Miles today: 17.7
Total miles: 620.6
I can’t believe I walked almost 18 miles today. I actually just calculated it several times to make sure it was correct. The day was so easy and the miles just flew by. I feel like I only walked maybe 6 miles. Hooray for easier trail!
I’d planned to get to Kay Wood Shelter tonight, which is about 3 miles past Dalton. I got a text from Cool Blue this morning that said to stop by Tom Levardi’s this evening. I looked in my book and Tom Levardi is a guy who lets hikers camp in his yard for free in Dalton MA. I figured the boys must be staying there and maybe slackpacking for the day (this ended up being the case). I didn’t want to really stay in town and wanted to get more miles in so I figured I wouldn’t see the boys.
But then I surprised myself and got to town by 2:30. I didn’t know what to do! Since the day was so easy, I considered trying to push an extra shelter, making my day almost 30 miles. I really want to try to do a 30 so this seemed like a good opportunity. Buuuut, if I did that then the following day I wouldn’t get to stay at Upper Goose Pond Shelter. I’d been hearing about Upper Goose Pond since Maine. It’s a shelter with real bunk beds and a porch and a canoe and is right on a nice pond and the caretakers make hikers pancakes every morning. I didn’t want to pass one of the best shelters on the trail, so that 30 miler idea went out the window.
I then considered going with my original plan and going 3 more miles to the shelter. But that seemed pointless to go put myself in the woods alone when I could stay at Tom’s for the night and see the boys and also still be able to stay at Upper Goose pond the following night. And then, considering the idea more, I figured I may be able to find a way to shower or do laundry in town. Done deal.
So, here I am, at the library in Dalton MA. I just showered for free in the community center and get to do laundry tonight at Tom’s house. And I think the boys will probably be back from hiking soon. And if I want real food I have it at my fingertips. And Upper Goose Pond tomorrow! Good decision, I think!