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Journal
| About Downunda | Trail
Facts | Hiking the Trail |
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16th July 2002 From:
Jerusalem Road  No breakfast
for me this morning as the Mozzies attacked me as soon as my head was out.
So I got dressed, packed up, and with granola bar in hand, got on my way.
The trail was mainly through undulating pine forest so it was fairly easy.
I headed for the cabin at Upper Goose Pond (pictured) as I had heard so much about it. I got there around 10:15 A.M. and had my breakfast. The shelter, or cabin, here was excellent - two levels, a kitchen, and a covered porch. Best of all, the cabin is right on the pond (which is about twice the size of Albert Park Lake) and there is a canoe for hikers to use. I couldn't resist jumping in the canoe and having a 45-minute paddle around the pond. With that, I set off. For the next ten miles or so I would describe the trail as like a BMX track - lots of up and downs, twists and turns, mixed in with a lot of rocks and roots. It was slow going and hard on the feet and legs. I was heading for a place known as "The Cookie Ladies." It's an old house with a nursery behind it. The owners let hikers pitch tents on the lawn. There was no one home except Rufus, the dog. 'Windbreaker' was already set up so I filled in the hiker register and set my tent up on the lawn. It was a relief to find a tenting area with no mosquitoes. So, tonight I am sitting on the lawn in a sun lounge, writing this journal entry. Apparently yesterday I passed 'Walkabout' (the good looking, red haired, Australian female hiker) without knowing it. She was staying in a shelter for the day and must have been out in the bush when I stopped by for a break. Some other hikers told me she was disappointed she missed me. I would like to catch her to get a photo, so perhaps the opportunity might arise within the next few weeks. I hear she is leaving the trail in two weeks to go back to work. Almost forgot to mention, today was a defining moment for me. In 1975 I was sent to Nashua, NH on business. One weekend I drove out the Massachusetts Turnpike and happened to spot a concrete footbridge crossing the highway. The bridge had a sign on it: "Appalachian Trail." A light bulb went off in my head - this must be a hiking track that follows the Appalachian Mountains. Here I am today, crossing that same footbridge! Tomorrow morning it's in to Dalton for some R&R. Goodnight all.
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