July 24, 2001
Staying tonight in a shelter three miles south of Mr. Greylock's summit. The higlight of the day was definitely my first tandem bike ride in Cheshire. I have always wanted to ride a bicycle built for two. It's harder than it looks, but Mary Poppins and I prevailed. He saws it's the perfect cure for control freaks. (Yes, Mary is a lad.) We rode to a farmer's market and stopped at a very sad petting zoo.
Norway also caught up. Her mom is doing really well. They think they got all the cancer when they removed her bladder. Norway's relief is visible.
We're staying with a few Southbounders tonight. I started seeing the first SoBos at Upper Goose Pond. I love it. It mixes things up again, makes it more interesting to talk in the shelters at night. We haven't heard their life stories yet, and they bring news of friends ahead and upcoming mountains.
The party that Longshanks and Blur threw was a huge success. There were probably 20 hikers there in addition to the small family reunion taking place. Indeed, there was a keg and spirits galore. It was my first clambake. The families (who insisted on serving us) gave us Massachusetts lobsters, clams, corn on the cob, burgers and hotdogs, and desserts galore. I gained five points overnight. It was quite the celebration. The next day they returned us to the trailhead in varying conditions. I was merely tired. Judging by the look and stench they retained even the next day, Batty and Smittee may have still been drunk. Greenlight and I walked the 10 miles to Dalton together. We had another good talk about relationships. Actually learned something about him this time.
Stayed two nights in Dalton in Tom Levardi's yard--a nice man who likes to help hikers even though his neighbors hate it. On the first night he served cake and ice cream with whipped cream and jimmies in silver cups. I've really been living the high life lately.
Had another first as well. First time I was ever kicked out of a library. I was using the internet too long even though nobody was using the other available computers. The only regrettable part--aside from disturbing the librarians seemingly volatile blood pressure--was not being able to email the journal entries I'd just typed for over an hour. Oh well. It's supposed to storm tonight and break this hot spell. It's on to Vermont tomorrow.
|
