Crossing Into Connecticut & Reflections On Our Home State

Yesterday we crossed into Connecticut. We completed Massachusetts over 7 days, including a zero day at Upper Goose Pond.  

 
Having hiked so much in Massachusetts, everything was both familiar yet different. Most of our previous hiking was in the early spring and late fall. Places where we had great views in March and April were no longer there with the leaves at the height of the summer. In addition, I remembered some particularly difficult stream crossings that were now dry. It was all still beautiful and very enjoyable. 

 

 
We also started experiencing more frequent towns. While we only re- supplied in Williamstown when we first entered Massachusetts, that didn’t mean we couldn’t stop and eat. So at Williamstown: dinner and breakfast at the Moonlight Diner; Cheshire: breakfast at Dunkin Donuts; Dalton: lunch at Jacobs; Great Barrington: lunch at Bistro Box. This was all done at the spur of the moment. We will need to plan better so that we have the right food in our packs. 

 

 
We spent a zero day at Upper Goose Pond Cabin. OSHA (Ian) had several high school friends hike in and meet us there. Drew Rapa is now my best friend forever because he brought us each pint of Ben & Jerry’s. Without thinking, Ian offered Drew’s pint to Zucchini (one of our fellow hikers). He then apologized to Drew, who said, “That’s OK. The ice cream seemed to make you happier than I’ll ever be in my life.” Ice cream seems to do that for us. Ian and friends spent the afternoon canoeing and playing Settlers of Catan. I spent it reading but mostly napping. At dinner time we hiked out and got pizza in Lee. 

 

 
  
Upper Goose Pond was a great place for a zero. The caretaker made pancakes in the morning so we had two pancake breakfasts. When we stopped at the Cookie Lady’s place on our way to Upper Goose, we picked blueberries – so we had fresh blueberry pancakes. 

 

 
We seemed to have passed most of the northbound bubble in Vermont and Massachusetts and the southbounders are thinning out, so the shelters are getting less crowded. Water is also getting harder to find. In some places people would leave out gallon jugs of water. This was a blessing. 

 

 
Yesterday we crossed into Connecticut and stayed at Maria McCabes. She is a wonderful person and made us feel right at home. Now we are off-trail and headed to Philadelphia for a Phish concert. Back to the trail on Friday.