June 30 - 18.6 / 1,494.7

The night in my tent was cold. It makes me think on when and where to get my cold weather sleeping bag back. Knowing my luck, it would warm up too much as soon as I have it sent to me.

I was walking out of the campground when I heard someone say something to me. I had failed to see someone in a hammock right beside the blue blazed trail. We spoke with the guy, named Lint. He mentioned he started on April 25th. He jokingly laughed at us on our start dates. He is on his third thru hike of the AT and has done seven thru hikes along various other trails including the PCT and CD.

A few miles into the day I came to a detour as they are doing construction of a bridge that goes over the Housatonic River. The detour is a 3 mile road walk. I decided against that and got a hitch across the bridge. T and T were also with me. The next few miles were nice rolling hills and some of the trail was even wheelchair accessible. I stopped at a hydro electric plant for a snack before heading on to where the trail met back up with the spot of the detour.

There was a nice waterfall, Great Falls. Supposedly, you can climb behind the falls and sit there. I didn't attempt it since I was by myself. I met a ridgerunner name Charlie Brown (real name Caleb). We spoke for a little bit, and he told me about his duties. Too bad I didn't know about being a ridgerunner while in college. It could have been an awesome summer job.

I got to Salisbury, CT in the early afternoon. T and T went to a tea room. I headed to a coffee shop. I got a drink and then went to the grocery store. The store was small, but it had almost everything. I ran into Lint while in the store. He had made it into town while I was getting coffee. His base weight is around 8 lbs and his total weight is probably less than 20. He can do big miles (while wearing running shoes). Lint and I got groceries and lunch. We then sat outside to enjoy lunch and adult beverages. Turkey, Thrasher, and Charlie Brown also showed up. I probably sat there for two or three hours.

Lint was the first to head out. I followed. I got a hitch from a nice, young couple. They had a three week old too. We exchanged pictures, and I passed on my blog. I apologize for forgetting their names. The trail out made a climb up to Lion's Head and a good view. Lint and Chewy were sitting at the top when I arrived. I met a guy on they way up who told me it was going to be a cold night. I sarcastically told him thanks. Lint and Chewy said that he had just left from where they were. He had an amateur radio set up and was talking to people in Europe.

I sat with Lint and Chewy until T and T showed up. We all then headed on to the shelter. My foot was hurting so I was the last to make it in. There was a middle school girls group that was already there. Charlie Brown arrived, and I joked with him about boring his ridgerunner uniform (shirt). I was going to go give the group a hard time about being too loud.

All of us hikers hung out for a little bit before going to bed.

While in Salisbury, I spoke with Samurai. He is two days ahead. He is going to take it easy the next few days. I will catch up with him at Upper Goose Pond Cabin on Saturday.