Day: |
079 |
Date: |
Sunday, 20 July 1986. |
Start: |
|
Finish: |
|
Daily
AT Miles: |
25.5 |
Daily Other Miles |
0 |
Total
AT Miles: |
1534.8 |
Total All Miles |
1580.4 |
Weather: |
Warm, humid, overcast. |
Accommodation: |
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Muesli, health drink. Lunch:
Biscuits and peanut butter, chocolate bar. Dinner: Fettucine,
pop tarts. |
Aches: |
None that are very bad. |
Animals Seen: |
Chipmunks. |
People Seen: |
1 AT Thru-hiker, 1 overnight hiker, 4 day
hikers, some others. |
Pictures: |
Here |
GPS Track: |
|
Journal: |
I got up at 5:30am to find all my clothes
still wet from the wash I had given them the previous night (to try
and reduce chafing), but I put them on anyway. I left at 7:10am
after exchanging addresses with Liz. Both she and Matt were a bit
sheepish after the night’s excitement. I hoped to cover a lot of
miles and fortunately it was cool early and there was a lot of
road-walking. My pack was starting to feel lighter too. The
road-walk took me along some lovely country lanes past some
beautiful mansions set amongst the hills (The Berkshires) with
manicured lawns and reflecting ponds. I passed through the
attractive little village of Tyringham, then climbed up onto another
ridge along roads and forest roads which made the going
quicker. The Trail passed the attractive Goose Pond, then Upper
Goose Pond. It was still very muggy and mozzies were about, but the
heavy overcast reduced the heat a little. While walking, I listened
on my Walkman to a live broadcast of an outdoor concert by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra from their summer home at Tanglewood, only
a few miles away as the crow flies. It was great listening to
Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries as I strode through the forest along
the ridge, knowing it was being performed nearby. At about 3pm, I
overtook “Jeannie the Bag Lady” and saw her again when I stopped at
October Mountain Lean-To for a very late lunch. The feet seemed to
be standing the strain better today, despite having to carry four
full water bottles because of the lack of good water – there were
plenty of bogs. The clouds were looking ominous from about 6pm, but
I pushed on to 6:45pm, when I found a nice campsite, having achieved
my mileage target. I set up the tarp over the tent in preparation
for rain that didn’t come, had dinner and adjourned to the tent at
8:30pm. |
|
ADVENTURE LIST
Round Ireland
(2016)
Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)
Via Alpina
(2012)
Australian Alps Walking
Track (2011)
Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)
Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)
Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)
Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)
Three Peaks Race
(2004)
Appalachian Trail
(1986)
Alpine Track
(1983)
|