Miles today: 21.1
Total miles:
I had a long day ahead of me to get to the shelter I wanted to. I wanted to get to the Tom Leonard shelter because it was only 7 miles outside of Great Barrington MA, where I planned to resupply. It’s always easiest to get as close to town as possible the night before in order to maximize time there.
This was my longest day yet and just my luck, it was unseasonably hot. It was a hot and sticky, unbearably humid 90 degrees out. Hiking was miserable even when I set out at 830 am. Unlimited delicious pancakes and coffee at the cabin before I left did help alleviate some of my misery. But boy did I sweat so much that day.
The terrain thankfully wasn’t too tough but I did have quite a crazy encounter in the early afternoon. The trail wandered through some farms and then a cow pasture. There was no fence separating me from the cows but they were mostly too busy eating and seeking shade to care about me. To exit the cow pasture I had to go over a barbed wire fence using a step ladder type thing they’d set up. But on the other side of the step ladder on the OUTSIDE of the fence was a gigantic cow!! It was directly where I needed to step and the cow was just standing there blocking the way, staring me down in what I interpreted as a very menacing expression. I don’t know how much the average person knows about cows but I realized I know very little. I had no idea if cows get aggressive and if it would trample me or if it’d be scared of me or what. All I knew was it was giant and scary and I didn’t want to mess with it. I waited for a while and finally it lost interest and moved a little. I made my move and went to climb the stepladder over the fence. But the cow noticed and started walking toward me! I freaked out and ran across the street and up the hill and luckily it didn’t follow.
I was still recovering from this experience, following the trail up a hill and rounding a corner when a loud rustling in the bushes and trees made my heart nearly stop. It was another frickin cow!!! But behind a tree. And far from its pasture. I have no idea why it was just hanging out hiding in the woods. I slowly walked by, only a foot or so from it silently hoping it wouldn’t attack me. Just when I got safely past I looked up ahead to see THREE MORE COWS blocking the entire trail up ahead. Once they heard me they all stopped eating and looked at me (evilly of course). They just stared and blocked the way, as if they were challenging me. They were so giant and I had no idea if a bull was secretly hidden among them. I was terrified. Then, one of the three mounted another cow and the two of them started walking toward me as one. I freaked out and turned to get away only to find out the cow that had originally scared me behind the tree was now on the trail blocking my escape! I was trapped in both directions! There were thick woods on either side so I had no way out. I was positive I was going to be trampled by cows. I tried to walk a little bit in one direction but the cows didn’t move and were just glaring at me. I was scared the male would attack me for interrupting his mating. I resorted to getting out my trail mix and holding it out in my hand and then throwing it on the ground in an attempt to lure the cows out of my way. They didn’t even react. I took some photos as evidence for after I was trampled. Finally I mustered the courage to try to walk past them. As I neared them they kind of moved out of my way. I was so nervous and speed walked by, only inches from them. Then as I made my escape one of the cows (with a tag on his ear that said Jevon, so I assume thus his name) started following me! Jevon seriously started trotting up the trail and I was flipping out he’d come kill me. There was a hill up ahead so I was able to climb it better than he was so I finally got away. I don’t think my heart rate went down for a good 15 minutes after that experience.
The rest of the day was not nearly as eventful. Just hot and long. I didn’t pass anyone all day until my last hour or so. I was kind of lonely and got in a bad place mentally because I was so hot and tired. The thought of town tomorrow with real food helped me stay optimistic. Also Blue had texted me to stay at the Tom Leonard shelter because they’d left a surprise there for me (I assumed they’d stayed there the night before). I was curious to see what it was.
I got to the shelter and there was no one else there. And no surprise to be found. I cooked my dinner and changed etc and then read for a little. Believe it or not I’ve yet to spend a night completely alone on the trail. As it grew dark and no one else arrived, I figured this would be my first night alone. To be honest I was a littler nervous and scared. A huge storm was rolling in and I just felt super alone especially since I hadn’t seen or talked to anyone all day.
Then, as I was reading in bed and about to go to sleep, the boys showed up! It was my surprise! They’d only gone five miles that day and spent the day in town (entering using an earlier road crossing) and so now weren’t ahead of me anymore (except I’d go into town tomorrow to resupply so they’d regain their lead quickly). I was so happy to see them and even more happy when Blondie gave me a McChicken and fries and Blue gave me candy and cookies and Wolf bird gave me grapes. Can you tell I cherish my food?
It was nice to have company during the huge storm and I went to bed looking forward to town in the morning.