GoldenBear

> [Upper Goose Ponds Cabin] was a a place I didn't want to leave -- which may explain the next part of the story.

I'm sure both of the people who actually read my journal entries have experienced paroxysms of anguish, waiting to hear what's "the next part of the story."
It's actually pretty straightforward. On a day when I wanted to (again) get another early start to the day, I zipped off from UGPC with a burst of energy, both arms swinging along as they were both unencumbered by anything.
If you're now saying, "Unencumbered by ANYTHING? What about your poles?" -- then you've figured out what "the next part" was. After getting a mile from UGPC, I realized that I LEFT MY POLE back at the cabin -- after telling myself half a dozen times not to do so! I had no choice but to turn around and redo that entire stretch. Basically, I wasn't on The Trail till about 9:30 am.

Fortunately, my map showed I had only ten miles to walk till I would be at Shaker Campsite (SC). UNfortunately for my worry wart mind, there were no signs stating the distance to the SC, despite distances to the Mount Wilcox Shelters appearing at each road crossing. When I noted that my map was showing that the A.T. used to go by Shaker Pond, I began to wonder if that's where the campsite used to be, and if there even would be a campsite where I thought it would be -- amazing the worries an over-active brain can come up. My conclusion was that, if the camp site turned out to be on the old trail, I'd simply camp where I thought SC would be.

Other than this worry, this day's hike would have been ordinary had it not been for three incidents on the Tyringham Cobble Trail
http://www.thetrustees.org/assets/do...-Trail-Map.pdf
1) As I climbed the cobble, I heard a group of people coming my way. Then I saw the dog (as ALWAYS with dog owners on The Trail, the dog was not leashed as required by law), then I saw that it was a group of day hikers -- and then I saw the goats. Yes, GOATS being herded along the A.T.! I stated that I don't often see such animals while backpacking, then noticed that the the last one obviously had the same lack of familiarity with me. This old goat simply froze on the trail, refused to walk by me despite calls from the herders, and basically acted like an -- well, a stubborn animal.. It finally noted an "opening," ran off the trail around me, and joined the other two of its friends.
2) While approaching the first overlook (remember, I'm going south, so my "first" overlook will be looking down on Jerusalem Road), I began to hear church bells. Figuring I hadn't just been hit by lightning, I went to the overlook to try to discern what I could be hearing. Apparently the Union Church of Tyringham
http://www.summerthemovie.com/wp-con...ch-310x150.jpg
was playing hymns from its bell tower. Live or Memorex{R}? I couldn't tell.
I wanted SO badly to get a video of the beautiful music adding to the lovely, sunset view at the town -- but this was the first hike on which I chose not to carry my camera! Having decided that there are already enough photos of overlooks, trees, lakes, and creeks along the A.T., and that nothing I could photograph would be of any interest to anyone, I simply left it at home. I'm now left with a beautiful memory, and a resolve to return to the Cobble Trail on another clear day.
3) At the second overlook, I didn't get any music, but I did get a glorious panorama. For the second time in ten minutes, and for only the second time during my last four short section hikes, I wished I had a camera to record a real view. Instead I got ANOTHER reason to return to the Cobble Trail on a clear day.

Back to my worries over whether Shaker Camp is even where I expected it to be. It wasn't until I was within half a mile of that location, that I ran into somebody I thought to ask, "Is the camp site nearby?" "Oh, yea; you're practically there." And, sure enough, there I was.
What I SHOULD have done is note that this camp site is listed on the AMC's official URL,
http://amcberkshire.org/at/campsites
which obviously means it's most definitely still on The Trail.
The camp itself is pretty tight, as I wasn't sure where I was going to camp without being almost on top of someone else. Fortunately, I found a tent site that met my needs, and was pleased to discover that the other campers were just as desirous of quiet and privacy as I am. Once again, I was too tired to cook a meal and just munched a snack before going to sleep. And I should note that my idea of permethrin on my camps socks worked perfectly, as I managed to avoid any bits on my feet or ankles.

I woke up the next morning with no appetite for even oatmeal, so I just headed off after having a quick cup of moderately hot coffee.

This day featured a LOT of downhill walking, sometimes at a steepness that un-nerved me.
At least I got the joy of watching some father-son bonding on the trail. The dad was videotaping his son going underneath a bridge, while the son was humming the "Indiana Jone" Theme Music.
http://mp3skull.com/mp3/john_william...nes_theme.html
[Click the 'Play' Link]
I noted to the boy that I don't get to meet Indiana Jones very much, and he replied that he was imagining that the bridge was collapsing as he was going under it. A minute later it occurred to me that I should have (instead) greeted the son with, "Dr. Jones. Again we see there is nothing you can possess which I cannot take away." If the kid had responded, "Too bad they don't know you like *I* do, Belloq.", I'd have responded, "Perhaps you could tell them yourself -- IF you spoke Hovitos."

When I got to Benedict Pond (the campground is still closed despite their URL stating that construction will be done on June 30), I got a typical reminder of why I try not to hike north on The Trail. A group of about five Girls Scouts (with adult escorts) spoke of the 100 mile hike they were doing -- and I couldn't help but remind myself that I can barely do a forty mile backpack! They also asked what my longest hiking day has been, and I truthfully said twelve miles. "I've done a fourteen mile day!", one of them responded -- only increasing my embarrassment. It's bad enough to watch people half my age -- and twenty years older than I -- fly past me, but it's REALLY a letdown to know someone ONE-FIFTH my age can out-hike me!

I got to Highway 23, just east of Great Barrington, well before sunset, and decided to head on to Lake Buel Road (LBR). When I came to a gravel road as I headed south, I had no idea if this was LBR or not. There was no sign, my topo map didn't indicate any road of any kind prior to LBR, and I didn't even know if the road I wanted was paved or gravel -- so I just presumed this WAS Lake Buel Road. Turns out this gravel road is a driveway into a private resort between Highway 23 and LBR, but which comes out at Lake Buel Road in about a quarter mile. Since I was now on the road I wanted to be on, I just headed for the East Mountain Retreat Center.
http://www.eastretreat.org/
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...Retreat-Center
Spent a pleasant evening conversing with Stone Kicker, once again had no appetite for food, and got a great night's sleep.

Headed into Great Barrington to grab some non-trail food. The 24-hour Cumberland Farms is just south of the intersection of Highway 23 and Highway 41 (ie, where US Highway crosses the Housatonic River), and is a perfect place for such a stop. Mainly because they don't mind someone hanging around for two hours (as I did), eating in their parking lot and using their bathroom.
The Peter Pan Bus stops right in front of the Visitor Center, which is south of City Hall and right in front of the Days Inn. The VC has brochures, AC, and a bathroom -- but is only open from 10 am to 4 pm, and is closed all day Tuesday.
Note that you can buy your Peter Pan ticket online before you depart (don't forget to PRINT IT), and you then get absolute priority on boarding -- I won't deny it was kind of fun to jump to the front of the line. Wait till you board the bus to buy your ticket, and you may have to get off in Waterbury to do so.

The rides from Barrington to the NYC Port Authority, then to Philly, and finally to Upper Darby (via subway) was pretty uneventful despite both buses being completely full.

No surprise -- Shuttle and I are already planning my next trail trip.