles today almost all uphill and I am in Mass. Hoping it doesn't get too hot the next few days. Thanks again and again to Nathan and Amy for being so wonderful and accommodating. I love you guys. And thank you to the girls for the blueberry muffins,they were yummy for lunch. Well, see ya up the trail.

7-14

I guess I only thought I was taking a nero day. Got on the trail on falls village @ 2, got to the shelter @ 4:10, felt so good n the weather was so nice I just kept going. Ended up doing 10 miles by 6:10 then amy picked me again to spend the nite with them. Thanks nathan n amy for all you kindness n love. Got to talk to my sweetheart again! Yea! On to MA.

7/14

Enjoying the nero day at nathan n amys been to walmart for a couple of things. Working on lightening the pack weight. Already got 5 lbs out. Goal is 10. Resupplying for 5 days. Heading back to.the trail this afternoon. Again walmart was all out of hiking legs so i'm hoping to grow some of my own. Later

Evening off at nathan's.

Nathan picked me up @ falls village to spend the nite with them. They made yummy homemade pizza n the girls made muffins for papa. Got a shower, getting clothes washed. Life is good. Missing my sweetheart today! Had planned to eat @ mountainview cafe, but the they were closed, went the only other cafe in town n they r only open Thursday thru sun. Caught a ride with a teacher from the high school n he took me to the gas station/deli on the outskirts of town. Followed his recommendation n got the big poppy. Delicious! Drank 2 - 32oz. powerades. Stayed at pine swamp spring shelter last nite. Short day tomorrow to lime rock springs probably, only 4 miles, all up. Not as hot today, still sweated plenty though. Just made for nicer walking. Got to the section of the trail nathan n I did last year. Well gotta close so I can talk to carol tonite. Tomorrow will be another day.

Daaaaay three

Up at 6:30 on the trail @ 7:30. Lots of ups n downs today, plus a very hot one made for a shorter day than planned. 7 miles. Still meeting lots of interesting people, mostly through hikers. Keep crossing paths with John Wayne, Bean Pole, Conversation, n a guy with a dog named Eloise.  6 other people around the shelter tonight. Already quiet. Due to the shorter mileage today will probably see if Nathan can pick me up in falls village tomorrow. Well it is bedtime n I am ready. Tomorrow is another day.

Day 2

I M exhausted! Met Bahama dave, freight train, conversion, calculator, dutch, pony, whoopie pie n a bunch of other people so far. Very interesting and a couple of nice views today. Very tired n a little sore tonight.  At silver hill campsite w/only 2 other people tonight. Awesome campsite w/a porch swing, pavilion, water pump, picnic tables, a nice grassy area, n a breeze. What more could you ask for? Getting late so will get some sleep.

1st day

Got started bout 9:15,did 10 miles. A little ambitious for the heat n terrain. Just made the day a little longer. Pretty tired though. A couple nice views, will send pics soon. Got to shelter @5:30 at got water n in bed by8:30. At least 8 other people in n around Mt. Algo shelter tonight. Hope they get quiet soon. Still tired so g'nite.

Finally!

Today is the day I finally set foot on the trail to begin the hike. Huge thanks to all the people who made this possible. Thanks in advance for your prayers. See ya soon!

Chillin at nathan n amy's

Setting out in the morning near gaylordsville,ct. Heading north. Hoping to see the kids again wed. nite.  Later!

Enroute

At Reagan national ready to get on to hartford.

I am now retired! Ready to get on the trail.

Okay ready or not here we go!

I guess I will just have to post.separately to fb. Oh well, as long as the battery lasts I can do eeet

one more time

yes or no

Maybe maybe not

Try something else

Again

Well do this work?

Yet

Yet another attempt to autopost from blog to fb page

Soon n very soon

Flying out sat am. Plan to hit the trail brute n early sun am. Can't wait!

What will it take to persuade this phone and computer to play nice together?

This is not autoposting to fb. Why?

Do you know why this is not autoposting?

Saying good bye

Be safe nathan n amy. We love you! Hurry back! See you sat.

Thanx nathan!

Huge thanks to nathan for setting up the at blog and linking it to fb for me. U r the ultimate technology geek!

Look out! mobile post coming!

Will this post to facebook too?

so it begins

well, let's see how well this works.  blogging while hiking the AT.