Samwise Hikes the Appalachian Trail! - Trail Journal -
	Home	| Updates	| Map	| Journal	| Photos	| Resources	| FAQ

August 2, Sharon Mountain Campsite - mile 1466.8

The miles were short again today, but as always the day felt long, & I'm glad to be in camp "early" for the first time in weeks. I made it in right after 5, which I used to consider normal quitting time, but lately, it's become 6:30. I've set an ambitious goal for myself tonight - to be asleep by 8:00! The miles & the exhaustion are really catching up on me & I desperately need some sleep.

For the second day in a row, I spent 3 hours in town this morning - this time picking up my mail drop & sorting through it all. I don't know what I was thinking when I planned to get it here instead of in Kent, but it doesn't matter any more, I guess. I must say, the residents of Cornwall Bridge deserve a big thumbs-up for hiker-friendliness. This whole area of Ct is described as "upscale" & it's not know for being particularly fond of these hundreds of foul-smelling hiker bums who come through each summer. But my experience today was excellent. I was not successful getting a ride into town, but only 2 vehicles passed me (one a garbage truck) & it was all down hill any way. Once I got to the PO, the postal clerk apologized profusely for having sent back a letter that came for me because whoever sent it forgot to write it on the envelope. I wasn't upset, after all, mistakes happen. Before I left, she let me come in the back & fill up my water bag from their COOLER! Expensive, chilled bottle water in my dirty, stained Platypus! I tell you, I was loving life as I hiked my way up a roller coaster of hills in 97* heat, with chilled water to drink. What a deal!

Right next to the PO was the "Package Store" which gives every hiker who comes in to sign their trail register a free drink. So I sipped a ginger ale & reminisced with the clerk about studying in Germany (she had just come back from a year there) & then she kindly let me in their backroom to use the restroom. I'm sure to normal people, using the restroom is not an exciting event. But as a hiker, flush toilets, running water & soap are like Christmas presents for me! Then I finally pulled myself together & went outside to cross the highway for the walk back. As I was waiting for traffic to clear., a lady pulled over & asked if I wanted a ride to the trail - that's like Christmas & my birthday on the same day!

Since then, I've been struggling up & down a bunch of very, very steep hills, which were made more difficult by the heat & bugs. In fact, only now as I'm writing do I remember what a lovely morning I had! When I got into camp tonight, I was so worn out, sweaty & tired of losing blood to skeeters & deer flies that I had nearly forgotten.