July 26 Mile 1543              Upper Goose Pond Cabin-Best hiker hostel ever!

Sleeping here at the North Wilcox Shelter was one of the worst sleeping  experiences ever. We couldn't get comfortable in our summer sleeping bags. They were like straight jackets and I couldn't seem to ever get to sleep. Maybe it was a hangover from the 5 hour energy drink? We got up as soon as the sun did, packed up and left to find water. Not good planning on our part. I learned last time out not to take my home kitchen faucet for granted.

When we finally found water up the trail the rain started again. We had been rained on each day, but one since we started. Didn't have that much rain in all of 2010 it seems. I told Cisco, I feel like we are in the "Hunger Games" and there is some Trailmaster out there watching and laughing at us as they send heat, humidity, treacherous rock uphills, downhills, mosquitos, gnats, a big blister, and never ending rain. "yeah, he said, but nobody is trying to kill us." Ok, but let's hope the hunters stay on their side of the white blaze.

Today my Sweety is sending us our winter sleeping bags. We are concerned about colder nights as we go as we gain elevation. So she sent the bags to the Tyringham MA, PO , a tiny place. We had to come off the trail about 1/2 mile to get there and any time you leave the trail it's a trial.

Nobody likes walking unnecessary miles. But this was important. So we come into town, a crossroads really, and unfortunately this is a place with no amenities for us- no stores, no restaurants. Just a PO and a sign.

The PO lady was very nice, luckily we got there before 12:30, cause that's when they close until 4:00!

Didn't know this was some part of Italy. As we unpack our shipping box out front of the P. O. people are driving by to pick up mail. One says to us seeing our distinctive dress, " be careful, a big storm is coming with tornado winds, i'm going home to tie down my furniture. " another lady walks by and says, " you'll be ok, you can hike up to the Upper Goose Creek Cabin , its only 7 miles away." thanks , we say.

So the sign: on the P.O. it said: "Hikers: Come across the street to the Cobble View B&B for snacks and cold drinks". Now that sounds refreshing and we know it's not free, and that's fine.
 So we go across the street to the B&B - a two story house - and we see this woman working in the yard. Cisco politely asks, "is this your place." She looks up  annoyed and says "yea".  Cisco then says "do you have any drinks or snacks, as advertised on the sign?"
Very annoyed she agrees she has a few things. Well, we say, we would like to buy them. " All I have is an orange and a Sprite, I'm out of snacks," ok we say, fine we'll take a couple of orange drinks- a buck each.  So, then I get bold, cause i really hate road walking and ask, " as it's so warm and its a ways back to the trail, do you know anyone who could give us a ride. I would be glad to compensate them." (  this is a common thing so close to the trail) She answered as  she looked down and shook her head , "there's nobody here who can do that and i don't have the time. " And it's then Cisco realizes this is the same woman who outside the PO a few minutes before told us "you can make the cabin 7 miles away." Now she could have used her entrepreneurial spirit and  said, "there is a storm coming, you can stay at my B&B, the charge is XXX, and you can continue on tomorrow." Instead,  it's more like, "I really don't care for you hikers (you can buy my soft drinks) now go on down the road through a storm to a cabin 7 miles away. " She had no interest in dealing with us hikers. So why have the sign welcoming us to your place!  We have seen so many wonderful people out here but, but the Cobble View B&B isn't among them. So we shook the dust off our feet to Tyringham and hiked out.The hike was grueling trying to get to the Upper Goose Pond Cabin from Tyringham.  Oh yeah, and did I mention bugs? Finally after a day of 16 miles, not all trail miles but road miles and side trail miles, we finally made it to the cabin.

 

I don't think I have ever been so exhausted in my life. Two years ago hiking 16 miles was tough, but not debilitating. This year, out of training, it was a killer! I knew that I could not keep up this pace. Even Cisco was pretty beat.
Well, we beat the storm anyway, and what did we behold but the Big Rock Candy Mountain of Hiker Heaven. This place was the best hiker rest stop of the entire AT!
And Free! All indoors, plenty of bunk space with mattresses, a lake, canoes, fresh coffee and PANCAKES!  in the morning provided by the caretaker. And you can stay as long as you want! What a country! Just as we got settled in the rain began to fall. We ate, chatted with the other very fortunate hikers and were very happy to go to bed. Best hiker place ever.