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July 23

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Day 115 Beartown State Forest to Main Rd, Tyringham, MA (11.3 miles) 1541.2 miles total

The last thing I do before packing up my tent each morning is review next water source, resupply point, and town stay.

This morning I realized that I would be 5 miles from Lee, MA. Was planning on being in Lee on Monday but I’ll be just as close today and can probably make it for end of British Open. Hike on!

Below is Benedict Pond which I tented near last night.

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Entering the Berkshire Mountains. They run through MA. Cool old farmstead up on hill.

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Entrepreneurship at it’s finest. This stand is about 100 yds off trail. Sodas, snacks, charging station. All on the honor system!

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Made it to Tyringham about 12:30. Unfortunately had a difficult time getting ride into Lee and didn’t get to hotel until after 2:00. Missed end of Open but got to shower and do laundry!

Two days and I should be in Dalton, MA.

Happy trails!

July 22

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Day 114 Race Brook Falls Campsite to Beartown State Forest (20.1 miles) 1530.9 miles total

Bill Belichick would probably have me listed as Doubtful (shoulder) on the injury report but knee and leg are about 95%. Had to throw the Pats thing in there since I’m in MA!

Bet it took a while and a lot of work to clear those fields from the forest. I’ve seen a couple pastures with sheep, lots of hay land and some corn in those clear areas.

Some times it’s just a walk in the woods.


Water sources have been sketchy (but getting better) for a while. Since beginning of NY there have been several places where Trail Angels will leave jugs of water like this. Added bonus if it’s still cold!


Sometimes I imagine characters while I’m hiking. Keeps the mind occupied. Today I was a Revolutionary War soldier scouting the forests of western MA.

Apparently my character was too early for Shays Rebellion but the last battle was fought here.


I pushed a couple extra miles because was told Greater Barrington, MA was having their 5th annual AT Appreciation Picnic. Free food and hikers are invited.  

There is a lot of volunteer time and labor that goes in to maintaining the trail. This was a gathering of those groups and all their families.

Live music was provided by the Berkshire Ukulele Band. They were quite good and had the audience singing along.


There were about 10 thru-hikers and we were the featured guests. Front of the line privilege for food, incredible raspberry, blackberry, blueberry crisp with ice cream (served to us as appetizer and desert!) and as much food as you can imagine.


Well worth the extra couple miles. Tented right near the picnic.

Next stop is Lee, MA. It’s 20 miles. Will probably hike 13-15 tomorrow and get in early Monday.

Happy trails!

July 21

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Day 113 Falls Village, CT to Race Brook Falls Campsite (18.5 miles) 1510.8 miles total

Leg is feeling much better. Very little inflammation and redness has ebbed some…I’m pretty sure. Hard to tell with tan, hair, etc. Was easy to differentiate red area before so I’m assuming that’s good!

Had a view of this body of water for a long time today. This is from Bear Mtn (elevation 2316). First time above 2000 ft since VA.

Pretty sure trail won’t go below 1000 ft again. This is Sages Ravine.


Cross CT off. We’re now in Massachusetts! 9 states down. 4 to go. Yes they’re all more mountainous and more difficult but there’s only 4!


Here’s that body of water again. I’m on Mt Race about 3 miles into MA and looking to east. If any of Mrs. Johnson’s 6th graders from Groton, SD are following this summer, please let me know name of it.


There are some giant spiders out here in the woods. As I type this (on my phone with one finger) one who has about 6″ leg span is walking over outside of tent. I’ve had as many as 8 on tent at once. If you suffer from arachnophobia do not do this.

Hoping for another good mileage day tomorrow.

Happy trails!

July 20

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Day 112 Mt Easter Rd to Falls Village, CT (7.1 miles) 1492.3 miles total

Bit less inflammation in leg today. Knee also less sore. Redness has not expanded but I can’t say that it’s decreased yet.

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Made a few miles of progress in AM. Spent the afternoon watching British Open. Rooting for Matt Kuchar. His parents live in our hood in Ponte Vedra Beach. Go Kuch!

Hoping to get back to making miles tomorrow. Less than 700 to go.

Happy trails!

July 19

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Day 111 CT 4 to Mt Easter Rd (6.8 miles) 1485.2 miles total

After about 2.5 hours of hiking I stopped at a road crossing to check my leg as soreness now in knee and thigh. More redness. Decided to try to hitch a ride 5 miles to Sharon, CT where there is a hospital.

Started walking toward town. Road was not busy so thinking I may have to walk entire way. After about a mile a local guy, Dave, picked me up. Drove me straight to Emergency Room.

RN took one look at leg and said “Classic bullseye. You have Lyme Disease.”

After a bit, PA came in with student. “Hear you have a classic bullseye.” I replied that I’ve never seen a “classic bullseye” but this isn’t what I would expect a bullseye to look like. Not round and kind of meandering.

After questions around symptoms and some further examination, she concluded that it’s either Lyme or cellulitis. That made me bristle and I said “I don’t have any cellulite!” She explained that cellulitis is actually a skin infection. I’ve got quite a few cuts and scrapes which could lead to that.

They took blood to test but won’t have results for 3 days so she prescribed an antibiotic that will treat both Lyme and Cellulitis. Drew a line around redness. Quite a large area.

They want me to stay around here tomorrow to make sure redness doesn’t spread beyond drawing.

Had a phone number for a B&B in Salisbury. Maria had a room available. Asked where I was. When I told her hospital, she said she’d come pick me up.

Maria is 88 and super nice. She took me to pharmacy and when we got to her house told me to shower then call my wife and mom!

I am actually kind of hoping that test comes back positive for Lyme Disease as would explain general sense of lethargy I’ve felt for last week.

Planning on walking a bit tomorrow and staying another night at Maria’s.

Happy trails!

July 17

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Day 109 Schaghticoke Mtn Campsite to CT 4, Cornwall Bridge, CT (14.3 miles) 1478.4 miles total

One thing I should know about this trek by now is that planning is a waste of time. Too many variables (namely weather and injury) that I have no control over.

Was hoping for a few more miles today but humidity has returned and I lost one of my water bottles somewhere.

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I’m also dealing with some kind of insect bite (I think) around my left knee. Noticed redness on Th but no pain. Redness has spread a little and now some swelling and knee is sore.

Going to take a zero today to see if that helps knee. If not, may have to try to figure out where to see a medical professional.

Happy trails!

July 16

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Day 108 AT RR Station to Schaghticoke Mtn Campsite (15.2 miles) 1464.1 miles total

2/3 of the way finished!  Woohoo!!  Mere 726 miles to go.

Sunny day with temp in low 80’s.  Walked a bit through pasture and farm land.  Makes for some fast, easy hiking.

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Crossed about 1/2 mile of wetlands on these planks. Can’t move too fast on them as usually wet/slippery. I also have a bit of mistrust as some boards in past have been in tough shape. Bad news if one snaps and you land in that wet, stinky mess.

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Finished NY and in to CT now. 9 states down and 5 to go. CT will go fast as only about 48 miles.

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After 11 miles today the trail came to a road that led 0.6 miles to a restaurant and market. Sounded good to me. 2 local trail club volunteers were set up in chairs at trailhead. Let me leave my pack with them while I went in for lunch.

Walked through Bulls Bridge. Cool old one-lane covered bridge near Kent, CT. Curios as to year built.

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View of the Ten Mile River through a portal in the bridge.

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Had a nice lunch at Bulls Bridge Inn. Little fancier than I expected. I was probably a bit under-dressed!

Picked up some tortillas and candy bars at market and then back to trail.

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Shooting for Salisbury, CT for next town stop. 36 miles. Hope to be there in 2 days.

Happy trails!

July 15

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Day 107 NY 52 to NY 22, Appalachian Trail RR Station (14.8 miles) 1448.9 miles total

Nice day for hiking today. A few sprinkles of rain and temp mid-70’s.

Walked around Nuclear Lake. Didn’t jump in. The Nuclear thing kind of scared me off.

Not many views last few days as in forest most of time.

Ended hike today at AT RR Station. Last 1/4 mile was on a boardwalk through swamp and then popped out at train tracks. Pretty cool.

Hope to finish NY today. CT is only about 50 miles so MA by end of week.

Happy trails!

July 14

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Day 106 Clarence Fahnestock SP to NY 52, Storyville, NY (10.1 miles) 1434.1 miles

Good, good day! Didn’t get hiking until rain stopped about 11AM so pretty good mileage for short day.

Thanks so much for all of the support after my recent pity party! Received a large number of encouraging comments, messages, and gestures.

Lisa and Tom (Lake Hopatcong friends) drove up to the State Park today. They got there about time I left and my cell is on airplane mode so I missed their message. Bummer. Would have been great trail magic just seeing them! Thanks guys!

Glen (friend and former co-worker) sent me a link to Jimmy V’s “Don’t Ever Give Up” ESPY speech. One of greatest motivational speeches ever. If you’ve never seen it, watch it. If you’ve seen it but it’s been a while, watch it. If you just saw it, watch it again! Thanks, Glen.

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Then, just as I’m.packing up this AM, I get a text from our friend, Andrew. Mae is the daughter of Andrew and his wife, Susie. She is the reason the Down Syndrome Program at Boston Children’s Hospital is one of the charities I’m hiking for.

I became a brand new hiker today after this video (her brother, Drew) and the picture of Mae and Drew below. How can you not fly up and down mountains after that. Thanks so much!


Last night my tent was on a bed of leaves. You can see how dry it stays under tent when leaves are soaking up rain. You can also see where my pack was laying wrapped in poncho.


Today was mid-60’s with a few sprinkles of rain while I hiked. Nice change of pace.


Horse farm below ridge I just came down.


15 miles to Wingdale, NY. Hoping to stay there tomorrow night and get some laundry done. I need it…badly!

Happy trails!