Day 52 - Wednesday, August 3

Linda

Got going this morning and went into Cornwall Bridge to the store by 8:15. Met Donna and Dick Satterlee, the couple we'd been hearing were parents to be. They expect to make Katahdin with time to spare before the baby is born. Sure hope they make it. Trying to deliver a baby in that wilderness would be very pioneering of them to say the least. Picked up some supplies at the general store, which had a great variety of imported gourmet items you wouldn't normally see in a little general store. We started out again around 9:00 after consuming a quart of OJ and a dozen donuts between us.

For the next 7 miles the trail followed the Housatonic River and was almost like a stroll along a boardwalk with the river flowing peacefully by. We just relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. At the end, however, was St. John's Ledges, which seemed straight up over rocks and boulders. As we struggled up over the top, it began to rain, and continued to rain for several hours. We had planned to eat lunch at a picnic ground, but that idea was canned, due to the soaking conditions. We went on to where a shelter was supposed to be, but when we got there - it wasn't. By this time we were soaked to the bone and hungry and I was getting cold, but all we could do was go on.

The next shelter was 2.5 miles further, over Cobble Mountain, our steepest climb of the day. It was very slippery going, but we made it, then dragged ourselves down to the shelter to make hot soup and dry off. I was sure glad we weren't staying there, because it was the worst shelter we've seen yet - even worse than Sleazy Sweazy back in Vermont and that was saying something. The roof was full of holes, the walls were falling down and it had broken wire bunks. And then there was the trash. . . Connecticut doesn't seem to have its shelter system together very well. It's either feast or famine through here.

It wasn't hard to tear ourselves away from the shelter when we warmed up and dried off, and we continued on at 4:30 to go the last 3.5 miles into Kent. It was another mile down to the Congregational Church which runs a hiker's hostel in their Fellowship Hall, where we hoped to stay for the night. We found another through hiker Bob McCullough who was already staying there, and he sent us next door to Rev. Whitehead's to let them know we were there. The Reverend and his wife are great people, and made us feel right at home. There wasn't a shower available, but they did offer us the use of their washer and dryer. Since we still had muddy clothes from the Dean's Ravine incident, we gratefully accepted. We got settled in the Fellowship Hall, checked out the kitchen, then walked up to the store to buy food for dinner. We ended up with fishsticks, corn, watermelon and ice cream.

When we got back, two other Northbounders, Neil and Ilene Crone had just arrived. After dinner I called and talked to Mom and Dad and they filled me in on the latest happenings. They said Randy will be on his way home to Virginia from Oregon soon. I'm sure they'll be glad to see him, since he's been out there a year. The Crones are from Allentown, Pennsylvania and are quite a nice couple. They are real natural food nuts and carry all kinds of dried fruits, nuts, grains, etc. and a lot of canned goods. Their packs must be very heavy, but they eat well. We talked and exchanged stories until after midnight when we finally turned out the lights. We hoped to get out early, but probably won't.

Ron

Started out this morning a little after 7:00 and made the 2.5 miles to Cornwall Bridge in short order. We stopped at the store to pick up some breakfast and lunch supplies. We sat on the porch repackaging or food and eating a dozen donuts and washing them down with a quart of OJ as our second breakfast. The trail may not be as rugged and scenic as in Maine and New Hampshire, but there are certainty more stores. There days when I almost wonder why we carry so much food.

When we left Cornwall Bridge we made a stupid loop around Route 7 then headed down the Housatonic River. The trip along the river was pretty except for the occasional over grown parts. As we left the river and started the climb up St. Johns Ledges, the rain began. We made it to the top of the stiff climb without getting wet. Since it was still pretty warm we just covered the packs up. We had intended to stop at the picnic ground for lunch but the rain killed that idea. We decided instead to make for the lean-to a half mile beyond. When we arrived, soaking wet, the lean-to wasn't there. Once again the guide cracks a sour note. The next lean-to was over two miles away and we had no choice but to keep moving.

Between us and shelter was Cobble Mountain and a long steep climb up a bolder slide. It was a very tiring climb. We crossed the top and headed down to shelter both cold and wet. After all the hard work, we arrived at the worst lean-to we've seen on the trail thus far. The place was one dump. The wire bunks were torn and falling in. It's a good thing the rain had stopped because the roof had a hundred holes. Big pieces of the wall were missing. In short - it wasn't a pleasant place to stay. We heated water for soup, ate, packed up and headed for Kent.

The rest of the walk wasn't bad with just one easy ridge to cross. We were in Kent by 6:00. We found the church with no problems and informed Rev. Whitehead of our arrival. We talked with a north bounder for awhile and went to the store. When we returned, two more hikers had arrived. We had a nice talk during supper. We sat talking all evening and didn't get to sleep until around midnight.

(19.7 Miles - 710.4 Total)